Tectonics Revision

Dear All Tonights session is on tectonic theory, so everything connected to plate tectonics, types of volcanoes, earthquake theory, hotspots and continental drift. Please submit questions in advance if you cannot make it alter, the session starts at 730, and will run for as long as we need to, as there was no work shop on tuesday lunchtime. Please remember, that yout questions do not appear automatically, only when I poublish them! So you may need to be patient as i organise your answers to make the session more logical.

Globalisation Revision Session Weds 25th April

Dear All, Please use the form below to send in your questions on Globalisation. This session will start at at 7:30 on Wednesday evening, and YOUR QUESTIONS WILL NOT APPEAR!!! I have publishing control, so I will get through all of them, but in order and only when the event starts. It will run for about an hour, and the section of the syllabus to be covered is produced below:

Global social and economic groupings

The concept of the North/South divide, and its relationship to the development continuum.
Reasons for the social and economic groupings of nations, with particular reference to the European Union.

The consequences of the groupings of nations.

Aspects of globalisation Transnational corporations (TNCs): characteristics and spatial organisation. Reasons for the growth and the spatial organisation of transnational corporations (TNCs).
Case study of one TNC should be undertaken.
Social, economic and environmental impacts of TNCs on their host countries, and their countries of origin.

Development issues within the world (each to be studied with reference to contrasting areas of the world) “Trade versus aid”. “Economic sustainability versus environmental sustainability”. “Sustainable tourism, myth or reality”

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Development Revision Workshop

Hello Readers,

Tonights topic is development, so please have some questions ready, remember, your questions will not appear immediately, I publish them when i am logged in and ready to answer each in turn, so please be patient, and of course, you can replay this workshop at anytime up until the exam.

Next weeks topic will be Globalisation, followed by Tectonic Theory, then Case studies, Climatic Case studies, and finally, Climate Change. You will be able to submit questions for these workshops in advance, I shall see you at 7:30!

Introduction to Climate - Documentaries

Dear Students,

There have been a number of university open days and various trips out this week, so in case you missed it, here is the documentary that we have watched in class to consolidate your understanding of the basics of atmospheric circulation

As further reading, and a really excellent visualisation of the link between the circulation system, the slave trade and development, here is the episode of "How Earth Made Us - Wind", really worth watchin as part of your three hours reading for this week:

Happy reading!

Millie

Iceland Clothing

A post specifically for those coming to Iceland! Below you will find the letters, kit list, itinerary and the PP for the parents meeting embedded so you can show you parents all the information they need.

Iceland 2012

First: clothing!


The key to staying warm in Iceland is Layers. You should be wearing something similar to the list below, and the reason for using a layered system, is that we are on and off the bus a lot, and that involves a temperature change of at least 10 degrees, sometimes as much as 25 degrees, hence, you need to be able to adapt to that quite quickly.


In my opinion, the key thing to ensure you have, is a good base layer, this should be a material that wicks away moisture from your skin, so you don't go out into the cold all sweaty, which is how you get cold fast. I normally wear a t-shirt over mine, they are sometimes a little transparent, followed by a good fleecy jumper (I take two) a soft shell layer (wind proof but not water proof) and covering all of that, a good waterproof.

These images are reproduced from Taunton Leisure, with permission, they currently have a sale on but I am not endorsing either the brands shown, or the store, this is for illustration only!

http://www.tauntonleisure.com/

Few key points:


1) most important - looks don't matter for this week! Fashion, should not be a factor in deciding what to take, we don't really go out, when we do, you will want to be wearing all of the above anyway.


2) not to pick on the girls, but... No miniskirts, high heels, telling me tights will keep you warm - they won't.


3) if you are not appropriately dressed - you get to stay on the bus. That decision rests with me, you have been warned.


4) don't go out and buy the really expensive mountaineering kit - you don't need it, we are not going all Ray Mears, you just need to be sensible


5) buy new boots? Please break them in before you get to Iceland, y don't want blisters.


Secondly: Money


You may wish to buy some souvenirs, they will be expensive, so take an appropriate amount of money with you. If you would like to buys snacks, a chocolate bar and a can of drink will cost you around £4 at the moment, I recommend you take some snacks with you, the healthy variety such as dried fruits and nuts travel well and are good for you, but wee do not stop very often at places where you can buy a snack, they are included as part of your lunch, but if you do tend to eat more during the day, plan for this and take some with you.


A note on Icelandic foods: they run from the mundane and Starchy, to the outright bizarre (fermented rams testicles, shark rotted in its own urine etc) and sometimes, to the borderline ethical issues. Icelanders eat whale, and are relatively defencive about it. students in the stats have elected to buy a sample of said smoked minke whale, a staple of the Icelandic diet, that is up to you.


Third: Alcohol


The legal drinking age in Iceland is 20, as such, any one caught drinking, attempting to buy, or taking alcohol with them, will be sent home. Your parents will be advised of this in the meeting. The cost of being sent home sits with you, at times we are three hundred miles away fr an airport, in the most expensive country in Europe, that taxi will cost you several hundred pounds. Having spent £850 on the trip, please don't ruin it for yourself, and the staff by breaking this rule.


