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3.1.3 Physical landscapes in the UK

9 dot points across 9 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do waves shape the coast, and how should we manage coastal erosion and flooding?

Wave types and coastal processes of weathering, mass movement, erosion, transport and deposition; erosional and depositional landforms; and the costs and benefits of hard and soft coastal management.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.3 coastal landscapes, covering wave types, coastal processes, erosional and depositional landforms, and the costs and benefits of hard engineering, soft engineering and managed retreat.
10 min answer →

How do the parts of an ecosystem fit together, and where are the world's major biomes?

The concept of an ecosystem, the balance between living and non-living components, food chains, food webs, nutrient cycling, a small-scale UK ecosystem, and the global distribution and characteristics of large-scale biomes.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.2 The living world, covering the structure of an ecosystem, food chains and food webs, nutrient cycling, a small-scale UK pond ecosystem, and the global distribution of large-scale biomes.
8 min answer →

How did ice shape the UK's mountains, and how is glaciated land used today?

Glacial processes of erosion, transport and deposition, the resulting erosional and depositional landforms, and the economic opportunities and conflicts in glaciated upland areas.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.3 glacial landscapes, covering glacial processes, erosional landforms such as corries and U-shaped valleys, depositional landforms, and the opportunities and conflicts of land use in glaciated uplands.
9 min answer →

How do plants, animals and people survive in hot deserts, and what are the chances for development?

The physical characteristics and adaptations of hot deserts, the opportunities and challenges of developing a hot desert, the causes of desertification, and strategies to reduce the risk.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.2 hot deserts, covering desert climate and adaptations, the development opportunities and challenges of the Thar Desert, the causes of desertification, and strategies to reduce the risk.
8 min answer →

What are natural hazards, and why do earthquakes and volcanoes happen where they do?

Definition and types of natural hazard, hazard risk; plate tectonics theory, plate margins, and the effects of and responses to a tectonic hazard in a contrasting pair of countries.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.1, covering types of natural hazard, hazard risk, plate tectonics theory, the three plate margins, and the contrasting effects of and responses to earthquakes in Nepal and Italy.
9 min answer →

How does a river shape its valley from source to mouth, and how do we manage flooding?

The long profile and changing valley cross profile of a river, fluvial processes of erosion, transport and deposition, erosional and depositional landforms, and hard and soft flood management.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.3 river landscapes, covering the long and cross profiles, fluvial processes, erosional and depositional landforms from waterfalls to floodplains, and hard and soft flood management strategies.
10 min answer →

Why are tropical rainforests so rich in life, and why are they being lost?

The physical characteristics, interdependence and plant and animal adaptations of tropical rainforests, the causes and impacts of deforestation, the value of rainforests, and strategies for sustainable management.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.2 tropical rainforests, covering rainforest climate and structure, interdependence and adaptations, the causes and impacts of deforestation in the Amazon, and strategies for sustainable management.
9 min answer →

What are the UK's major upland, lowland and river landscapes, and where are they?

An overview of the location of the UK's major upland and lowland areas and its main rivers, as the foundation for studying coastal, river and glacial landscapes.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.3, giving an overview of the distribution of the UK's upland and lowland landscapes and its major rivers, the foundation for the coastal, river and glacial landscape topics.
7 min answer →

How do tropical storms form, and is the climate changing because of us?

Global atmospheric circulation, the formation, structure and distribution of tropical storms, the effects of and responses to a named tropical storm, UK extreme weather, and evidence, causes, effects and management of climate change.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.1.1 weather hazards and 3.1.2 climate change, covering global atmospheric circulation, tropical storm formation, Typhoon Haiyan, UK extreme weather, and the evidence, causes, effects and management of climate change.
9 min answer →