Scottish National 4 (Nat 4) Geography (National 4) Syllabus

On an OS map, what is the difference between a compass bearing and a four-figure grid reference?

A compass bearing is the direction from one point to another measured in degrees clockwise from north. A four-figure grid reference identifies a whole 1 km grid square (eastings then northings) rather than a direction.

What does a population pyramid show, and what do a wide base and narrow top indicate?

A population pyramid is a bar graph showing the age and sex structure of a population. A wide base indicates a high birth rate (many young people), and a narrow top indicates a low life expectancy / few elderly people, typical of a developing country.

Define birth rate and death rate.

Birth rate is the number of live births per 1000 people in a population per year. Death rate is the number of deaths per 1000 people in a population per year.

What is natural increase, and how is the natural increase rate calculated?

Natural increase is population growth caused by birth rate exceeding death rate (not migration). It is calculated as: $$\text{Natural increase} = \text{Birth rate} - \text{Death rate}$$ measured per 1000 people per year.

Distinguish between push and pull factors in migration, giving one example of each.

Push factors drive people away from an area, e.g. unemployment, war or drought. Pull factors attract people to a new area, e.g. better jobs, higher wages, better healthcare or safety.

What is population density, and how is it calculated?

Population density is the average number of people living in a given area. It is calculated as: $$\text{Population density} = \frac{\text{Total population}}{\text{Area (km}^2)}$$ measured in people per km².

Name two physical factors that lead to a sparsely populated area.

Examples include very mountainous/steep terrain, extreme climates (too hot, cold or dry), dense rainforest, poor infertile soils, or lack of water resources.

Describe two characteristics of the Central Business District (CBD) of a city.

The CBD typically has tall, high-rise buildings, high land values, many shops and offices, good transport links/accessibility, high pedestrian traffic, and few residential homes.

What is urban sprawl?

Urban sprawl is the uncontrolled outward spread of a built-up area into the surrounding countryside, often onto greenfield sites at the rural-urban fringe.

Give two social and two economic problems commonly found in inner-city areas.

Social: old/poor-quality housing, crime, overcrowding, poor health. Economic: high unemployment, derelict land from closed industry, low incomes, and lack of investment.

Define a brownfield site and a greenfield site.

A brownfield site is land that has been previously built on or used (often derelict urban land) and is available for redevelopment. A greenfield site is land that has not been built on before, usually in the countryside or rural-urban fringe.

State two causes of rural depopulation in a developed country.

Causes include lack of jobs (especially as farming mechanises), poor services and amenities, limited public transport, and young people leaving to find work or study in cities.

What is counter-urbanisation?

Counter-urbanisation is the movement of people out of large towns and cities to live in smaller towns or rural areas, often seeking a better quality of life while still commuting to work.

Give two effects of agricultural change (such as mechanisation) on a rural landscape in a developed country.

Effects include the removal of hedgerows to create larger fields, loss of farm jobs, increased field sizes, loss of habitats/biodiversity, and increased use of chemicals affecting soil and water.

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect, and which gas is the main human contributor?

The enhanced greenhouse effect is the increased trapping of heat in the atmosphere caused by rising levels of greenhouse gases from human activity. Carbon dioxide ($\ce{CO2}$), mainly from burning fossil fuels, is the main human-produced contributor.

State two human causes of climate change.

Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) for energy and transport releases carbon dioxide; deforestation reduces the number of trees that absorb $\ce{CO2}$. Other causes include livestock farming releasing methane and industrial processes.

Describe two possible global effects of climate change.

Effects include melting ice caps and glaciers causing sea levels to rise and coastal flooding, more frequent extreme weather (droughts, storms, floods), changing rainfall patterns affecting farming, and loss of habitats/species.

Give one local and one global strategy to reduce the effects of climate change.

Local: recycling, using public transport, cycling, improving home insulation, switching off unused electricity. Global: international agreements to cut emissions, switching to renewable energy, and protecting/replanting forests.

What is the difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster?

A natural hazard is a natural event (such as an earthquake or volcano) that has the potential to cause harm. It becomes a natural disaster when it actually causes significant damage, injury or loss of life to people.

What causes most earthquakes and volcanoes to occur?

They mostly occur at plate boundaries, where the Earth's tectonic plates meet and move against, apart from, or towards each other, releasing energy and allowing magma to reach the surface.

State two short-term and two long-term effects of a major earthquake.

Short-term: deaths and injuries, collapsed buildings, broken water/gas pipes, fires. Long-term: homelessness, disease spread, cost of rebuilding, disruption to the economy and jobs.

Give two methods used to reduce the impact of earthquakes in cities.

Methods include building earthquake-resistant (aseismic) buildings, holding earthquake drills, having emergency plans and services ready, and using monitoring/early-warning systems.

Why does a tropical storm (hurricane) weaken when it reaches land?

A tropical storm is powered by energy from warm ocean water ($27^{\circ}\text{C}$ or above). Once over land it is cut off from this warm, moist energy source, so it loses power and weakens.

What is meant by 'trade' between countries?

Trade is the buying and selling of goods and services between countries. Exports are goods sold to other countries; imports are goods bought from other countries.

Distinguish between a developed country (MEDC) and a developing country (LEDC).

A developed country (MEDC) has high incomes, good services, advanced industry and a high standard of living. A developing country (LEDC) has lower incomes, poorer services and healthcare, and a lower standard of living, often relying on agriculture or raw materials.

Give two indicators of development used to compare countries.

Indicators include GDP per capita (wealth per person), life expectancy, literacy rate, infant mortality rate, access to clean water, and number of doctors per 1000 people.

Why do many developing countries earn less from trade than developed countries?

Developing countries often export low-value primary products (raw materials and crops) whose prices are low and unstable, while importing high-value manufactured goods. This creates an unfair balance of trade against them.

What is fair trade and how does it help producers in developing countries?

Fair trade is a system that guarantees producers in developing countries a fair, stable minimum price for their goods, plus a premium to invest in their community. It ensures better working conditions and protects farmers from sudden price falls.

What is the difference between primary and secondary data when gathering geographical information?

Primary data is information you collect yourself in the field (e.g. surveys, traffic counts, measurements). Secondary data is information collected by someone else that you use (e.g. census data, textbooks, websites, maps).

Why is a choropleth map a suitable way to present data such as population density?

A choropleth map uses shading or colour, with darker shades showing higher values and lighter shades lower values. It clearly shows spatial patterns and how a value varies across different areas at a glance.

When drawing conclusions from geographical data, why is it important to refer back to the original aim or question?

Referring back to the aim ensures your conclusion actually answers what you set out to investigate, is supported by the evidence you gathered, and identifies whether the data shows a clear pattern, trend or relationship rather than just describing it.