Tsunami Debris reaches USA and Canada

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19812373

This article shows that the tsunami debris from the Japan earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 is slowly starting to reach the USA and Canada from floating over the Pacific Ocean. The map shows where the bulk of the debris is and clearly shows that there is a lot more to reach the North American and Canadian coastlines.

Migration

Year 11 HWK - please read the following website links and make notes on the positives and negatives of immigration into the UK.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8584000/8584863.stm - Immigration tension in East London.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/polish-migrants-find-a-welcome-in-the-underpopulated-highlands-480314.html - Polish migrants find a welcome in the Scottish highlands.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/nov/22/immigration.immigrationandpublicservices - Is what we read and hear about Eastern Europeans really true?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7322825.stm - Immigration a small benefit to the UK.

http://www.workpermit.com/news/2008-06-12/uk/government-says-immigration-benefits-british-economy.htm - Labour government (2008) say that immigration benefits the UK with relation to the new points based system.

Olympics Medal Table as World Map

Worldmapper is a website that creates maps changing the size of a country due to different factors.

For example they have created a map of the World whereby each country is the size of its population. Therefore China becomes even bigger than it actually is and some countries in Africa hardly exist.

They have just published a map in terms of Olympic medals won. It makes interesting reading. Have a look and read about the map by following the link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/aug/16/new-olympic-world-map-sheffield-university

Let me know what you think.

How have volcanoes shaped the UK?

In year 9 classes we have started the GCSE course and we are currently looking at volcanoes and the difference between volcano shape and also classfication. We have looked at the fact the volcanoes can be classed as being active, dormant or extinct.

This article from the BBC below looks at how volcanoes have shaped Britain's landscape and is a superb read.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18674655

For more information on volcanoes in general then please access this site and have a look around.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/natural_disasters/volcano

Please also use the site below to look at supervolcanoes and the environmental impacts of a volcanic eruption

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/volcanoes-earthquakes/volcano/index.html

Year 9 geography: Convection Currents

Please check out the following web links if you are not sure, or want more information on what we have been looking at in class. Hopefully you enjoyed the partical side of creating a life-size convection current as much as I did. Great GCSE level answers so far. Top effort.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/natural_hazards/tectonic_plates_rev1.shtml - structure of the Earth.


http://geobytesgcse.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/plates-and-convection-currents.html - Convection Currents and the Earth's structure.


http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_4.asp - Convection Currents.

VLE Revision Resources

A reminder to year 11 pupils that are sitting the Unit 2 exam on Monday 18th June - please check the VLE for the revision guide, exemplar answers and the speed dating exercise that we did in the revision session on Thursday this week.

For Unit 3 - Monday the 25th June please also check VLE and remember revision sessions on Wednesday (period 2) and Thursday (period 1) next week. Please feel free to drop in.

London 2012 Olympics video clips on the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games

Year 11:

Please use the three video clips below to explore the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Pay specific attention to the positives and the negatives of the Olympic Games coming to London especially in terms of how local people will be effected.  One of the video clips looks at the legacy of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and will be worth knowing about when analysing the options in section C of the resource booklet.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohHAK-2T00o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqWBer0FCTY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDP4PbeLmNM

Year 10 Waterfall formation

We are currently looking at landforms in the upper course of a river system. One of the landforms that are created are waterfalls. Below is a link to a Classclips video looking at waterfall and gorge formation. Remember there has to be two separate types of rock, one that is more and one that is less resistant to erosion. The less resistant rock gets vertically eroded to form a waterfall and a plunge pool. Abrasion and hydraulic action within the plunge pool start to erode the less resistant rock further starting to undercut the more resistant rock above. Over time the outlay of more resistant rock collapses due to gravity as it is no longer supported. The waterfall then retreats upstream forming a gorge.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/waterfalls-plunge-pools-and-potholes/404.html

Year 11 DME: London 2012 Sustainability

Year 11 - Please can you read the following article please for Unit 3 - this will give you background information to further your knowledge from the information in the pre-release booklet you have.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16853201

