SURVIVAL NOTES

1 CLIMATE AND WEATHER

11.1
1.1.1
MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES (MLC)
General Characteristics
-Name the general characteristics of the mid-latitude cyclone
NB The following:
 Cold front (air behind front cold)
 Warm front (air behind front warm)
 Circular isobars
 Warm sector
 Cold sector
 Clockwise movement of air
 Low pressure in centre
 Value of isobars decrease
Towards centre
 Moves from west to east

NB you must be able to identify these characteristics on weather maps and diagrams

-Distinguish between a warm and a cold front

Warm air is forced to override cold air

Cold air undercuts a body of warm air

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1.1.2 Weather changes

Key question
What weather changes occur when a cold front moves over an area?
NB You must be able to apply this content on synoptic weather map as well.
 Sudden decrease in temperature.
 Air pressure increases.
 Wind direction changes from northwest to southwest.
 Wind speed very strong to gale force.
 Cloud cover very thick, cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds
 Rainfall heavy showers
 Humidity starts to decrease

1.1.3 Development stages

-Identify the stages of the MLC on the weather map.
Give a reason for your answer.

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1.2 TROPICAL CYCLONES (TC)
1.2.1 General characteristics
You must know ALL General characteristics of tropical cyclones
and identify them on synoptic weather maps and diagrams.
 Intense low pressures.
 Named in alphabetical order.
 During late summer or autumn.
 Move from EAST to WEST. AWAY from the equator. Turns EAST at 30°.
 Causes destruction by hurricane force winds, storm surges and heavy rainfall.

1.2.2 Development stages

Identify the stages of tropical cyclones. Give reasons for your answer.

1.2.3 Management of tropical cyclones

How can tropical cyclones be managed NB Paragraph-type question
 Good weather forecasts.
 Keep public informed by tracking storm
 Early warning systems.
 Medical- and rescue services on alert.
 Build houses with strong materials.
 Evacuation routes and procedures
 Avoid crossing strongly flowing rivers

1.3 SUBTROPICAL ANTICYCLONES (HIGH PRESSURES)

1.3.1 Give the names and location of the three high pressures.

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1.3.2 Explain how line thunderstorms are formed.

1.3.3 South African Berg wind

 In what season does the SA berg wind occur?: Winter

 How formed: -High pressure in interior
-Low pressure at sea
-Wind blows from interior(HP) to sea(LP)
-Warmed as it decends over plateau
-Reaches coast as warm dry wind
 Why warm and dry?: Blow from land to sea
 Danger: Veld fires
 How wind stops: Cold front moves over.

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1.4 VALLEY CLIMATES
1.4.1 What slope is warmer? Why? (NH and SH)

1.4.2 Explain how anabatic and katabatic winds are formed

Discuss the influence on settlements and farming

1.4.3 INVERSIONS

-How are inversions formed? What is the influence of inversions on pollution?

 Inversions form when the normal pattern

of air temperature is reversed.
 Air closer to the ground is cooler than the
air above it.
 Happens on calm cloudless winter nights.
 Upper slopes cool rapidly.
 Cold air sinks down slopes to the valley.
 The colder air is trapped under warmer air
 Temperature increases with altitude in
The valley
 Polluted air gets trapped and cannot rise.

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1.5 URBAN CLIMATES
-Why are cities warmer than rural areas?

 Building materials: Concrete, tar,

brick absorb heat.
 Tall buildings trap heat.
 Air pollution helps to trap heat.
 Burning of fuels.
 Transport
 Industries release heat.
 Central heating from shops.
 Large concentration of people.

-Define heat island and pollution domes.

