Hazardous Practical Skills (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Spec point — 4GE1-S9.128

Hazardous environment fieldwork

• Fieldwork in a hazardous environment is based on the physical processes involved in an extreme weather event

• To undertake a weather fieldwork enquiry there are a range of practical skills and methods that are used

• These can be applied to any weather fieldwork

• The fieldwork enquiry should be linked to geographical theory

  • In a weather fieldwork enquiry, the theories of microclimate and the passage of a depression or tropical storm can be used

Aims and hypothesis

• The aims and hypothesis come from questions asked about the weather, such as:

  • How does the weather change as a depression passes over an area?
  • How does the microclimate of an area vary?
  • What are the impacts of the built environment on microclimate?

• Aims look like this:

  • An investigation into the effect of school buildings on the microclimate
  • An investigation into the changing weather patterns during the passage of a depression

• Hypothesis would be a statement:

  • Temperatures decrease with distance from buildings
  • Precipitation is greatest when air pressure is lowest during the passage of a depression

• After the aims and hypothesis of the fieldwork have been established, the next steps include:

  • Selecting the sites – this will involve sampling
  • Deciding on the equipment to be used
  • Considering any health and safety issues - completing a risk assessment
  • Data collection method

Worked Example (i) Suggest one aim of a microclimate investigation

Final answer: Answer:

• Any valid aim acceptable for 1 mark

• The 2nd mark requires the development of the aim:

  • measure weather conditions (1 mark)
  • compare with another local site (1 mark)
  • measure temperature … (1 mark)
  • compare with Met Office station recordings for that area (1 mark)

(ii) Identify three reasons why a microclimate investigation might not achieve the aim given in (i)

Final answer: **Answer: **

• accuracy of data collected (1 mark)
• sufficient data collected** (1 mark)**
• careful data recording (1 mark)
• accuracy of data collation (1 mark) and data presentation (1 mark)
• reliable analysis and interpretation of findings (1 mark)
• validity of conclusions reached (1 mark)
• realism and practicality of aim (1 mark)
• suitability of sites chosen (1 mark)

Site selection and sampling

• It is not practical to include all weather measurements throughout the day or to take measurements at all sites

• To select sites, sampling should be used

  • Sampling will reduce bias
  • It will provide an overview of the whole

• There may be situations where access to the sample site may not be possible, meaning an opportunistic approach may need to be taken

  • The site should be as close as possible to the site selected using sampling

• The most commonly used sampling strategies for a weather enquiry are:

  • Systematic- sampling of sites at regular intervals along a transect line
  • Random- this means that all sites have an equal chance of being selected. A grid placed across a map of the school site would enable random sampling
  • Stratified - sampling sites which represent the whole

Worked Example A group of students have investigated the physical processes involved in an extreme weather event by recording a weather diary. The students use an anemometer to record wind speed every hour.

Identify the sampling method used **

(1 mark)

** A. **Systematic

** B. **Random

C. Stratified

** D. **Opportunistic

Final answer: Answer:

• A (1 mark)** - Systematic (the measurements are taken at regular intervals)

Worked Example Outline three factors which should be considered when choosing a suitable sampling site for a microclimate enquiry (6 marks)

Final answer: Answer:

• Different surroundings (1 mark) 2nd mark for this to be exemplified twice e.g. south-facing aspect (1 mark); sheltered spot (1 mark); open space (1 mark)
• 1 mark allowed for valid health and safety considerations, e.g. trespass (1 mark); traffic (1 mark)
• open space (1 mark) gives a more 'natural' reading for the area (1 mark)
• trespass (1 mark) ensure permission acquired (1 mark)

Equipment

• To complete weather measurements, a range of equipment is needed

• The equipment includes the following:

  • Equipment may be in a Stevenson Screen
  • Thermometer- temperature
  • Hygrometer- humidity
  • Anemometer- wind speed
  • Barometer - air pressure
  • Wind vane- wind direction
  • Rain gauge- precipitation amount
  • Pencil for writing data
  • Camera to take photographs of equipment/measurements

Risk assessment

• Any fieldwork will involve consideration of health and safety using a risk assessment

• Risks specifically associated with weather fieldwork may include:

  • Weather conditions
  • Slipping on uneven ground
  • Working in an unfamiliar place
  • Misuse of equipment – mercury thermometers
  • Traffic

Worked Example A group of students investigated the physical processes involved in an extreme weather event by recording a weather diary.

