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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.

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