The Stern Review on Global Warming

"The world was facing "nothing more serious, more urgent, or more demanding of leadership" than climate change and that Britons must be prepared to pay now to avoid future disaster"

so said Tony Blair at the launch of the Review on tackling global warming, written by the eminent economist Sir Nicholas Stern. The purpose of his review, which he wrote for the Government is to set out the costs to the world economy of not tackling global warming.
At this stage, Carbon emissions have already pushed up global temperatures by half a degree Celsius -doesn;t sound a lot, but small changes can have severe consequences-it only took a drop of 5 C to set off the last Ice Age.

If no action is taken on emissions, there is more than a 75% chance of global temperatures rising between two and three degrees Celsius over the next 50 years
There is a 50% chance that average global temperatures could rise by five degrees Celsius

Stern warns, that if no action is taken:

Floods from rising sea levels could displace up to 100 million people
Melting glaciers could cause water shortages for 1 in 6 of the world's population
Wildlife will be harmed; at worst up to 40% of species could become extinct
Droughts may create tens or even hundreds of millions of "climate refugees"


S4-sample answer on waterfalls and V-shaped valleys

Click here for link to Geowiki page

Geography Conference

Attended the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers (SAGT) Annual Conference in Dundee today. Plenty of stimulating and original ideas from guest speakers, as well as goodie bag, made of jute, appropriately.

One web site that we had the chance to learn more about is Geograph. if you are a photographer, then this is the site for you, as the aim is to produce a map that will have photographic coverage of every grid square in the UK. There are already 250 000 images, but room for plenty more-large parts of Scotland are not yet covered, including some parts of Renfrewshire-a good idea for Duke of Edinburgh??

One of the items in the goodie bag was the SAGT journal, which this year is a survey of geographical education in Scotland from "earliest times"to the present day by two stalwarts of geographical education themselves, Kenneth Mclean and Norman Thomson. It was interesting to compare the approach to geography advocated at Conference, with emphasis on ICT, podcasts, wikis and blogs, with the methods and expectations of previous generations. One thing that has changed markedly is the nature of geography examinations...

Higher pupils may wish to ponder the following questions, from 1960:

"Write a systematic account of the economic geography of either the North-East of England or the Central Lowlands of Scotland"

"Write a short essay on either market gardening in Holland or fishing in Norway."

If we had to write a similar kind of question for our times, what might we ask ?

Quiz for pupils-5 questions on Dundee.

1. What are the Three Js
2. Who are DC Thomson&co
3. What is Dundee's population?
4. What happened on 28th December 1879?
5. Who plays at Dens park?

e-mail answers to my school address.

Footprints

This map at the top of the page shows the countries in ECO DEBT (big footprints) and ECO CREDIT (low impact on environment) Can you think why there is a difference?

According to a report produced by the World Wide Fund, the world's ecosystem is facing collapse. with the world's resources being consumed more quickly than they can be replaced. In fact, if if the world's population shared the UK's lifestyle, three planets would be needed to support their needs. This impact is callled the Ecological footprint. The ecological footprint measures the impact of people on their environment; the bigger the footprint, the greater the problem. Finland, the USA and oil-rich UAE have the greatest footprints.

Find out more about ecological footprints here. or view the excellent series, Planet Under Pressure by clicking here.

S4 timed question

In the Credit exam, you have 2 hours to complete an 80 mark question paper. This works out at an average of 6 minutes for the typical 4 mark question, 8 minutes for a 6 mark question. Of course, some questions, eg OS map question, may take longer, others are quicker to do, but as a rule you should expect the following time frame:-

½ hour into exam- you should be finished or finishing Q1 (map extract, roughly 20 marks)
1 hour into exam-you should be half way through, ie have completed 40 marks’ worth-
1 ½ hour-you should have completed 60 marks’ worth
2 hours-time up!

