Geography Essential Questions EOY 2012.

Geography Essential Questions, 2012. [EOY]

1. Describe the reasons for the rising demand for land. [6Marks] The increase in population requires a growth in industries to provide for increasing demand for jobs and businesses. This increase in industries to provide more jobs and businesses to keep unemployment rate down requires a huge amount of land. For example, in Singapore, industries use 10% of total land area. Thus, causing the rising demand for land. The increase in population requires an increasing demand for recreational space for families. Recreational spaces are needed to provide for the growing population, for example swimming pools, parks, nature reserves. Therefore leading to a rising demand for land. The increase of population requires a growth in agriculture to produce more food to feed the people. This increase in agriculture requires more land as 80% of the Earth’s land is unsuitable for agriculture due to unsuitable soils or climates. Hence, causing the increase in rising demand for land. Marks awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

2. Explain how increasing the price for land can be used as a response to the rising demand. The increase in population causes a growth of housing. The land area available for use in a

country or city is limited. When the demand for land increases, this equates to the increase

of price for the land. The minority might be willing to pay a higher price for the same land.

However, the majority would not be willing to pay or they would buy cheaper lands and

thus this would ultimately stop the overall demand for land.

Marks awarded: ( Marks)

Comments: ( )

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3. Evaluate the various responses of increasing the supply of land. (Land clearance, landfill, empoldering and reclaiming derelict land.) Land area is limited, and as the demand of land raises the greater the need to increase the supply of land. One such various response to increasing land supply is Land Clearance. Land clearance is a process where land is cleared by demolishing old buildings or by deforestation. However, deforestation causes loss of habitats for plants and animals as well as the extinction of plant and animal species. An example of land clearance would be in Singapore, all graves in Bidadari Cemetery at Upper Aljunied Road/ Upper Serangoon Road, was exhumed to make way for new development projects. An advantage by land clearance is that it is easier and is able to increase the amount of land available at a faster rate. A disadvantage to land clearance would be deforestation, the burning of trees causing global warming which is not friendly to the environment. Another example of various responses to increase land supply is Landfill. Landfill is a method by draining the desired land area and filling it with material to create dry land. With today technology, it only allows reclamation of land for waters up to 15 metres in depth. An example of landfill in Singapore would be places such as Bedok, Jurong Island and Changi Airport. There is always an advantage and disadvantage. An advantage of Landfill would be that land is being freed and using land which used to be part of the ocean, sea to now build buildings or farms. A disadvantage to landfill is that land reclamation projects for landfills have changed the seabed in the territories affecting shipping routes. This would affect Singapore’s ports as sea space is required to maintain accessibility. Another example of various responses to increase land supply is empoldering. Empoldering normally refers to the creation of a piece of land in a low-lying area reclaimed from a body of water by building dykes and by drainage, which is called polder. Polders normally constitute areas of land reclaimed from a body of water, such as the lake or the sea, and are consequently below the surrounding water level. The most successful empoldering project up to date has been the Zuider Zee project in the Netherlands. An advantage of land empoldering is that the polder can be reused for agriculture and other purposes. Also, farmers are able to benefit from empoldering as they could control the water supply in their fields. Lastly another example of a response to increase land supply is reclaiming of derelict land. Reclaiming of derelict land is to reclaim land that is damaged by natural disasters or improper human activities. Improper human activities include improper farming or mining as well as improper waste disposal. Derelict land can be made arable again by adding fertilisers to restore nutrients lost through poor farming methods, removing or levelling out waste heaps, filling mining pools and planting new vegetation to prevent soil erosion. An advantage of reclaiming derelict land is that it could make useless land to be useful again. An disadvantage of reclaiming derelict land is that it is very costly and time consuming. Marks awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

4. Describe the process of landfill and empoldering. The landfill process is done by draining the desired area and filling it with material to create dry land. Firstly, columns of sand forced into soft clay of the seabed to make it more stable. A machine would be used to force the columns of sands (piles) into the seabed. Secondly, a sand wall is built around the area to be reclaimed to keep sea water out. Sand is loaded into the sea just outside the sand wall and stored there until it is needed. Thirdly, the sand that was previously loaded into the sea is sucked up and pumped into the enclosed area. As additional sand raises the level of the seabed to above sea level. Fourthly, the sand is then compressed as compacted sand reduces time needed for settling. A granite wall is also built on the side facing the sea to prevent the area from being eroded by waves. Lastly, trees and vegetation are grown on the reclaimed land to prevent soil erosion. After which the land is left to rest, the duration of rest depends on the purpose of the land in future, resting allows sand to stabilise. Empoldering normally refers to the creation of a piece of land in a low-lying area reclaimed from a body of water by building dykes and by drainage, which is called polder. Firstly, a dike is constructed around the area to be reclaimed to keep water from coming in. Secondly, the area is drained using pumps and drainage canals. Thirdly, reeds a type of plant, are sown by air craft to help form soil. Fourthly, after three years, the reeds are burnt and the ash is used as fertilisers for the soil. Lastly, after a period of up to 15 years, the polder is ready for growing crops, building houses and constructing roads. Marks awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( ) ___________________________________________________________________________