**(i) Identify one risk that the students may identify when undertaking a risk assessment for the investigation **

(1 mark)

Final answer: Answer:

• (Falling over in) strong winds (1 mark).
• Exposure to sunburn** (1 mark)**
• Slips/trips/bumps (1 mark)
• An extreme weather event (1 mark)
• Heavy rain/flooding (1 mark)

**(ii) State one way this risk could be managed **

(1 mark)

Answer: *(Staying indoors is not accepted and the answer must be specific to the answer given to (i))

• Avoid exposed locations / out in the open** (1 mark)**
• Collecting data once the storm has died down (1 mark)
• Use secondary data** (1 mark)**
• Walking with care** (1 mark)
• Working in groups (1 mark)
• Wearing sunscreen suntan lotion (1 mark)
• Staying away from a storm (1 mark)
• Using a weather forecast (1)
• Remote collection of weather data (1 mark)

Using Equipment in the Field - hazards

Spec point — 4GE1-S9.128

Using equipment in the field - Hazardous environments

Data collection methods

• The data collection methods depend on the aims/hypothesis of the fieldwork
• A weather diary and a microclimate study will both require the use of meteorological (weather) instruments to take measurements
• Data collection should include both quantitative and qualitative methods

Weather diary

• A weather diary is a record of weather conditions over a set period

Measuring the weather

• A digital weather station can be used to record the weather
• Alternatively, individual instruments can be used
• To ensure the accuracy of data, some of the instruments – thermometer, hygrometer and barometer – should be placed in a Stevenson screen

Features of a Stevenson screen

• Temperature

  • Measured using a maximum and minimum thermometer
  • These give the maximum and minimum readings over 24 hours

Measurements on a maximum and minimum thermometer

• Air pressure

  • Measured using a barometer in millibars

• Humidity

  • Measured using a hygrometer as a percentage

• Wind speed

  • Measured using an anemometer in km/h

• Wind direction

  • A wind vane is used to give the direction the wind is coming from

• Rainfall

  • A rain gauge measures the amount of rainfall in mm

Worked Example Study Figure 1 shows a geographer collecting weather data

Figure 1 - collecting weather data

Name piece of equipment X

(1 mark)

Final answer: Answer: **

• Stevenson screen (1 mark)

** Describe how a piece of equipment X is used in collecting weather data **

(3 marks)

Answer:** This should outline how the equipment is used:*

• Regular visits with log (1 mark). Open the front panel and record data **(1 mark). Log current instrument readings (1 mark) **
• Housing for a variety of instruments** (1 mark).** Allows air temperature in shade, not sun-exposed temperature, to be recorded (1 mark). Safety and instrument protection (1 mark)

Photographs and field sketches

• Photographs and field sketches are qualitative data
• Just as with any data collection and presentation, they have strengths and weaknesses
• In a weather enquiry, photographs and field sketches can be used to show weather conditions and sample site locations
• Photographs are also useful for illustrating the data collection methods used

Worked Example To extend a weather study, students recorded wind speeds every hour using an anemometer. Students were asked to use one other primary data method.

Explain one other primary data method

(3 marks)

Answer: *You will gain 1 mark for the identification of a primary data method and 2 further marks for explaining how this can be used.

• Rain – the use of a rain gauge (1 mark) to collect data on mm of rainfall over some time (1 mark). Data can be plotted to explore patterns**(1 mark) **
• Temperature – the use of a thermometer (1 mark) to measure temperature**(1 mark). Plotted data against wind speed to explore patterns over some time (1 mark) **
• Air pressure – the use of a barometer (1 mark) to measure air pressure**(1 mark). Plotted against wind speed to explore patterns over some time (1 mark)

Exam Hint Annotations and labels are not the same. A label is a simple descriptive point. For example, 'shaded area'. Whereas an annotation is a label with a more detailed description or an explanatory point. For example, a south-facing classroom which receives more sun through the day will be warmer than a north-facing classroom.