Remember to allow time to:

• Check the paper is collated properly and you have the right map extract
• Read the question
• "CUBE it!"
• Check over your answers
• Rule out, neatly, any rough working or errors


Today’s timed question-sample answer to part (a)

A U-shaped valley was formed over 15 000 years ago (BCE*), when large glacier, under gravity, flowed through a winding, narrow, V-shaped valley. The glacier would have bulldozed, and plucked the interlocking spurs, creating steep truncated spurs, and widening and straightening the valley. Abrasion by boulder fragments embedded in the base of the ice would have gouged and deepened the valley, perhaps leaving behind a ribbon lake.

* BCE=has replaced BC, and means Before Common Era.
+labelled diagram, in pencil



PS For a helpful online dictionary of geographical terms, see Internet Geography.

Darwin Online!

As well as being of obvious interest to biologists news that the entire works of Charles Darwin have been digitalised should also appeal to geographers. Darwin, who revolutionised our understanding of evolution, contributed much to the development of earth sciences through his painstaking and methodical observations of plants, animals, fossils and rock formations during his travels as a nauralist on the Beagle's voyage around the world on the 1830s. Darwin set out his views on evolution in his "Origin of Species" , following it with "The Descent of Man" which contoversially asserted that man had effectively evolved from the apes, an idea that flew in the face of conventional religious belief. Indeed, the debate between evolution and creation or intelligent design still rages today, over 100 years after Darwin's death.

Yahoo Time capsule + Clydeside Regeneration

Just read about Yanhoo's time capsule: For 30 days, from October 10 until November 8, Yahoo! users worldwide can contribute photos, writings, videos, audio – even drawings – to this electronic anthropology project. This digital data will be gathered and preserved for historical purposes.

In addition to submitting your own content, you can view, read, or hear the images, words, and sounds contributed by users from around the world.

You can also comment on the content you and others have submitted – and engage in a digital conversation that is just as revealing and important as any of the content you’ll witness.

And by November 8, you will have helped create a digital legacy of our times, a mosaic of revealing snapshots that will be sealed and entrusted to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings based in Washington D.C., officially taking its place in history.

Clydeside Urban Regeneration Update

According to BBC news, The redevelopment of wasteland on the banks of the River Clyde is reaping bigger than expected rewards, with more than 50,000 new jobs being created. The area is characterised by the latest piece of cicil engoneering, the £20 million Clyde Arc, aka the Squinty Bridge. This whole area is one of transformation, with new office developments such as the BBC and SMG HQs at Pacific Quay.

For more on current urban development schemes in central Scotland, click here.

Geowiki

have started up a wiki- called Geowiki this is a collaborative web site which allows other people to log in and make additions or amendments. This wike is designed to provide lesson notes and interactive tasks for all years from Transitus to Advanced Higher, and will be rolled out over this coming session, starting with S Grade.
click on the button for quick access.

Geography and Travel writing

One of my favourite sections in any bookshop is "travel writing". Good, descriptive writing can really evoke a sense of place, and stir the pangs of wanderlust. Reading can add depth to your geographical knowledge and put textbook notes and diagrams into context. Among my particular favourites is "A Time of Gifts" by Patrick Leigh Fermour. Written with a zest for language, culture, literature, history and geography, this is an account of a young man's journey -on foot-from the Hook of Holland to Isanbul in the 1930s, through a Europe that was to change for ever with the rise of facism and the onset of war. The prose verges on the purple at times, but it's an excellent read. It would be interesting to hear what others regard as their favourite travel writing!

Technical update

Technorati Tags: SAGT06

Technorati Profile

Recycling

Rubbish disposal is becoming an increasing problem-and local councils are beginning to look ahead to 2020 when half of all household waste will need to be recycled, and to 2008, when taxes on landfill sites (photograph) will go up. Fortnightly collections of household waste are inevitable, local authority body Cosla has said; So far 13 of Scotland's 32 local authorities have introduced fortnightly collections, and the rest may follow. But are forthighly collections the answer? here is what one resident says:

"despite recycling glass, cans, cardboard, paper, plastic and garden waste,my bin is always overflowing at the end of two weeks. .. It is the smell. We had a hot summer so it has been much worse. But even in this weather I had bluebottles round my bin."

Why do councils think fortnighly collections are the answer?
What more should be done to encourage recycling?

Tell me what you think-Please add a comment!

SAGT Conference

Looking forward to going to the SAGT conference in Dundee at the end of October-hope to pick up plenty of ideas on how ICT can aid learning and teaching. Good chance to meet up with colleagues and friends and see the lastest publications.

Technorati Tags: SAGT06

U shaped valley in Canton Glaurus, Eastern Switzerland

test photo
Originally uploaded by jmmcdgll.

Classic U shaped valley , taken from the Klausen Pass

Today's recommended Web Site

My top tip for today is




This excellent site has dozens of interesting links, with special section on Google Earth-log on to http://www.juicygeography.co.uk/googleearth.htm to find out more.

For S Grade Revision, go to http://www.scalloway.org.uk/

or try http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/ -but be selective, as this is aimed primarily at English schools

Test

Test
Originally uploaded by jmmcdgll.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

WIND FARMS

Wind farms have appeared in several SQA questions, including last year's Credit paper. usually candidates have to identify the advantages and disadvantages of wind farms.

Advantages-clean form of energy; no greenhouse gases emitted; they harness a a major source of natural power; will help maintain Scotland's energy supplies; compatable with other activities, eg cycling, forestry, farming

Disadvantages-unsightly-they occupy ridges and hills, so they are visible for miles; out of place in wild and remote places; can affect birds which may get entangled in the massive blades

If you can think any more, let me know! You should know about the lastest project, summarised below:-

Work starts today at Whitelee Farm, Eaglesham Moor on Europe's biggest onshore wind farm.It will comprise 140 turbines running along 30 miles of hilltops. They will be able to power 200,000 homes - the equivalent of more than half of Glasgow's energy needs. ScottishPower says the project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 650,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to the output of around 240,000 cars. The company will also build a network of cycle paths and a visitor centre at the site.

Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, said:

"It will make a major contribution to our twin aims of securing energy supplies and tackling climate change.....ixteen per cent of Scotland's electricity already comes from these sources, compared with 4% for the UK as a whole."Philip Bowman, ScottishPower's chief executive, said: "Whitelee is not the end of the story. If we are to deliver more clean energy, we have really got to keep up the momentum on the other big onshore wind farms in Scotland which are currently in planning."Other windfarms in the pipeline include a "renewable energy park" with 42 wind turbines near Neilston, East Renfrewshire.....Another, with 125 turbines, is proposed for Clyde Muirshiel Country Park. Others are earmarked in the Old Kilpatrick Hills, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

Click here for images of wind farms in Scotland!!

GEOGRAPHY IN ART

Geography is linked to many other subjects, from science to economics, from geology to sociology. To see the connction between geography and fine art, take some time to visit the BBC's Arts pages-they have a section on "Painting the weather"-,an online gallery of some of the UK's best weather pictures, such as Degas' "Jockeys in the Rain"., which you can see at the Burrell. My own favourite is Turner's Snowstorm.
There is an audio tour which you can download and listen to on Real Player.

Geography in the News

2A have started a digest of geography stories in the news-each lesson, they'll write up the story, and copy it to this blog. Today's story is the mud flow in Java, shown on the map below-

Thousands of people on the Indonesian island of Java have been forced from their homes by tonnes of
hot mud and gas.The sludge, which has been spewing out of the ground for more
than two months, is the result of a crack in a gas drilling project near Indonesia's second city, Surabaya

Geography in the News

2A have started a digest of geography stories in the news-each lesson, they'll write up the story, and copy it to this blog. Today's story is the mud flow in Java, shown on the map below-

Thousands of people on the Indonesian island of Java have been forced from their homes by tonnes of
hot mud and gas.The sludge, which has been spewing out of the ground for more
than two months, is the result of a crack in a gas drilling project near Indonesia's second city, Surabaya

S4 Revision Topics

S4 Homework and Exam Prep, October Break


Write up the report on land use issues in glaciated areas (as issued on Monday 2nd October). You will have Monday 23rd to check that all parts of the report are completed and checked. Report must be handed in on Tuesday 24th October.
Read thoroughly chapters 1 and 2 of Standard Grade Study Mate, (C Clarke) to familiarise yourself with the type of questions you will get in the Exam. This is extremely important-take time to read and take summary notes. (Linear or Mind Map format)

What’s In the Prelim?