5. Describe how existing land uses can be maximized. Existing land uses can be maximized by maximising use of urban land use. Mixed land developments refer to areas that comprise a mixture of activities, example financial and commercial, residential. Previously, cities were planned based on zones where different areas on a piece of land were assigned different functions. This planning process is called land use planning. It was impractical because people had to travel long distance to move from one zone to another. With mixed land use, various land uses are now connected by effective transport systems. The competition for land is more intense in cities. High density building are in areas where there are many people living or working per unit area. Therefore, buildings are built close together to allow more residential flats to house growing population and offer more offices to accommodate expanding economic activities. Today’s technology allows the construction of taller buildings where land is scarce but high in demand. For example, Singapore has tall HDB flats in older housing estates like Bishan and Toa Payoh. Existing land uses can be maximized by maximising agricultural land use. Irrigation is the watering of crops through artificial means. It also increase yields in existing farmlands by lengthening the growing seasons. Traditional irrigation methods include diverting water to the fields by simpler canals. Nowadays, dams are built and these dams provide irrigation all year around. Sprinklers driven by electric pumps from dams are also widely used on modern farms to increase the efficiency of irrigation. Terracing involves creating flat strips of land by cutting a series of steps into hill slopes. Terracing increases the area of arable land, thus maximizing the exiting land use. Low walls built at the end of each step slow down the runoff of rain water, thus preventing soil erosion. This allows rainwater to seep into the soil and then be absorbed by plant roots. This wall also creates flooded conditions ideal for cultivation for padi. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

6. Evaluate the various responses of maximizing the existing use of land. Existing land uses can be maximized by mixed land use. Mixed land developments refer to areas that comprise a mixture of activities, example financial and commercial, residential. Previously, cities were planned based on zones where different areas on a piece of land were assigned different functions. This planning process is called land use planning. It was impractical because people had to travel long distance to move from one zone to another. With mixed land use, various land uses are now connected by effective transport systems. An advantage by mixed land use is that people would have easy access to shops, work, recreation and schools. But an disadvantage is that residential areas close to other functions such as industries and shopping areas may lead to traffic congestion as well as noise and air pollution due to the increased amounts of human and vehicle traffic. Existing land uses can be maximized by high density buildings. The competition for land is more intense in cities. High density building are in areas where there are many people living or working per unit area. Therefore, buildings are built close together to allow more residential flats to house growing population and offer more offices to accommodate expanding economic activities. Today’s technology allows the construction of taller buildings where land is scarce but high in demand. For example, Singapore has tall HDB flats in older housing estates like Bishan and Toa Payoh. An advantage for high density buildings is that it helps to reduce the rate at which the country’s remaining green spaces are developed. An disadvantage for high density buildings is that the large number of people in a small area may result in a more crowded environment, traffic congestion and higher noise levels. All these may lead to increased stress levels among people and reduce their quality of life. Existing land uses can be maximized by irrigation. Irrigation is the watering of crops through artificial means. It also increase yields in existing farmlands by lengthening the growing seasons. Traditional irrigation methods include diverting water to the fields by simpler canals. Nowadays, dams are built and these dams provide irrigation all year around. Sprinklers driven by electric pumps from dams are also widely used on modern farms to increase the efficiency of irrigation. An advantage for irrigation is that it ensures a regular supply of water, which allows farmers to grow greater amounts and wider varieties of crops. An disadvantage is that the cost of maintenance of canals is very high. Existing land uses can be maximized by terracing. Terracing involves creating flat strips of land by cutting a series of steps into hill slopes. Terracing increases the area of arable land, thus maximizing the exiting land use. Low walls built at the end of each step slow down the runoff of rain water, thus preventing soil erosion. This allows rainwater to seep into the soil and then be absorbed by plant roots. This wall also creates flooded conditions ideal for cultivation for padi. An advantage for is that terracing is an inexpensive method of increasing the area of arable land. An disadvantage for terracing is that they are difficult to construct and requires a lot of human energy and time to cut steps into hill slopes.

Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

7. Describe the reasons for the increasing demand for water. Increase population requires a growth in agriculture to produce more food to feed the people. This increase in agriculture requires more water for watering plants and water for animals to drink. The amount of water used for agricultural purposes in the world is 69%. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for water. Increasing population requires a growth in industries to provide for increasing demand for products and services. This increase in industries requires more water for cleaning and cooling the machines, as well as a raw material in making products. Thus, the increasing demand for water. Increasing population requires a change in life style as the country becomes more develop, the standard of living as well as the incomes of the people generally increases. Basic household water requirements have been estimated around 50 litres per person, per day, excluding water for gardens, which is much higher in developed countries. It is estimated that 15% of water use worldwide is for household purposes. Hence, the increasing demand for water. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

8. Evaluate the various responses to the rising demand For water.

There are many responses to the rising demand for water. An response made to the rising demand for water would be the increasing price of water. Some countries increase the price of water to control demand of water. Due to the increasing price of water, people who do not want to pay more for water use less water. An advantage to this is that the price increase helps to reduce the rising costs of producing and distributing water. The disadvantage to increasing the price of water is that the impact on people will be uneven and those who can afford to pay more will continue to use large amounts of water. But the poor will suffer more when the price of water increases. Another response made to control the demand of water is increasing of water supply. A water catchment area is built to collect water. Rain water is intercepted by trees and then absorbed into the soil. The water eventually flows into a reservoir for storage. An advantage is the low cost needed, rain water is easier and cheaper to purify because it is much cleaner than used water and does not contain salt. A disadvantage is that this response it is not viable for small countries, which cannot afford to set aside too much land. Finally, the conserving of water helps to control the demand for water. Water conservation refers to careful use of water resources to ensure minimal wastage. Educating the public through campaigns and educating industries through talks and introduction of guidelines is a way to encourage water conservation. An advantage to water conservation is that It reduces risk of future water shortage for families and industries. As they are encouraged to use less water to prevent water supplies in reservoirs from being depleted. A disadvantage is that it is very hard to get everyone to cooperate and conserve water. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

9. What are the causes of air/land/water pollution? There are many causes of air pollution; one such cause is by industries. Due to the fact that

industries burn fossil fuels, it produces harmful pollutants such as soot, sulphur dioxide and

excessive heat. Another cause of air pollution would be motor vehicles. As motor vehicles burns fuel

to get energy, dust, smoke, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are being released by the vehicle

into the air. Another cause of air pollution would be construction work, example the constructing of

the circle line. Construction work requires clearing of land for construction of buildings and

transporting of construction materials. Dust and smoke is being released. A major cause of air

pollution would be volcanic eruptions. Natural volcanic eruptions produce volcanic ash, smoke, soot

and poisonous gases. These poisonous gases are being spread around in the air easily. Lastly, forest

fires are also causes of air pollution as it produces dust, smoke and ashes.

One cause of water pollution is the improper disposal of sewage. Sewage contains, chemicals,

untreated human waste and non-biodegradable detergents. This untreated sewage is released into

water bodies. Some non-biodegradable substances, example detergents, cannot be broken down.

Another cause of water pollution is oil spills. Oil spills accidents occurs at sea, it occurs when the hull

of an oil tanker is torn by sharp rocks, or if the tanker collides with another ship, causing oil that is

being carried to spill into the sea. Oil spills are very difficult to clean up, as they spread over large

areas and are not easily broken down. Another cause of water pollution is Agriculture. Agriculture

uses excessive of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides and these substances are washed

into water bodies. Examples of which are Phosphates and Nitrates. These wastes encourage an

explosion in growth of algae leading to insufficient oxygen in the water. This causes plants and

aquatic animals to suffocate and die. Aquatic life are also being decomposed, this further reduces

oxygen levels.

One cause of land pollution is domestic activities. Domestic activities causes land pollution as there is a lack of suitable places for waste disposal. It also causes land pollution as there are insufficient controls over the disposal of waste. Pollutants such as non-biodegradable wastes like plastic and metals are released. Another cause of land pollution is industries. As industries produces large amounts of chemicals and hard wastes, it is not disposed properly thus, causing land pollution. Toxic chemicals, metals and industrial wastes are released. Another cause of land pollution is mining. Mining causes land pollution as large amounts of waste materials from mining sites are left behind after minerals have been extracted. These waste materials include toxic chemicals, radioactive wastes and mining wastes. Lastly, another cause of land pollution is agricultural activities. Agricultural activities causes land pollution as soil contamination through excessive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Due to the excessive use of pesticides, pests develop resistance to pesticides overtime. Farmers are then being forced to use even more pesticides, worsening soil contamination. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