-Ways to reduce influence of heat islands

 Energy saving strategies
 Green belts
 Roof gardens
 Public transport
 Use lighter-coloured materials

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 GEOMORPHOLOGY

2 DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

1.1 Define all concepts.

CONCEPTS
Catchment area Area over which rain falls and is Watershed High lying area separating two drainage
caught by a drainage basin basins
Infiltration Movement of water through soil Water table Upper level of underground saturated
into the ground rock
Confluence Place where two rivers join Run-off The surface flow of water
Tributary A river that joins a larger river Groundwater Water found under the ground
River mouth Sea or lake where river ends Interfluve High lying are between two river valleys
Source Where river begins River system Main river with all its tributaries

1.2 Identify and describe ALL drainage patterns.

Pattern Dendritic Trellis Radial Rectangular

Diagram

Looks like Strong main Looks like Tributaries join

branches of a stream joined by spokes of a at right angles
Description tree. Tributaries short tributaries wheel when and have bends
join at acute at right angles viewed from of 90°
angles. above
Uniform rocks of Gently sloping Rivers flow away In areas with
Underlying similar hardness alternating layers from a high hard rock that is
structures of hard and soft central point well jointed.
rock such like a butte
or mesa

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1.3 Distinguish between a high and a low drainage density

1.4 How do you determine stream order?

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1.5 Distinguish between Laminar and turbulent flow

2 FLUVIAL PROCESSES
2.1 Stages (courses) of a river Key Questions
-In what stage is the river + reasons (upper, middle & lower course)
-Identify/draw cross profiles (in 3 stages)

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2.2 Identify/describe all Fluvial landforms

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2.3 River capture (Stream piracy)

Key questions:
 How does river capture (stream piracy) occur?
 Name the landforms features of stream piracy
 (NB must be able to identify on diagrams or
 draw and add labels)

Stream piracy (river capture) takes place when the energetic stream (captor stream)
cuts back and intercepts (takes) the water from the other river (captured/beheaded
river).

FEATURE EXPLANATION
Captor river The energetic stream that intercepts (takes) the water of the other
river.
Captured river The river which water was intercepted (taken) by the captor river.
Misfit stream The river that has lost its water. (Also called beheaded stream)
Elbow of capture The place where stream piracy has taken place
Wind gap The dry river valley between the elbow of capture and the misfit
stream
Waterfall May form at the point where the captured river flows into the captor
river

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2.4 Rejuvenation

-How does rejuvenation occur? Name/identify features.

You must be in a position to do/answer the following:

 Identify the process of rejuvenation on a diagram.
 Define the concept, rejuvenation.
 Explain how rejuvenation occurs.
 Identify/describe the features/landforms of rejuvenation.

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3 RURAL AND URBAN SETTLEMENT

3.1 RURAL SETTLEMENTS

3.1.1 Nucleated and dispersed patterns

Key questions:
 Identify the pattern + reason
 What factors caused the type of pattern?
 Give advantages/disadvantages of nucleated and dispersed patterns.

3.1.2 Rural and urban settlements

Distinguish between rural and urban settlements

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3.1.3 Round, linear and cross road shapes

3.2 RURAL SETTLEMENT ISSUES

Key questions:
 Define rural-urban migration.
 Discuss the causes of rural-urban migration
(Pull/push factors).
 Discuss the consequences of rural-urban migration.
 What can be done to get people to stay in rural areas?

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3.3 URBAN SETTLEMENTS
3.3.1 How site and situation affect location of urban settlements
A combination of physical and human factors determine where urban settlements are
located

Physical factors: Fresh water, underlying rock and structure, relief, drainage
aspect, resources
Social factors: Transport routes, harbours, defensibility, building materials,
food supply
3.3.2 Types of urban settlements

The three types of urban settlements

1. CENTRAL PLACES
Towns supplying urban goods and services to surrounding rural area
Low order/good service High order good/service
 Need often (bread, milk, doctor)  Don’t need or need less often (health spa)
 Smaller threshold population  Larger threshold population
 Several shops/services  Few shops/services
2. TRADE AND TRANSPORT TOWNS/CITIES
Established due to trade and transportation
Break of bulk Junction Gap town
 Transport changes (e.g.  Intersection of two main  Point of access at physical
from sea to land. transport routes. barrier.
 Example: Cape Town  Example: De Aar  Example: Worcester
3. SPECIALISED TOWNS/CITIES
Mining Education Industrial Resort Commuter
Example: Example: Example: Example: Example:
Welkom Stellenbosch Secunda Margate Soweto

Study the map and complete the table

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 Type of settlement Reason
A
B
C
D
E
F

3.4 URBAN STRUCTURE

3.4.1 Land use zones

Key Questions
 Identify land use zone
 Where found
 Describe characteristics

Land use zone Where? Characteristics

CBD  Most accessible  Highest land values
 Where transport routes meet  Highest building density
 In the city centre  Tallest buildings
 Concentration of shops and
offices
 High-order commercial functions
(a) Light  Often near CBD or residential areas  Little noise and air pollution
industry  In planned industrial estates  No heavy machinery
Industries

 Near road transport

(b) Heavy  On outskirts of the city on cheap  Lots of air and noise pollution
industry land  Dangerous
 Near major road and rail networks
 On flat land
 Near water source

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 (a) Middle to  Found away from CBD  Larger properties
high income  Good view  Good services
 Recreational areas
(b) Low income  Closer to CBD  Houses close together
 Fewer facilities
Residential

 Poor services
 Smaller properties
(c) Informal  On the city outskirts  Houses built out of plastic, wood,
settlement zinc
 Unhealthy conditions
 No service delivery
 Poverty
 Crime
Zone of decay  Just outside the CBD  Mixed functions (residential,
(Transition zone) commercial, light industry)
 Decayed buildings
 Renewal
 Valuable land
Rural-urban fringe  On edge of urban area  Urban functions invade rural area
 Both Urban and rural functions
 Large properties because of
cheaper land
 Plots and small holdings
 Airports, cemeteries, power
stations, golf courses, sewage
works
Green belt  In/around CBD  Parks and sports fields
 No buildings in this area
 Cleans air in urban areas
 For recreation purposes
 Very dense housing

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3.4.2 Street patterns

Key questions (1st and 2nd paper)

 Identify the street patterns
 Discuss the advantages of all 3 street patterns
 Discuss the disadvantages of all 3 street patterns

Name Gridiron/Rectangular Radial Irregular

Characteristics Roads intersect at right Roads radiate  No clear structure

angles outwards from central  Can be planned or
point like spider’s web unplanned
Advantages  Easy to plan  Easier flow of traffic  Improves traffic flow
 Land divided easily  All roads lead to  Fewer intersections
 Easy to find way central point  Accommodates
topography
Disadvantages  Traffic congestion  Traffic jams  Difficult to plan
 Monotonous  Traffic is slow  Easy to get lost
 Accidents  Wasted space  Not easy to expand
or subdivide

3.4.3 Urban profile

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 Key questions:
 What is urban profile?
 Describe how the buildings change as you move away from the CBD.
 Why does the height and density of the profile change?

3.5 URBAN SETTLEMENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS

Key questions
 Describe causes of each issue
 What are the effects of each issue?
 How can issues be managed?

CONGESTION URBAN DECAY SENTRALISATION

Too many people using own Too many people living in the High demand for land in city
CAUSES

cars city Too many people living in the

Not enough public transport Empty buildings city
Old street pattern

Air pollution Slums develop Increased pollution

EFFECTS

More accidents Services decline Health problems

Stress, health problems Increased pollution Destruction of environment
road rage Area becomes dirty Production of too much waste

Improve public transport Renovation Decentralisation of functions

SOLUTIONS

Lift schemes Renewal Green belts

Decentralisation of Reduce housing density Stricter control of pollution
businesses Improve services
Synchronise traffic lights

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 4 ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH AFRICA

4.1 ECONOMIC SECTORS

Key question: Define Primary, secondary, tertiary activities

PRIMARY ACTIVITIES
Extraction and exploitation of raw materials

SECONDARY ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC Processing and manufacturing of primary materials
SECTORS
TERTIARY ACTIVITIES
Provides services to the consumer

QUARTERNARY ACTIVITIES
High level expertise, eg research, information

4.2 AGRICULTURE

Key questions:
 Discuss the favourable factors that impact on agriculture in South Africa
 Discuss the unfavourable factors that impact on agriculture in South Africa
 What is food security?
 Why do people not have enough food security?
 What measures could prevent food insecurity?

