A Level Geography

Qualification Title: A-Level Geography

Qualification Number: 601/8417/6

UCAS Points: Up to 56

Area of Study 1: Dynamic Landscapes
Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards

• Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis
• The Earth’s Internal Structure
• Plate Tectonic Theory
• Continental Drift
• Palaeomagnetism
• Plate Boundaries
• MEDCs and LEDCs
• Tectonic Mega-disasters
• Prediction and Forecasting
• Hazard Management

Topic 2: Glaciated Landscapes and Change

• Climate Change
• Volcanic Eruptions
• The Cryosphere
• Ice Masses
• Periglacial Processes and Landforms
• Tundra
• Glacial Mass Balance and Glacier Movement
• Rate of Movement
• Glacial Erosion, Transportation, and Deposition
• Formation of Lowland Depositional Features
• Fluvioglacial Landforms
• Proglacial Features
• Biodiversity
• The Water Cycle and The Carbon Cycle
• Human Activity

Area of Study 2: Dynamic Places
Topic 3: Globalisation

• The Influence of Technology
• International Political and Economic Organisations
• Special Economic Zones and their Benefit
• KOF Index
• Transnational Corporations (TNCs)
• The Global Shift
• Push and Pull Factors
• International Migration
• A Global Culture
• Cultural Erosion
• Gross Domestic Product
• Social Measures of Development
• Effects of Globalisation
• Retention of Cultural Values
• Fair Trade
• Ethical Consumption Schemes
• Recycling

Topic 4: Regeneration Places

• Economies
• Places, Reasons for, and Measuring Change
• National, Global, International and Regional Influences
• The Negative Multiplier Effect
• Media Sources
• Representations of Place
• Infrastructure Investment
• North-south Divide
• Planning Policies
• Government Policy
• Local Interest Groups
• Rebranding
• Regeneration Strategies
• The Living Environment

Area of Study 3: Physical Systems and Sustainability
Topic 5: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity

• Hydrological Cycle
• Water Stores
• Types of Precipitation
• A Tropical Rainforest: The Amazon
• Water Budget
• River Regimes
• Storm Hydrograph
• Urbanisation
• Drought
• The Ecological Impact
• Flooding
• The Water Cycle and Climate Change
• Rising Demand and Diminishing Supply
• Physical and Economic Scarcity
• Water Conflicts and the Future
• Techno-fix
• Sustainable Schemes

Topic 6: Carbon Cycle and Energy Security

• The Biogeochemical Carbon Cycle
• Human Effects
• Carbon Budgets
• Carbon Sequestration in Oceans
• Thermohaline Circulation
• Terrestrial Sequestration
• The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change
• The Concentration of Carbon
• Photosynthesis
• Energy Consumption
• Fossil Fuels
• Biofuels

Area of Study 4: Human Systems and Geopolitics
Topic 7: Superpowers

• Economic, Military, Political and Cultural Power
• Natural Resources
• Demographics
• Hard Power vs Soft Power
• Types of Polarity
• Geopolitical Polarity and Stability
• Emerging Nations
• Strengths and Weaknesses
• The role of TNCs
• Global Action
• International Alliances
• Arctic Oil and Gas
• Intellectual Property
• Political Spheres of Influence
• Conflicts in the Middle East
• Importance of China and India
• Economic Problems

Topic 8: Health, Human Rights and intervention

• Human Development
• Happy Planet Index
• Sharia Law
• Bolivia under Evo Morales
• Goals of Development
• The Importance of Education
• UNESCO
• Health and Life Expectancy
• The Importance of IGOs
• Millennium Development Goals
• Human Rights
• The Transition to Democracy
• Levels of Political Corruption
• Equality
• Geopolitical Interventions
• Short-term Responses
• Just War Theory
• The Effectiveness of Development Aid
• Recent Military Interventions
• The Cost of Inaction