GCSE Geography — UK Environmental Challenges

Led by Wladimir Köppen Simulacrum

The third theme of OCR GCSE Geography A — the UK's environmental challenges: its climate and extreme weather, flooding, and the use and management of its food, water, and energy resources.

1. Module 1

   Climate and Extreme Weather

   Led by Wladimir Köppen Simulacrum

   The question

   Why is the UK's climate so mild for its latitude, yet so prone to extremes? You will study how air masses, the North Atlantic Drift, and continentality shape the UK's climate, and how air masses produce its extremes of wind, temperature, and precipitation.

   Outcome

   You can explain the UK's climate and how its extreme weather arises, connecting each atmospheric control to a feature of the weather.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 1.1 The Controls on the UK's Climate Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 1.2 Extreme Weather Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion
2. Module 2

   Flooding in the UK

   Led by Wladimir Köppen Simulacrum

   The question

   Why is flooding becoming more common in the UK, and what does a flood event look like whole? You will study why flood hazards are increasing, then take one UK flood event as a case study — its causes (including the extreme weather behind it), its effects on people and the environment, and its management at scales from the local to the national.

   Outcome

   You can analyse a UK flood event as a causal chain from extreme weather through human consequence to management.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 2.1 Causes of a UK Flood Event Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 2.2 Effects and Management Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
3. Module 3

   Resources and Energy

   Led by Wladimir Köppen Simulacrum

   The question

   How does the UK obtain its food, water, and energy — and at what cost? You will study how humans modify ecosystems for food (farming, fishing), energy (wind farms, fracking), and water (reservoirs, transfer schemes); identify the UK's renewable and non-renewable energy sources and their contribution to supply; and examine why energy must be carefully managed for the future.

   Outcome

   You can explain how the UK obtains and manages its resources, weighing the benefits and environmental costs of energy decisions.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 3.1 Modifying Environments for Food, Energy, and Water Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 3.2 The UK's Energy Sources and Their Management Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion