IGCSE Geography Revision Notes: Physical Geography Complete

Physical geography is a major component of IGCSE Geography. These comprehensive revision notes cover rivers, coasts, weather and climate, ecosystems, and tectonics, providing everything you need to master physical geography for Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE Geography.

Rivers

River Processes

• Erosion: hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, solution
• Transportation: traction, saltation, suspension, solution
• Deposition: when velocity decreases
• Factors affecting processes: gradient, discharge, load

River Landforms

• Upper course: V-shaped valleys, waterfalls, gorges
• Middle course: meanders, floodplains
• Lower course: deltas, levees, oxbow lakes
• Formation processes

River Management

• Dams and reservoirs
• Channelization
• Flood defenses
• Sustainable management

Coasts

Coastal Processes

• Erosion: waves, abrasion, hydraulic action
• Transportation: longshore drift
• Deposition: beaches, spits, bars
• Factors: wave type, fetch, geology

Coastal Landforms

• Erosional: cliffs, caves, arches, stacks
• Depositional: beaches, spits, bars, tombolos
• Formation processes
• Case studies

Coastal Management

• Hard engineering: sea walls, groynes
• Soft engineering: beach nourishment, managed retreat
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Environmental impact

Weather and Climate

Weather Systems

• High and low pressure
• Fronts: warm, cold, occluded
• Weather maps
• Weather instruments

Climate Zones

• Tropical: hot, wet
• Desert: hot, dry
• Temperate: moderate
• Polar: cold
• Factors affecting climate

Climate Change

• Causes: natural and human
• Effects: sea level rise, extreme weather
• Mitigation strategies
• Adaptation strategies

Ecosystems

Tropical Rainforests

• Climate: hot, wet
• Vegetation: tall trees, dense canopy
• Adaptations: buttress roots, drip tips
• Threats: deforestation, climate change

Deserts

• Climate: hot, dry
• Vegetation: cacti, succulents
• Adaptations: water storage, reduced leaves
• Threats: overgrazing, climate change

Tundra

• Climate: cold, dry
• Vegetation: mosses, lichens
• Adaptations: low growth, short growing season
• Threats: climate change, oil extraction

Tectonics

Plate Tectonics

• Plate boundaries: constructive, destructive, conservative
• Continental drift theory
• Sea floor spreading
• Evidence for plate tectonics

Earthquakes

• Causes: plate movement
• Focus and epicenter
• Measurement: Richter scale, Mercalli scale
• Effects and responses

Volcanoes

• Types: shield, composite
• Formation at plate boundaries
• Effects: lava flows, ash, lahars
• Benefits: fertile soil, tourism

Exam Tips

1. Use Case Studies

• Learn detailed examples
• Know specific facts and figures
• Apply to different questions
• Link to processes

2. Draw Diagrams

• Practice drawing landforms
• Label processes clearly
• Show sequences
• Use correct terminology

3. Understand Processes

• Don’t just memorize
• Understand cause and effect
• Link processes to landforms
• Apply to new situations

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Use these revision notes as part of your comprehensive exam preparation. Combine with past paper practice and expert tutoring for best results.