Gcse Geography Unit 1 Revision

GCSE Geography
Unit 1- Dynamic Planet
Brief overview study guide

Please use this booklet with caution – it is designed to give a summary of some of the key ideas and point you in the right direction for case studies. It does not however cover everything and has little case study detail.
A full revision programme also needs:





Revision using your notes
Ensuring you understand key terms and can give definitions of them.
Learning key facts about case studies
Completion of past papers and subsequent use of mark schemes for checking answers 1

Topic 1: Restless Earth
1.





What are the four “spheres” on earth and how do they interact?
Geosphere (rocks and land)
Biosphere (all living things including plants and animals
Atmosphere (gases surrounding earth)
Hydrosphere (water anywhere on planet in any other sphere)

2. What is the structure of the earth?
 Crust (Lithosphere)
 Upper mantle (asthenosphere)
 Lower mantle
 Outer core
 Inner core
You need to know how the temperature and density of each layer changes (see book notes)
3. What causes the Earth’s crust to move?
 Convection currents – heat from the Earth’s core causes magma to circulate beneath the Earth’s crust and move plates.
 You should know the process that generates the heat.
 Depending on the position of the convection currents plates will move in different directions
4. What features and consequences (hazards) does movement of the Earth’s crust have?
Features: Plate boundaries
 Constructive – plates move away from each other to make more land
 Destructive – plates move towards each other and create fold mountains and ocean trenches
 Conservative – plates move alongside each other causing earthquakes
 Collision – same as destructive but to continents meet and create fold mountains
Consequences: Earthquakes and volcanoes (see below key questions)
5.




How do volcanic hazards affect people in different locations? (LEARN