Ø Map Skills
o Recognition of landforms, eg corrie, valley, spur
o Land use patterns (eg woodland, farmland, settlement)
o Interpretation of transects (Eg as in the Braemar map exercise)
o Evaluating information, eg:-
§ Location of a new factory/supermarket/tourist centre

Ø Glaciated landscapes
o Erosion-corries, pyramidal peaks, U shaped valleys
o Deposition-Glacial and Fluvio-Glacial
o Land uses
§ Upland-climbing, ski-ing, forestry, sheep, walking
§ Lowland-sand/gravel pits, settlements, farmland
o Land use conflicts
§ Footpath erosion, litter, parking
§ Ski-ing v Environment
§ Holiday homes v traditional character of a place

Ø River landscapes (will be covered after the Holiday)
o Upper, Middle, Lower course of a River
§ Waterfall
§ V shaped valley
§ Ox Bow lake
o Land uses
o Case Study-The Rhine



Ø Environmental Issues
o Rain Forest
§ Deforestation; habitat loss
o Deserts
§ Developments, eg oil, mining, water schemes
o Tundra
§ Oil exploration
§ Alaskan Highway
o Seas and Oceans
§ Pollution, waste
§ Over fishing; whaling
Ø Climate

o Rain Forest
o Desert
o Tundra
o Mediterranean

Ø Trade and Aid

o Globalisation-all countries interlinked by trade
o Trading Alliances
§ The EU (enlargement)
o Export and Import patterns
§ Contrast EMDCs and ELDCs
o Uneven pattern of global trade
o Multinationals dominate world economy
§ Nike, Coke; IBM, Microsoft
o Overdependence on one/two exports (eg many African/South American countries)
o Price changes
o Aid
§ Emergency/Disaster Relief
§ Bilateral
§ Multilateral
o Self Help Schemes
o Intermediate Technology

Ø Population

o Population distribution
§ Crowded areas-Europe, Eastern China, Ganges Delta
§ Sparely populated-mountains, extreme climates, few resources/wealth
o Birth and death rates
§ Difference between EMDCs and ELDCs
§ Interpret population pyramids

o Migration
§ Push-Pull factors
§ Impact on people and places
§ Recent Immigration into Scotland
o Indicators of development, eg::-
§ GNP-wealth
§ Literacy-education,
§ Girls/Boys in Primary/Secondary education
§ Car ownership-wealth
§ %age employed in agriculture-high in poorer countries

Wednesday 4th October-Traffic Survey.

SII carried out traffic survey of Kilmacolm as part of their "Methods and Techniques" course. Divided into pairs, with each pair allocated a specific street or junction to survey for ten minutes. each pair had a booking sheet on which they marked, using tally marks, all incoming and outgoing traffic, according to a classification scheme, eg car, lorry, bus, bike etc. Results to be processed and written up on Friday.

Monday 2nd October

S4's views on ski-ing in Scotland:

I found that ski-ing in Glencoe was not very good, probably because of the time of year I went,in February. There was only 1 slope that was open so it was busy and the snow was icy. To get to that slope, we had to use a chairlift. (Chloe)
I found that ski-ing in France was exceptional, due to the delightful amount of snow that was lying on the ground. Although there were crowds of tourists, it was a pleasure to see the spectacular views,incluing that of Mount Blanc. There were various lifts,the gondola,the pomma and the chairlift. (Jonathan C)

S4 are devloping their note taking skills by carrying out an enquiry into land use issues in upland areas of Europe. The starting point of the exercise was a case study of the Cairngorm funicular railway. The class watched a video on the making of the railway and considered the points for and against this.

The following web sites should be used in researching this topic:

http://www.cairngormmountain.com/
http://highergeogblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/cairngorms-website.html
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/sustainableforestry
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/factshts/factsh14.html
http://www.incallander.co.uk/walks/lawers.htm