Barcelona Field Studies Centre

Edexcel AS Geography Unit 2: Geographical Investigations

Extreme Weather fieldwork and research
How meteorological conditions cause extreme weather Fieldwork and research, using a weather diary and synoptic maps, into meteorological conditions (air masses, pressure systems and fronts) which can influence changes in temperatures, precipitation and winds. These lead to contrasting weather events such as the development of a depression or seasonal anticyclones.
Impacts of extreme weather Fieldwork and research into the social, economic and environmental impacts of extreme weather created by:
an immediate disastrous weather event e.g. a tornado or hurricane;
a subsequent additional hazard e.g. localised river flooding;
a longer-term trend or condition e.g. a heat wave or drought.
Causes of flood risk Fieldwork and research to investigate how a small stream or part of a river catchment can suffer increased flood risks resulting from:
meteorological causes;
the physical characteristics of the area;
growing urbanisation, land use change and attempts at management.
Management of extreme weather Fieldwork and research into ways of managing and responding to extreme weather events using short-term and longer-term strategies, and how some management strategies are more successful than others.
Crowded Coasts fieldwork and research
Reasons for growth of two contrasting coasts Fieldwork and research to show how factors e.g. flat land, soil fertility, equable climate and biodiversity, potential for fishing, recreation/tourism, industrial and port development and
accessibility have shaped the development and growth of contrasting crowded coasts over time.
Development v conservation Fieldwork and research into the pressures on the coast when development and conservation meet head on including:
the overuse of resources, pollution, other developments;
the destruction of high-value coastal habitats.
Coastal erosion OR coastal flooding: rates and impacts Fieldwork and research into rates of coastal retreat or degree of coastal flood risk and the resulting impacts on developments and people at a small scale.
Coastal management Fieldwork and research into:
the success of coastal defence schemes;
the value of strategies used to manage a high value coastal environment.
Unequal Spaces fieldwork and research
Patterns of urban and rural inequality Fieldwork and research to explore the pattern of spatial inequality in one rural and one urban area using primary surveys and secondary data.
Identifying and tackling inequalities Fieldwork and research into inequality can help to:
produce criteria to identify the spatial pattern of the 'haves' and 'have-nots' in rural and urban areas;
design a checklist to evaluate schemes to tackle inequality.
Evaluating schemes to tackle rural inequality Fieldwork and research into the success of specific examples of ways to reduce rural inequalities using contrasting solutions e.g. appropriate technology, community involvement and empowerment, improving access to transport and services, local employment, sustainable solutions.
Evaluating schemes to tackle urban inequality Fieldwork and research into the success of specific examples of ways to reduce urban inequalities using contrasting solutions e.g. self-help schemes, traffic and public transport, town planning initiatives, business initiatives, crime and policing.
Rebranding Places fieldwork and research
Why is rebranding needed? Fieldwork and research into the profile of places in need of rebranding, using surveys and secondary data.
Rural rebranding strategies Fieldwork and research into a range of rural strategies e.g. rebranding local activities and farming. Integrated projects in the post-production countryside including rural heritage and specialist 'food-towns'; using innovative arts and media projects and new technologies including community radio, films and the internet.
Urban rebranding strategies Fieldwork and research into urban strategies that include the following approaches:
changing the built environment by rebranding of shopping, commercial and residential areas;
promoting city identity;
using sport as a catalyst for change and pump-priming engine;
rebranding a declining coastal holiday resort.
Evaluating rural rebranding strategies Fieldwork and research into the success of specific examples of ways to implement rural rebranding using contrasting solutions e.g. rural tourism promoted via the media; rural technology; adding value locally; rural diversification in the post-productive countryside.
Evaluating urban rebranding strategies Fieldwork and research, into the success of specific examples of ways to implement urban rebranding using contrasting solutions e.g. flagship schemes in city centres, waterfronts, shorelines, gentrification of suburbs; heritage and tourism in historic centres; sport and leisure provision.