Paper 1: Physical geography

Figure 1 shows discharge and rainfall for a river catchment during a storm (data are illustrative, written for this paper).

Hour	0	6	12	18	24	30	36
Rainfall (mm/h)	2	14	6	1	0	0	0
Discharge (m³/s)	8	11	26	41	33	19	12

Analyse the data shown in Figure 1.

Explain why the global water cycle and carbon cycle are described as closed systems, while a drainage basin is an open system.

Explain how changes in the carbon cycle can affect the water cycle.

With reference to a river catchment you have studied, assess the extent to which human activity has changed its water cycle.

Figure 2 shows wave data recorded at a beach (data are illustrative, written for this paper).

Month	Jan	Apr	Jul	Oct
Mean wave height (m)	2.4	1.3	0.8	1.9
Wave period (s)	11	8	6	10

Analyse the data shown in Figure 2.

Explain how sediment cells operate as coastal systems.

Explain the formation of salt marshes.

With reference to a coastal landscape you have studied, assess the relative importance of physical and human factors in its development.

Figure 3 shows rates of plate movement at four boundaries (data are illustrative, written for this paper).

Boundary	Type	Rate (cm/yr)
Mid-Atlantic Ridge	constructive	2.5
East Pacific Rise	constructive	15
Nazca–South American	destructive	8
San Andreas	conservative	3.5

Analyse the data shown in Figure 3.

Explain the conditions that lead to wildfires.

Analyse the effectiveness of strategies used to manage volcanic hazards.

Evaluate the view that the impacts of earthquakes depend more on the level of development than on magnitude.

'Storm hazards are becoming more difficult to manage.' To what extent do you agree with this view?