10. What are the effects of air/land/water pollution?

Industry causes land pollution and these pollutants they release causes health hazards to those with

respiratory disease, example asthma, bronchitis. These pollutants causes heart and lung diseases or

cancer, it also dirties and corrodes buildings due to the acidic substance. Acid rain kills fishes in rivers

and lakes and visibility is reduced. Motor Vehicles cause a huge 90% of air pollution in urban areas,

as due to the advance in technology, there are more motor vehicles used. The carbon monoxide and

nitrogen oxide released worsens the human respiratory system. Construction work also worsens the

human respiratory system and dirties buildings. Also, the pollutants being released can be carried by

wind easily to nearby residential areas. Volcanic eruptions and forest fires, causes damage to natural

vegetation, wildlife and settlements. Due to the amount of ash, soot and smoke produces, nearby

countries can be affected by the resulting haze, visibility is reduced and air traffic affected. Health

hazards as well are caused to those with respiratory problems like asthmatic people.

Improper disposal of sewage destroys aquatic life. Chemicals encourage algae to grow this prevents

sunlight from reaching aquatic plants. Health hazard for people who consume polluted aquatic

plants and animals example birth deformities. To clear this pollution is very costly and it may take

years for plants and animal life to be restored. Oil spills prevents aquatic plants from

photosynthesising as there is a layer of oil on water surface. Sea birds and mammals freeze to death

from cold when layer of oil prevents them from trapping air between their bodies and hair. Hair is

made for animals to act as a layer of insulation. Sea birds may drown as the oil on their wings

prevents them from flying. The livelihoods of fishermen are affected, as they will have lesser animals

to catch and sell, tourism revenue is also affected. To clear oil spills, is very costly and takes many

workers and many years to complete. Agriculture pollution of the water affects the aquatic life and

causes death. Chemicals that are washed into the water bodies accumulate in plants and animals

which are in contact with polluted water bodies. These are a health hazard to humans as when

consumed, birth deformities occur.

Domestic activities affects the quality of life in surrounding area due to bad smells and also causes

environmental eyesore. These are a health hazard to humans because improperly disposed wastes

attract pests like rats and insects, which can spread diseases. Industrial activities contaminate plants

and animals in turn become a health hazard to humans when consumed. It is costly to dispose of

properly, and costly to treat it. Mining destroys surrounding vegetation and wildlife, after which the

land becomes unusable. Agricultural activities causes cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, skin

problems. These are effects that can be caused by health hazard due to agricultural activities.

Poisoning of wildlife, example brittle shells in birds’ eggs, deformed chicks leads to a danger of

extinction in some species.

Marks Awarded: ( Marks)

Comments: ( )

11. Evaluate the various measures taken to reduce air/land/water pollution at different levels (individual, national and international.).

As individuals, one of the main ways is “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”. Examples of “Reduce, Reuse

and Recycle” are, firstly reducing the amount of polluting materials such as disposal products such as

paper and cups and pesticides that are used on land. Secondly, we individuals could reuse materials

such as plastic bags, or any waste materials which come from forests and factories. Lastly,

individuals, could recycle, materials which are recyclable into new forms examples, plastics made

into furniture and newspapers recycled into new paper products. But, it has to be acknowledged

that there are always disadvantaged and advantages. An advantage of this is that, it is easy to

implement, but a disadvantage is that it cannot be enforced, people can only be encouraged to

comply with measures but not forced.

As a national level, governments can make laws to require organizations to recycle materials and to

minimize land, water and air pollution. Laws can be passed to require individuals to dispose waste

properly and to refrain from making excessive noise. Fines and taxes are used to enforce these laws.

Governments can also limit the use of toxic chemicals, or banning the use of very acidic chemicals to

prevent pollution. Public education to reduce, reuse and recycle materials can also be made, by

advertisements, school programmes and workshops for industries to make people better informed

and act more responsibly to reduce pollution. They could also decide where waste matter is put, and

in state, sealed, incinerated or buried in a land fill. An advantage would be that measures can be

enforced through laws. People, who do not, can be met with penalties such as fines. A disadvantage

is that some measures may affect industries economically and these industries may choose to locate

elsewhere affecting the economy of the country.

At the international level, an example is the agreement that was made between Singapore,

Indonesia and Malaysia to check and monitor ocean-going ships passing through the straits of

Malacca and Singapore Straits to minimise sea pollution. Agreements were also made between the

Association of South-East Asian Nations to reduce slash and burn activities in the forests of the

Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra to minimise impact of haze on neighbouring countries. An

advantage is that if all countries comply with the agreed measures, the effects of these measures

due to the extent at which the solutions are carried out. A disadvantage is that Countries cannot be

forced to adopt the measures. Even if countries adopt the measures, it will be difficult to enforce if

the country does not comply with the agreed measures.

Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

12. Explain the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon in which gases which make up the Earth’s atmosphere absorb heat from the Sun, warming the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere. The Earth radiates heat into the atmosphere, some of this heat escapes into space. Some of the heat is absorbed by the greenhouse gases which heats up and radiate the heat back to Earth. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

13. Describe the causes of global warming. One of the causes of global warming is the burning of fossil fuels. The main reason why fossil fuels are burnt, is because it generate electricity that we need daily. During burning at factories, fossil fuels which contain carbon in solid form, is changed into carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide itself traps heat, with this additional amount of carbon dioxide added into the air, more heat is being trapped which increases the temperature. Another reason for global warming is deforestation. Around 15 million hectares of rainforests are cleared every year and burning forests to clear land releases carbon dioxide. When trees are burnt, we release carbon dioxide trapped in the trees in form of carbon. As trees also change carbon dioxide into oxygen by photosynthesis, fewer trees would mean that more carbon dioxide is not changed into oxygen. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

14. Describe the consequences of global warming. Changes in weather conditions are consequences of global warming. It is estimated that by 2100, the earth’s average temperature will increase by another 1.5 degree Celsius to 4.5 degree Celsius. This will lead to an huge increase in evaporation rates, resulting in severe droughts since drier areas of the world will become even drier. Water shortages will affect plant, animal and human lives. Rising sea levels are another consequences of global warming. Sea levels are likely to rise as a result of global warming because water expands when it’s temperature increases. The increasing temperature also causes polar ice caps in the North and South Pole to melt, leading to a rise in sea levels of 20 to 50 centimetres by 2050. This put low-lying islands and cities at major risks of being flooded and eventually submerged under water. Lastly, there will be a huge impact on plants. Excessive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides for plants are being washed into water bodies. These wastes encourage an explosion in growth of aquatic plants leading to insufficient oxygen in the water. Both plants and aquatic animals suffocate and die, due to the lack of oxygen. Death of aquatic life, further reduces oxygen levels due to decomposition. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )

15. Evaluate the measures to reduce the impact of global warming. (Individual, national and international.) As individuals, we could start to reduce the impact of global warming by using low-energy electric light bulbs, with high energy-saving ratings. Not only so, individuals could play a part by offing electrical appliances if not in use. Examples, lights and fans not at home but also in school and air conditioners. Also, we could reduce our usage of paper as paper comes from trees; this reduces the amount of trees being cut down. As trees helps us change carbon dioxide into oxygen. We can reuse our old papers as rough paper to draft out any ideas if necessary instead of taking new pieces of paper. Individuals could also recycle the paper we use, putting them into the recycling bin instead of throwing it away and letting it be burned. Using public transport, walking and cycling instead of using cars can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles and lower energy needs. An advantage is that it is easy to implement. A disadvantage is that, it cannot be enforced. People can only be encouraged to comply with measures but not forced to do it. Governments could close down older, coal-fired power stations and switching to cleaner, gas fired ones, or those that use nuclear or hydro-electric energy. Developing renewable sources of energy such as wind farms and solar panels that do not produce greenhouse gases could be built too. Using solar panels we can recycle heat and change it into energy, instead of burning fossil fuels. Governments could also regulate car manufacturing to reduce petrol consumption and exhaust emissions; this reduces the amount of greenhouse gases produce. Lastly, they could provide an efficient and pleasant public transport system. Cars could use gases instead of burning oil. An advantage is that measures can be enforced through laws. Non-compliance can be met with penalties such as fines. An disadvantage is that some measures may affect industries economically and these industries may choose to locate else where affecting the economy of the country. International efforts could be made by gathering all the countries to agree on cutting greenhouse gases. An example of one such event is the Kyoto Protocol. World leaders met in Kyoto, Japan in 1997 and agreed to cut greenhouse gases by an average of 5.5% by 2010 from the 1990 levels. Most countries agreed to it except the United States of America, Russia and Australia, agreed to the cuts. Also countries could encourage one another by helping in production of low energy electric light bulbs, air conditioners, yet highly efficient. Also set a standard for exhaust emissions by cars, regulating them to reduce petrol consumption. An advantage of international efforts is that if all countries comply with the agreed measures, the effects of these measures adopted can be very effective due to the extent at which the solutions are carried out. A disadvantage to it is that countries cannot be forced to adopt the measures. Even if countries adopt the measures, it will be difficult to enforce if the country does not comply with the agreed measures. Marks Awarded: ( Marks) Comments: ( )