Year 8 Geography Exam Revision sheet

Key terms:

Tectonic plates / The surface of the earth is not one piece but cracked like a broken egg shell, into 20 or so giant slabs. These giant slabs are called "Tectonic Plates".
Conservative plate boundaries / Plates moving side to side
Convergent plate boundaries / Two plates moving towards each other
Destructive plate boundaries / One plate moving under another
Collision plate boundaries / Two plates moving towards each other and forming mountains.

The location of volcanoes and earthquakes:

Deep inside Earth, between the molten iron core and the thin crust at the surface, there is the mantle, a large layer of rock that is largely solid, but flows like plastic

Japanese tsunami explained:

Most Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes generated on a destructive plate boundary. The friction between the subducting and overriding plates is enormous. The friction prevents a slow and steady rate of movement and the two plates become ‘stuck’

As the stuck plate continues to descend the motion causes a slow distortion of the plate above. The result is an accumulation of energy very similar to the energy stored in a compressed spring. Energy can accumulate in the overriding plate over a long period of time – decades or even centuries.

Energy accumulates in the overriding plate until it exceeds the friction sticking the two plates together. When this happens, the overriding plate snaps forward. This sudden motion is the cause of the tsunami – because it gives and enormous shove to the overlying water. At the same time inland areas of the overriding plate are suddenly lowered.

The Tsunami races away from the epicentre. The moving wave begins travelling out from where the earthquake has occured. Some of the water travels out and across the ocean basin, and, at the same time, water rushes landward to flood the recently lowered shoreline.

Japanese tsunami – Causes, effects and responses

Causes / Effects / Responses
Japan lies on the junction of three different tectonic plates which are all moving towards each other. Creating an overlocking combination of three destructive plate boundaries. / The Fukishima Nuclear Power Station was badly damaged by the tidal wave. Hundreds of thousands were evacuated from the surrounding area due to concerns about the dangers of the radioactivity in the region. / It is traditional to cremate bodies at Japanese funerals. The crematoriums were overloaded and so mass graves were dug for victims. It is the intention to give these people full funerals at a later date.
As the plates jolt apart energy waves travel through the earth’s crust. / Fires started including a fire in an oil refinery. / 116 countries and 28 international organisations offered assistance to Japan.
A tsunami wave which speed over the open ocean at 800 km/hr. The same speed as a jumbo jet. The waves reached heights of up to 40.5 metres. / 15,850 people died and 3,287 are still listed as missing, most of these died as a result of the Tsunami.
6,109 people were injured. / One of the biggest tasks after the Tsunami was the search for bodies, many people are still missing
In the aftermath of the event 1.5 million homes lost access to clean water supplies. / The British Red Cross raised £14.2 million pounds
The continental plate snaps forwards and shoves up the ocean above it, sending out a tidal wave. / Important infrastructure was damaged such as roads, railways, electricity lines, schools and hospitals. As well as this cellular and landline phone lines were damaged in the affected area making communication difficult. / ShelterBox, a disaster relief charity, has provided emergency accommodation to nearly 1600 families.
The Pacific plate is moving towards the Eurasian Plate at a speed of 8.9 cm a year. / Shops were emptied as people stockpiled food and water in case of further difficulties. / Nuclear power stations were shut down and electricity was rationed following the event.

Ecosystems

Key terms:

Ecosystem / A system made up of living things (plants and animals) and their non living environment.
Biome / A very large ecosystem – e.g. Tropical rainforest, tundra, savannah.
Sustainability / Meeting the needs of today without damaging for future generations.
Deforestation / The large scale removal of forests.

The benefits of forests and the impact of deforestation.

Globalisation

Key terms:

Globalisation / Flows of money, people and goods which are linking countries around the world.
Westernisation / When people convert to the customs and practices of countries in the west like the USA.
Sweatshop / A shop or factory in which employees work for long hours at low wages or under unhealthy conditions.

Ways to improve Sweatshops

Only employ people over 15 / Improve pay by 1p per day / Reduce working days by half an hour
Introduce 2 days paid holiday / Offer free transport to and from work / Offer reduced housing rent
Build a school / Offer low cost childcare / Offer shares in the company
Offer a training scheme for workers / Build a health centre / Provide clean drinking water during work
Offer a free basic lunch / Offer their uniform free / Invest in new machinery
Provide a 20 minute break during their shift / Pay 2p more for night shifts / Employ a fully trained health and safety officer
Improve pay by 10p per day / Invest in a waste water management system / Offer a pension scheme for all workers