FHES Iceland Trip Easter 2012

Iceland trip : Easter 2012

48 students and 5 staff had an unforgettable trip to Iceland over the Easter break. It was a packed itinerary and the following is just a summary, based on Mr Vinton's account. His verdict : "Iceland had haunted, daunted, amazed and awed us. It is a beautiful and unique place on our planet. Would I return ? You bet I would !" For more photographs : click here Arrival day : Monday April 2nd We left Farnham at 7.30am,arriving in Reykjavik at 3pm in time for a swim in the famous Blue Lagoon which takes its water from a depth of 2000m and is rich in minerals and blue green algae - good for the skin! Day 2 : April 3rd Four main sights : Kerid, a dramatic volcanic crater lake, Flaxi, a vast waterfall with frozen spray, "Strokkur" at Geysir which erupts every 5 - 7 minutes. From its first swelling bubble of steam to its highest point of eruption at 30m, it is a spectacular sight. On to Gulfoss and its double-drop waterfall into a mile long gorge. The final stop was Thingvellir, the spot where two tectonic plates pull apart at a rate of 2cm a year. It is also where the world's first parliament was formed ; a place where geology and civilisation come together with dramatic impact. Back at the hotel, there was another swim in a local open air geothermal heat pool for a night swim. Day 3 : Wednesday April 4th A whale-watching expedition. We were warned of rough seas so most of us took the precaution of swallowing an anti-seasick pill. This proved useless, given both the small vessel on which we were sailing and the size of the waves through which we were battling. Miss Brown played a valiant role as a nautical Florence Nightingale. Hopes were raised by some dolphins but alas, the whales wisely thought better of the weather and did not surface for us. Back on shore, we visited the Eyjafjallajokull flood plain, famous from the recent volcanic eruption there. At Seljalandsfoss, we marvelled at a 60 metre high waterfall and more excitement ensued as we donned our waterproofs to walk behind the waterfall itself, getting soaking wet in the process and loving every minute. Day 4 : Thursday April 7th First stop Reynishverfl- a black volcanic beach. What at first was just dark, gradually separates into luminous greens, purples and greys. The basalt columns, huge stacks and arches provide contrast, natural beauty and spectacular views. Next was Skogafoss : a thundering 60 metre curain of water. Then on to our next adventure. This was at Solheimajokull, meaning "Sun house glacier". Donning crampons and wielding ice axes, we felt like real ie climbers as we set off to climb into the glacier itself. It was a fantastic experience, gazing into seemingly bottomless crevasses and coming to terms with the slightly disturbing fact that what we were standing on was in fact moving ! The highlight of the evening's entertainment ? The staff rendition of Toto's "Africa" in the musical round Day 5 : Friday April 5th We set off for the Blue Mountains with their vast lava fields, undaunted by a fine drizzle. There were no mountains, no even a hill. How could there be caves here ? After we had trudged across an expanse, a large hole in the ground appeared. A final check of lamps, some hasty refitting of batteries and we began our stooping walk into this volcanic marvel. At one point we gathered and turned off all the lamps to appreciate the true blackness of the tunnel. Back on the coach, we headed for the Reykjanes Peninsula of boiling mud pools and hot springs. The sulphurous stench here was a bit much for many of the students who beat a hasty retreat. We then went to Eldborg crater and scrambled up in its lava rocks. Our final stop was the "Leif the Lucky" bridge, said to span the fissure between the Mid Atlantic Ridge. Final day : Saturday April 7th Our final day saw us visiting the capital's main church, the Perlan centre and then a final relaxing session at the Blue Lagoon. A trip of this complexity needs an enormous amount of planning. The leader and main organiser of the trip was Mr Marsh. The other staff accompanying the trip were Mr Vinton, Miss Brown, Mr Swan and Mrs Trantham. They have given the students a great experience and one they are unlikely ever to forget. Hopefully, they know that all their hard work and commitment were well worthwhile and much appreciated.

Unilever tries to help with HIV/AIDS problem in Malawi

TNCs (Trans-national corporations) may get some negative press about out-sourcing business for cheaper labour and for taking profits away from the host country, however in some cases there are some really positive actions taking place.
Read the hyperlink below to look at how 'Unilever' have been having a very positive affect in rural Malawi, looking at specifically trying to help against the HIV/AIDS dilemma that the country faces.

http://www.mbcamw.org/news4.html

Video on the issues surrounding child labour in Malawi

Year 11 - please take a look at the following hyperlink and watch the video on child labour on tobacco plantations in rural Malawi.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/video/2010/dec/03/malawi-tobacco-industry

I have also included a link to the main video that you watched in class. (in case you wanted to watch it again)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VSuN9jKTZo

Child labour in Malawi - Tobacco farming

In year 11 we are looking at the problems that rural Malawi is currently facing and one of them in the issues with farming. Very often the farms are run and owned by TNCs where workers are paid a very small amount to work long hours. In some cases child labour is very common. Read the following weblink which looks at the very real issue of child labour in rural Malawi.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14947

Japan's ageing population

A superb BBC News article written about the effects of Japan's ageing population that is expected to shrink by one third by the year 2060!



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16787538

Year 9 Coasts Assessment

If you would like some extra information on the coasts assessment and the processes involved you may want to check out the following weblinks.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coasts/erosional_landforms_rev3.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coasts/coastal_management_rev2.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coasts/coastal_management_rev3.shtml

Please ask if you are unsure.

Year 8 Assessment - China's One Child Policy

The following two web links are to videos on China's 'One Child Policy' which was implemented in 1979 and is still widely in place although it has been relaxed somewhat since it started. For example rural families are now able to have more than one child to support agriculture and richer families are able to pay a fine and have a second child. For your assessment you need to start thinking about the reasons why a country would go to such lengths to reduce the amount of babies being born (birth rate) and what the effects of such a drastic policy were.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/chinastories/video_stories/liu_xiao/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4OWJlyaHt0

Please use these videos for support. You may have seen them in your geography lessons.