Fourth: Stuff to take


Realistically, you should pack to be outdoors, in a cold country, without much socialising in any fancy places. Nick and I look like Michelin men all week, you will too with all those layers, so don't worry about evening clothes, I take a pair of jeans for the evening, but you will need to stay wrapped up. You certainly don't need to take the following: party clothes, hair dryers, straighteners, footballs, laptops etc.


Other highly recommended items include: music, earphones, cards, a book, travel sickness pills, chargers, personal toiletries etc.


Other essentials: a sleeping bag, a hat, gloves, scarf/neck warmer, sunglasses ( it might be cold, but it is very, very bright, especially on the ice), any personal medication (legally, the staff are not allow to give you anything), hats are absolutely necessary, and a scarf is pretty handy.

Iceland Kit Letter to Parents Itinerary for Richard Huish College 2012

Dantes Peak Volcanology Revision

Dear All

As a nice and simple way to ease you all back in to tectonics after the various challenges of Poole, we are watching Dante's Peak in class, and you have some revision questions based on the order of events in the movie. If you failed to complete them in class, or were absent, or if you are from one of other colleges following the Blog (Hello Queen Mary's in Walsall and thank you for the lovely email!), you can download the questions, watch the movie, and I will post the answers up soon.

Enjoy the movie, it is one of my all time favourites!
Dantes Peak Questions Enjoy not working on 4B!!

Unit 4B fieldwork planning

Dear all

Many questions have come up about fieldwork, I have worked through one hypothesis, but here are my suggestions for an aim and what else should be included in a fieldwork question! See you all at 730 on the live blog.

Fieldwork

Aim: To investigate the relationship between the regeneration and conservation issues in Poole

Hypothesis 1:

The building of the Twin Sails Bridge will significantly reduce the congestion in Poole

Justification:

• The Old bridge was built in 1927
• It can halt traffic for up to half an hour
• it is not cyclist/pedestrian/disabled friendly
• Poole is a tourist Honeypot site and needs to improve facilities
• People commute into the centre of Poole for work in the services sector
• Poole has the European Ferry port

Method:

• Before and after traffic survey (see guidance on Moodle)
• Include new locations after the bridge is built and has been open for some time
• Count over a systematically pragmatic choice of locations over a given time period, same time in each location
• Us a group of geography students
• Possibly locate secondary data from Borough of Poole on their site. 
• Use a Mann Whitney U to compare results and assess for a significant difference

Risk Assessment:

• Students must wear High Vis jackets
• Groups of three as a minimum
• appropriate clothing and footwear
• Mobile Phone contacts to staff
• Areas with pavements chosen

Limitations:

• Only possible to do for one day as a group, would require a longer study over a summer and winter season to be significant
• Could not make it to Poole for morning rush hour with students, so would only reflect evening rush hour
• Bridge's and new road networks take a few months to bed in, and the old bridge will close for nine months this year in order to be refurbished. 
• Would be difficult to cover a weekend and weekday as a group of students. 

Hypothesis 2: 

The regeneration of the Hamworthy Gate site, will not have a significant impact on the environment in Holes Bay

Justification:

Method:

Risk Assessment:

Limitations:

Hypothesis 3:

The regeneration plans will significantly improve the quality of life in Poole

Justification:

Method:

Risk Assessment:

Limitations:

Live Session for Poole

Dear All

Thursday is the exam, so on wednesday, please submit any questions you have to the ticker, they will not appear immediately, but will appear at about 7:30 when I start the live session. Hopefully, we can cover most topics, but if you need to ask a question, this is the way! You can even replay it later if you aren't around tomorrow evening, but then, where else could you possibly want to be? Any question allowed, as long as it connects to Poole, bear in mind, the answers to your question will appear as fast as I can type!

Data on Maps

Dear All

As some revision for Unit 4B, here are a selection of different ways to represent data on maps! You should be able to comment on how to present data, and the benefits and disadvantages of using each method. Remember that you could be asked to demonstrate your chosen method in the exam, and that you have already been given the full data range for the different SOA's. Hence, it would be a very good idea to look at the groups of data (Population Density, Employment, Housing) and to assess how you would represent each on the map you have been given.

1. Chloropleths

Description:This is a type of map where different regions are coloured or shaded according to their value in a given data set. The range of categories should not be too high (preferably no more than 5/6) and the colour choice needs to be appropriate, often it is best to use a graduated colour change option, rather than several completely different colours, which make it hard to interpret

Method: Assess the range of data for your given statistic, common examples would be population density. Divide this range into 5 or 6 categories, and assign a colour to each. Locate the correct area on the map and colour in according the value for that region. Ensure that you include a scale, title and a key for the colours.

