6B AS Course Outline

The Physical Environment (Module 2680)
Lithosphere a) Tectonic process and the influence of plate movements on volcanic activity, earthquakes and landforms. b) Weathering processes and the influence of lithology. The main weathering processes to be studied in the context of landform development, with particular reference to granite and limestones. c) Slope systems and processes of mass movement.	Hydrological systems a) Drainage basins hydrology. b) Hydrographs.
Atmospheric systems a) The global earth-atmosphere energy budget. b) Local energy budgets.	Ecosystems a) The components of ecosystems and how they inter-relate. b) Place-specific study of a xerosere (sand dune succession).

The Human Environment (Module 2681)

Population: pattern, process and change

a) The spatial distribution of population.

b) Population change through time.

c) Migration.

Rural Settlement

a) Rural settlement in MEDCs.

b) Population changes in MEDCs since 1960.

To include: a rural region in an MEDC that has undergone significant population and socio-economic change in the last forty years.

Urban Settlement

a) Contemporary urban growth in MEDCs.

b) Urban land use and population patterns in cities.

c) Contemporary urbanisation in LEDCs.

To include: an urban settlement in an MEDC where recent economic or social or demographic change has caused environmental problems.

And: An urban settlement in an LEDC where urbanisation has caused environmental problems.

Geographical Investigation (Module 2682)

Each candidate must carry out one investigation, to lead to a report of not more than 1000 words. This should be a complete study encompassing each of the following five stages:

i. Identification of the question.

ii. Development of a strategy to answer the question.

iii. Collection of the data.

iv. Analysis, evaluation and interpretation of the data.

v. Presentation of a summary of the final conclusions.