Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geography

Cold Climate Zones

Discover the unique characteristics of cold climate regions.

Location

• Primarily found at 60º N latitude in Eurasia and North America.
• Also present at high altitudes in more temperate latitudes and in southern Chile.

Temperature

• Winters are long and intensely cold.
• Minimum mean monthly temperatures can drop as low as -25ºC.
• Limited influence from the sea and low solar insolation.
• In areas within the North Arctic Circle, the sun may not rise for extended periods.
• Summers are short, but extended daylight hours and clear skies lead to relatively warm conditions.

Annual Precipitation

• Typically around 300 mm.
• Precipitation is light because the cold air holds limited moisture.
• Summer months may experience rainstorms.

Vegetation

• Dominated by coniferous

Emerging and In-Transition Countries

Emerging Economies

These countries experience significant economic growth but still face challenges such as social inequality and limited civil rights and democracy.

Examples:

• China and India: Strong economic growth and large populations have positioned them among the most active economies globally.
• Arabian Peninsula: Significant economic growth is coupled with issues like gender discrimination.

Countries in Transition

These countries are moving out of the developing category due to factors like natural resources, industrial relocation from developed countries seeking lower production costs, and pro-business policies.

Examples:

• Southeast Asia: Experiencing significant industrial growth and a rise in tourism.
• North

PRIMARY SECTOR

PRIMARY SECTOR

The primary sector involves activities related to obtaining natural resources for manufacturing or food:

• Agriculture involves farming the land to produce raw materials, such as cereals, cotton, and fruit.
• Livestock farming involves raising animals for food and for raw materials, such as leather and wool.
• Forestry consists of exploiting the wood from trees in forests and plantations, along with other raw materials, such as resin, cork, and rubber.
• Fishing involves catching or farming fish, molluscs, and crustaceans.

SECONDARY SECTOR

SECONDARY SECTOR

The secondary sector involves manufacturing raw materials and producing capital goods:

• Mining consists of removing rocks and minerals from the subsoil. Although this activity

1.2. The politics of the Ancien Régime The absolute monarchies and the parliamentary monarchy in England • The absolute monarchies • The model: Louis XIV of France (1643-1715). He did not called the Estates General, he controlled the government and he intervened in the economy (mercantilism) • Spain: Lesser Hapsburgs • Parliamentary monarchy in England • Civil War between Royalists (Charles I) and Parliamentarians • Republic: Lord Protector • Charles II and James II: absolute monarchy • Glorious Revolution (1688): Bill of Rights • Parliamentary monarchy: two chambers. House of Lords and House of Commons • 1707 United Kingdom of Great Britain. 2. The Economy and society of the Ancien Régime • Economy • Traditional agriculture:... Continue reading "Concept of education" »

World Climate Zones: Characteristics and Locations

Equatorial Humid Climate

• High temperatures throughout the year, around 26°C, with little annual range.
• It rains all months, averaging 2000mm.
• Soils in the jungle are poor.
• Locations: Congo and Amazon basins, the Gulf of Guinea, Indonesia, South India, Madagascar.

Tropical Climate with Dry and Wet Seasons

• Temperature range is 10°C between the warmest and the coldest month.
• Generally warm all year, with rainfall distributed in a wet season.
• Heavy rains are due to the monsoon winds. Rainfall exceeds 1500mm.
• Vegetation ranges from tropical forest to dense gallery forest, savannah, woodland, and herbaceous savannah.
• Locations: Central America and the Caribbean, much of South America, Africa south of the

LANDSCAPE:

Ok. I’m going to start talking about the landscape of Tasmania. In Tasmania there is a very different variety of landscapes, we can find from very green landscapes full of trees and different types of plants to very large deserts. The Tasmanian medium temperature is 23ºC during all the year as you can see this isn’t like Victoria (HAHAHAH), Victoria it's so cold and the summer lasts 2 months more than here.

The Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil is a species of dasyuromorphia marsupial of the Dasyuridae family. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial existing today, after the extinction of the marsupial wolf. It can arrive to 15 km per hour. Live in herds, that means you do not hunt or eat alone. As we have said before, they are... Continue reading "Discovering Tasmania: Landscapes, Wildlife, and Conservation" »

Carbon dioxide, fossil fuels, global warming, greenhouse effects, industrialized countries, natural habitats, sea levels, climate change, endangered species, greenhouse gases, heat waves, ice caps, solar power, nuclear power, developing countries, carbon emissions

turbine, panels, energy-saving, stand by (en funcionamiento), footprint, organic, thermostat, recyclable, hybrid, dryer

Should, ought to – express advice / have to – obligation and order / mustn’t – prohibition / must – obligation / need to – necessity / needn’t or don’t have to – lack of obligation

(Match the verbs to make collocations) clear the ground, fell trees, graze cattle, grow crops, raise public awareness, struggle for survival (Match adj with nouns to make... Continue reading "Environmental Issues, Energy Sources, and Job Sectors" »

Urbanization is a process of urban growth that leads to a greater proportion of people being concentrated into towns or cities.

Historical Context of Urban Growth

Towns and cities grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution. The 19th century also saw an agricultural revolution, where new farm machinery reduced the need for labor on farms. This prompted people to move to towns where jobs were available in factories.

Towns and cities continued growing in the 20th century, causing rural depopulation and issues in rundown inner-city areas.

Causes of Urbanization in Developing Nations

• Rural-to-urban migration.
• High rates of natural increase among the youthful populations of these cities.
• Concentration of industry makes cities a natural magnet for young

San Francisco and Sacramento

San Francisco is one of the most famous cities in California. It's located on the West Coast of the United States, at the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. This peninsula is connected to Marin County via the Golden Gate Bridge. The territory of San Francisco was first explored by Gaspar de Portolá. Seven years later, in 1776, the Mission San Francisco de Asis was founded by Juan Bautista de Anza.

After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, the area became part of Mexico and was named Yerba Buena, the original name of San Francisco. In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, Yerba Buena was claimed by John B. Montgomery and became part of the United States. When Mexico officially ceded the territory at... Continue reading "San Francisco and Sacramento: History, Landmarks, and Attractions" »

Advantages and Disadvantages of Maritime Shipping

Advantages

• Low Sinister Rate: High international security.
• Flexibility: Adapts to varied demands.
• Capacity: Allows transport of heavy or voluminous loads.
• Traceability: Facilitates tracking vessels and loads.
• Long Distance: Connects all continents.
• Cost: Prices are very competitive.

Disadvantages

• Requires Other Means of Transport: It is not possible to make 'door to door' service.
• Slow: It is less competitive in this sense.
• High Requirement of Infrastructures: Depends on port development and connections with other means.
• Complexity: It is difficult to determine the legal framework of application.

The Port

The port encompasses all land spaces, maritime waters, and facilities located at the coast that meet... Continue reading "Introduction to Maritime Shipping" »