A
G
FAVOURABLE FACTORS R UNFAVOURABLE FACTORS
 High demand for products I  Low rainfall
 Fertile floodplains C  Soil erosion
 High summer temperatures U  Natural disasters – droughts
help crops grow L  Subsistence farming
 Availability of labour T  Pests decrease production
U
R
E

FOOD SECURITY

DEFINITION HINDERING FATORS MEASURES

When all people have  Lack of fertile land  Prevent soil erosion
enough food to sustain a  Natural disaster – droughts  Efficient ways of storing food
healthy lifestyle  Poverty  Reduce water wastage
 Subsistence farming

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4.3 MINING

Key questions:
 Discuss the favourable factors that impact on mining in South Africa
 Discuss the unfavourable factors that impact on mining in South Africa

FAVOURABLE FACTORS M UNFAVOURABLE FACTORS

 SA has different minerals I  High underground temperatures
 Lots of unskilled labour N  High costs in training of miners
 Benefits from foreign skilled I  Mine worker strikes
miners N  Large distances between mines
 Many countries invested money G and harbours
in our mines  Water shortages
 Well-developed infrastructure  Mining is a dangerous activity

4.4 SECONDARY SECTOR

Key question:
 Discuss/identify factors industrial development.

4.4.1 Factors affecting the location of an industry

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4.4.2 Main industrial regions in South Africa

PWV OR GAUTENG
Factors of location
 In Gauteng most important industrial
region
Key questions
 Largest industrial region in South Africa
 Large markets
 Plenty skilled and unskilled labour
 Discuss unfavourable
 Many different kinds of raw material factors of four industrial
 Well-developed transport routes regions.
 Access to money  Discuss favourable factors
Kinds if industries of four industrial regions.
 Chemical  Name the industries
 Iron and steel
 Motor vehicles
 Machinery

DURBAN-PINETOWN
Factors of location
 Durban harbour largest and busiest
 Large labour force
 Many different raw materials
 Well-developed transport routes
 Good water supply
Kinds if industries
 Chemical
 Food processing
 Sugar refining
 Motor manufacturing
 Oil refining

SOUTHWESTERN CAPE PORT ELIZABETH-UITENHAGE

Factors of location Factors of location
 Cape Town harbour  Access to shipping port
 Historical reasons  Historical reasons
 Plenty skilled and unskilled labour  Plenty skilled and unskilled labour
 Availability of farming products  Availability of farming products
Kinds if industries Kinds if industries
 Food canning  Motor vehicle factories
 Fish canning and packing  Industries relating to fruit, sheep and
 Wine making cattle
 Textiles, clothing and footwear  Leather goods factories

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4.5 INFORMAL SECTOR

Key questions:
 Define informal sector.
 Describe the characteristics of the informal sector.
 Why so many people in the informal sector?
 Challenges people face in the informal sector.
 What can be done to improve the informal sector?

DEFINITION
 People not employed in the formal CHARACTERSITICS
sector  Workers are self-employed
 Hawkers, parking guards, casual  Casual labour
labourers  Semi-skilled and unskilled workers
 Not registered, do not pay tax

IMPORTANCE
 Provides income
 Decreases unemployment
 Lower prices for goods
 People develop entrepreneurial
skills

HOW IMPROVED? PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES

 Local authorities can provide  Harassed by local authorities
specific areas for trading  No access to proper trading
 Can provide infrastructure such facilities
as hawker stalls  Exposed to the weather
 Access to bank loans.  Do not get loans from banks
 Unreliable income

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