Benefits: This is a very clear way of showing geographical variations in values, looking at a chloropleth allows you to identify patterns easily, and see if there is a geographical factor that is affecting the value, in the example shown, there is a significantly higher percentage of people employed in higher managerial professions living in the coastal areas of poole. This is also a relatively rapid way to transfer data onto a map, that does not require further calculations, specialist kit or programmes, or significant knowledge of statistical tecnhiques.

Disadvantages: It only effectively represents one piece of data, it cannot be used to display more complex data that covers a range of variable such as different emplyment groups, or types of housing.

Best used for: A value with only one variable, such as population density, where you think there could be a geographical pattern.

2. Locational Bar Charts


Description: Bar charts drawn for several categories of information (in this case three) that are drawn directly onto the area in which the measurements were taken. The one below is for percentage of people living in Owner Occupied, Private rented or council rented accommodation in each area. The bar charts need a scale and a key.

Method: Convert all values to percentages, decide on an appropriate scale for the bar charts, the scale needs to show the variation within the categories, but not be so large as to obscure the map. Locate a suitable point within each region to draw the bar chart, and try to ensure that the entire bar chart can be located within the region.

Benefits: Allows for multiple pieces of data to be clearly represented on the map, the result is clear and easy to read, highly visual and not too complicated. The graph does not require any special equipment, and the only maths involved is to convert to percentages, which is essential for comparison.

Disadvantages: Can only be used for a few pieces of data, too many and it becomes hard to read. Deciding on a scale can be difficult if there is a considerable amount of variation across the regions, as some bars will be very small. It can be quite time consuming, as each region will need a different graph.

Best used for: Data with several variables, but can be used for any type of data that is converted to a percentage. In the case of this AIB, the percentage of people in each type of housing, or the percentage in each type of employment would be suitable.

3. Stacked Proportional Bar Charts

Description: A percentage representation of a set of data located on a map with colours assigned to each category. The bar chart scale needs to be chosen carefully, as it needs to not obscure too much of the region, and large enough for the percentages in each category to be seen. 

Method: Convert all values to percentages of the total, decide on a scale that will allow clear data representation, and not too large for the map. Draw on the bar chart, shade in the areas, making sure you measure from the top of the last upwards, not the base of the bar chart. 

Benefits: Clear, allows multiple data values to be displayed, shows a clear pattern if one is there, only requires a conversion to percentages. 

Disadvantages: Time consuming, can overshadow the regions and is often difficult to locate all the bar charts on the map, some often have to be drawn off to one side which makes interpretation more difficult. 

Best used for: Data sets with a large range of values that need to be displayed on the map. 

5. Locational Pie Charts

Description: Pie charts drawn on the graph in or around the region and coloured according to category. 

Method: Find a suitable scale for the pie charts, draw the circles onto an appropriate area of the graph, trying to contain the chart within the region, and then complete each chart in turn with the appropriate values. 

Benefits: Very visual, allows multiple categories of data to be represented. 

Disadvantages: The pie charts can end up being quite small, hence the categories can be difficult to read, and the pie charts will obscure the region they are meant to represent. It is a very time consuming graph to draw, as Pie charts do require protractors and compasses. 

Best used for: Larger maps, with a large amount of data needs to be represented, suitable for any type of data, whether in percentage or not. 

6. Proportional Area Representations (Ok, I made that one up)

Description: The areas are shaded to a proportion of the area they represent, this is a more imaginative way to represent data, and could be valid as long as you justify why you have chosen it and explain your method clearly, but it is not part of the syllabus.

Method: Convert values to percentages, find the central point of each region, and draw a pie chart only extending out to the edges of the region. Colour according to value.

Benefits: Very visual. marks for creativity.

Disadvantages: Quite time consuming, and you have to work out a way to find the central point, then the area of the region could distort the true representation of the value, as the shape of the region changes through 360 degrees. 

Best used for: Possibly best not used in the exam, unless you are asked to come up with an imaginative new way to represent data. 

The key to doing well on map questions, is that you need to pick the right method to display the data they ask for. Some methods are inappropriate for multiple values, some are too time consuming to use in an exam, and some are too confusing to read, make sure you think about it, spend this weekend planning how you would plot all the data you have, AND any you could gather from fieldwork (I am thinking of an isoline map of traffic congestion before and after the bridge opens - but I may have spent too much time reading about Poole!). 

Also, bear in mind that the exam is next week, and the long delayed christmas movie will bring up sharply back into the study of plate tectonics and hazard management. Please feel free to bring popcorn to your first triple after the exam. 

Millie

Unit 4B word Cloud.

Dear All


In an effort to be exciting and dynamic with our teaching of 4B, here is a word cloud visualising the most common terms used in the AIB booklet. It may be useful to consider which words appear most frequently!



Millie

Hazards Revision Session

This is a live online Q and A, intended as a place for those of you in exams for the day to ask anything you may need to after college. Attendance is non compulsory, you dont need to create an account, you just go to the blog (this page) type a question and i will answer, bear in mind your comments are not published live, but are published by me, and if it is a long question, please give me a few minutes to type!

There will be a separate climate session on the tuesday after the climate revision day