Welcome to the A’ Level Geographical Fieldwork and Skills Day

Preparing you for the Unit 2 & Unit 4A examinations fieldwork investigation questions Click dune photo for Barce clip

What do

you

need to know …?

• • • • • The Unit 2 paper will have a fieldwork question worth 25 marks where you have to draw upon fieldwork you have experienced as part of your Geography course. You could be asked about one or more of the following:

Purpose – Aims / Hypotheses / Location / Theoretical background.

Data collection & Sampling Techniques.

Data presentation & Statistical Techniques.

Analysis and conclusion.

Risk assessment.

The same foci are used for the Unit 4a Discuss worth 30% of AS course & total for Unit 2 paper is 50 – need to know either rivers or popn for 1 st question / may want to complete Q.2 fieldwork to settle nerves

What do

you

need to know …?

Unit 4A is a more challenging examination than the AS equivalent Unit 2. The questions have to demonstrate elements of both

synopticity

and

stretch and challenge

. Essentially, the differences between the two examinations can be summarised as: -

Unit 2

— assesses

what

I did on my fieldwork -

Unit 4A

— assesses

why

I did what I did on my fieldwork • Hence, all questions in questions.

Unit 4A will be evaluative (though can expect one or two for Unit 2). It is suggested that there is a limited range of questions that could be asked. The table below summarises a range of possible Total out of 60 = 40 on fieldwork + 20 on unfamiliar data = 40% of A2 or 20% of total A’ Level qualification

What do you need to know…?

POA ,

Today

!

• Lesson 1 : Purpose of the fieldwork investigation • Lesson 2 : Methods techniques & of data collection, risk assessment sampling • Lesson 3 : Data presentations & statistical tests • Lesson 4 : Data analysis & evaluation • Lesson 5 : Geographical skills & graphical skills – Basic statistical

Aim

:

How and why does vegetation change across a psammosere at Llobregat delta , Barcelona ?

Purpose of the investigation: Aims, Hypotheses, Location & Theory Aim – what it it? / Click to reveal

Where is the Llobregat Delta ?

S.W. of Barcelona / Discuss justification for location – provide excellent example of zonation and succession + influence of winds (blow outs) +poss human intereference in formation of Psammosere (recreation & trampling) + plagio climax (pine trees) – students note 1 st page

What is the ‘textbook’ theory psammosere succession ?

of

Click photo for clip (2.10 mins) / Click Discuss general trends & click to reveal / click to go through in detail / then review again / Link to GepFactsheet

Theoretical background

Expectations:

• High wind and high pH values to develop the embryo dune. • Grasses such as lyme grass and sea couch grass then appear.

• A humus layer builds up which traps both water and nutrients. Marram grass is the most common species.

• Vegetation reaches 100%.

• Sand sedge and sea spurge start to dominate and small shrubs appear for the first time.

• Shelter from winds and a true soil begins to develop.

• Dune slacks. • Climatic climax vegetation is reached at the mature dune. • Develops a soil which can support shrubs and trees.

Debrief from their sheets and show / see end of teacher pack

A transect across a sand dune system

The transect above has hidden ‘hotspots’. Move your mouse over the diagram and these will be revealed. Progress across the transect using these hot spots.

You can return to this diagram at any time by using the return button You can advance quickly from one slide to the next by using this button You can go from this slide to the revision materials by using this button

Embryo and Fore Dunes: the environment

Click on photo to reveal annotations on-shore winds

high water mark poor water retention sand builds up against pioneer plants seaweed deposits humus transient dunes pH 7 %OM 0.1

sand alkaline

Embryo and Fore Dunes: the plants

The plants which grow here have adaptations which allow them to grow in a difficult environment : • • • waxy leaves to retain moisture and withstand winds prostrate (low) habit to avoid strong winds deep tap roots to obtain available moisture • high salt tolerance Sandwort Frosted orache Saltwort Sea rocket Sea couch

Yellow Dunes: the environment

Click on photo to reveal annotations

above the level of high tides reduced wind speeds ‘Soil’ slightly less alkaline and more water retentive Some humus forming pH 6.5

%OM 0.23

Surface continually blown away and replenished with fresh sand

Yellow Dunes: the plants

The dominant plant species is Marram grass: • Salt tolerant • Thrives on being buried by sand • Inrolled leaves to reduce moisture loss • Long tap roots • Underground rhizomes stabilise the sand Other plants such as Ragwort, Red fescue and Sand sedge begin to appear

Grey Dunes: the environment

Click on photo to reveal annotations

sheltered by higher, seaward dunes lower pH little mobile sand sand no longer accumulating higher humus content pH 5 - 6 %OM 1.0

a more closed vegetation community in which marram grass is no longer able to compete

Grey Dunes: the plants

• higher species diversity • mainly perennials • marram becomes more sparse • surface lichens give ‘grey’ appearance Older grey dunes may have extensive covering of lichens and heather

Dune Slacks: the environment

Click on photo to reveal annotations

occur in low lying hollows between dune ridges soil acidic relief intersects the water table pH 4 - 5 %OM 8.5

water table high – especially in winter

Dune Slacks: the plants

The community which develops here comprises moisture-loving plants commonly found in many fresh water wetland areas e.g.

Flag iris rushes Phragmites reeds Bog cotton

Dune Heath/Woodland: the environment

Click on photo to reveal annotations

well sheltered from winds maritime influence is minimal acidic soil pH 4 % OM 12.1

soil has high organic matter content nutrient rich

Dune Heath / Woodland: the plants

Human interference means that true mixed woodland climax vegetation is rarely seen on dune systems in the UK Most dune systems develop into a community of heathland, woody perennials (often spinous) and scattered trees.

Heather Revision materials Heather Sea buckthorn

Psammosere: summary of stages

Succession / pioneer / sereal stage / climatic climax / sub-climax / plagio climax / psammosere

Theoretical background

review again – need to specify plant species and range of pH’s etc

Theoretical

thump-up

!

Click to access / click game 1 / Dist ans sheet afterwards

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 5 Question 6 Question 7 Question 8 Question 9 Question 10 Question 11 Question 12

Starter lesson 4

For any Geography fieldwork study you have undertaken: Describe the purpose of the investigation

Students write title / complete – 6 mins / peer asses / click 4 timer

You have only………..

For any Geography fieldwork study you have undertaken: Describe the purpose of the investigation

For any Geography fieldwork study you have undertaken: Describe the purpose of the investigation

Peer assess mark to level – WWW & EBI

For any Geography fieldwork study you have undertaken: Describe the purpose of the investigation

Peer assess – WWW & EBI

What are other likely opening questions at AS Level ?

What are other likely opening questions at A2 Level ?

Refer to ‘explain’ questions for location and theory to aim to distinguish between A2 & AS