Question paper one: Physical environments
This section breaks down each topic and details exactly what you could be examined in question paper one.
Atmosphere
You should be familiar with:
- Global heat budget: the effects of the atmosphere on the receipt of radiation at the Earth's surface, and latitudinal variations in energy
- Redistribution of energy by atmospheric circulation. You should learn the 3-cell diagram and use it to help you explain atmospheric circulation.
- Redistribution of energy by oceanic currents. Learn the names of hot and cold ocean currents by using red and blue colours to help
- Cause, characteristics and impact of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. You need to be able to name and describe the two air masses that make-up the ITCZ: Continental Tropical and Maritime Tropical.
Hydrosphere
You should be familiar with the formation of erosional and depositional features in river landscapes such as V-shaped valleys, waterfalls, meanders, and ox-bow lakes.
Remember to include the processes of river erosion in an answer: hydraulic action, corrosion/solution, corrasion and attrition.
You should try to use a diagram or a series of diagrams, which show the development of a river feature over time.
When explaining the hydrological cycle within a drainage basin You should be able to discuss both physical and human factors affecting the movement of water in the hydrological cycle. Learn the key words and use a mnemonic to help you remember them. Interpretation of hydrographs.
You should be able to interpret and analyse river hydrographs and be able to explain the changes shown in a hydrograph.
Note: you will need to be able to describe and explain the different parts that a hydrograph shows e.g. base flow, peak flow, lag time, rising limb, recession limb, recovery rate etc.