Comprehensive revision notes for the AQA A-Level Geography Population and Environment notes. Includes notes from all sub-sections of the textbook and case study information.
10.1: Introduction to the relationship between population and the environment:
Ability of place to support a population depends on provision of adequate food supply – achieved -
local food production/trade in food with other areas which have surplus’
- BUT:
Geology -
soils
Factors
affecting food Topography -
Climate -
and energy, soils and
water supply population drainage
size etc
Eco-systems
Also: determine nature of soils, drainage, water supply and hazards
Population change is associated with economic development
Population growth has an impact on the physical environment – degree is determined by level of
resource consumption, standard of living and mitigation measures to reduce negative impacts
Elements in the physical environment:
Climate:
- Most important
- Rainfall, temperature, wind velocity and levels of solar radiation determine food
productivity, type of farming and species selected
- High population density - determined by adequate rainfall - temperatures suitable for crop
growth, animals and photosynthesis
- Also effects disease epidemics – Ebola etc spreads quicker in denser populations
Soils:
- Fertility is key – determines agricultural output + type of farming
- Can be managed artificially in areas with high density - unsustainable as it often causes
eutrophication + increased greenhouse gas emissions
- Areas with high fertility = high population density but rich volcanic soils can be prone to
hazards therefore have low densities
,Water Supply:
- A must for survival – hydration/irrigation purposes + hygiene/sanitation
- Its importance can be seen in Egypt where 95% of its population live within 12 miles of River
Nile
Geology and other resource distributions:
- Concentrations of other resources such as fossil fuels or other valued minerals =
industrialisation + heavily populate areas –resources = depleted = new tertiary industries
emerge
Population Parameters:
Elements of physical environment determine distribution patterns and population density – Egypt’s
population unevenly distributed – Nile Valley density of 1,500+ /km2 - desert areas fewer than
10people/km2
Population change considers population from temporal + spatial perspective
Role of development processes:
Development associated with human ability to acquire + make use of the resources available
Industrial revolution = technological developments = enabled areas to support a larger population
- Increasing ability of human race to control infectious diseases = death rates lower
Rapid population growth + process of development = largely negative impact on the environment
- The impact of individuals = depend where they live, lifestyles + resources/services available
Population theories:
Theories have been grouped in two models
1. Optimistic approach
2. Pessimistic approach
Over population: Too many people in area relative to resources available – high unemployment and
outward migration - Bangladesh
Under population: Too few people in an area to use the resources effectively - Canada
Optimum population: Theoretical its very rare – this is dynamic
Patterns of population growth:
- There are few countries where population is actually decreasing – Japan is actually
decreasing in population size (-0.2% per year)
- The population of Africa is growing rapidly – over 2% a year
- Notable growth is within the LIC’s – Niger has a growth of 4%
- Elsewhere population growth is increasing between 0.5-1.5%
Measures of population:
Birth rate: The total number of live births per 1,000 population per year
,Death Rate: The average number of deaths per 1,000 of a population per year
Infant mortality rate: The number of children who die before their first birthday per 1,000 live births
per year
Life expectancy: The average number of years a person born in a particular year in a location is
expected to live
Fertility rate: Births per 1000 women, categorized according to a specific composition of mothers in
the population
10.2: Environment and population
Key Terms:
Agricultural productivity: The ratio of agricultural outputs to agricultural inputs
Agriculture: The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing crops
and the rearing of animals to provide food and other resources
Climate: A regions long-term weather patterns – this is measured in average precipitation, max/min
temperatures, humidity etc
Food security: Exists when all people at all times have access to reliable, sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to maintain a healthy life
Salinisation: The build-up of salts in soil eventually leading to toxic levels for plants
Zonal soil: A soil which has experienced the maximum effect of climate and natural vegetation upon
the parent rock
- Amount + type of food produced varies– depends upon two variables
1. Environmental – climate and soils
2. Human factors
Global and regional patterns of food production and consumption:
Food production does not constitute food consumption
In 1960s global food supplies for humans = 2,300 calories per person per day – unevenly distributed
- HIC’s average was 3,030
- LIC’s average below 2,000 – more than half the people suffered from under-nutrition
By 2010, global population had increased by x2 ½ - world can only provide 2,800 calories per day –
but 800 million people still suffered under nutrition –enough food to adequately feed all population
Gains came from:
- The package of technologies – ‘green revolution’ – increased use of new, high yielding crop
varieties and technologies
- Increased reliance on global trade – during 1970s net imports of cereals by LIC’s more than
tripled 20 million to 70 million tonnes
LIC’s production + consumption of main agricultural products growing at much higher rates than
HIC’s – because of:
- Higher population growth rates
- Increasing wealth
- Greater responsiveness of demand to income growth
, HIC’s slower growth - high per capita consumption + slow population growth has dampened the
growth of demand
- Countries like China/Brazil have high growth rates
- North America, Europe and Russia have lower growth rates
Food consumption:
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation data shows dietary energy - steadily increasing
on a worldwide basis
- FAO undernourishment = dietary intake below the minimum daily energy requirement
- Dietary energy requirements differ by gender and age + different physical activities –
minimum acceptable generally ranges between 1,700-2000 kcals per day
- FAO - 868mil people = undernourished in 2012 (12% of the population) – decreased since
1990 everywhere apart from Africa
- Obesity: For adults of both sexes, aged 18 or over, obesity is a body mass index (BMI)
greater than or equal to 30
- In 2014 – 39% of adults were classed as overweight and 13% were obese – 41million under
the age of 5 were overweight or obese – In US over 30% of the population were obese
Obesity:
Causes Consequences Solutions
Eating too many calories Coronary heart disease Ensure healthy and nutritious
food is affordable and
available
Global increase in intake of Cancers Encourage regular physical
energy dense foods (fat sugar activity – more accessible and
salt) affordable
Many obese individuals are High blood pressure Restrict marketing of food high
low-income earners who eat in fats sugars salt – especially
cheap carbs or convenience aimed of children
foods
Not getting sufficient physical Liver and gallbladder disease Reduce non-saturated fats
activity sugar and salt in food
Changing modes of Pressure on health services Support regular physical
transportation activity in the workplace
Obesity in the USA is quoted Obesity is a disease of Educate people on healthier
to be a ‘plague of the 21st affluence foods
century of epidemic
proportions
Increased urbanisation Cancers Jamie Oliver led sugary drinks
tax
Global increase in sedentary Type 2 diabetes Extra government spending
nature of work and leisure
activities
Airline seats, clothing and
crematoria furnaces need to
be reconfigured
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