Radley College Geography Magazine
Volume 2, Issue 1—Michaelmas 2011 In this issue: 2011 Geography Quiz BBC Frozen Planet Review 1‐2‐1 With JEG Global Geographical News Update Impressions of Geography
Global Geographical News The Growing Athabascan Buried under Canada’s boreal forest is one of the world’s largest reserves of oil. Bitumen—a very thick and heavy form of oil ‐ coats grains of sand and other minerals in a deposit that covers about 142,200 square kilometers of northwest Alberta. According to a 2003 estimate, Alberta has the capac‐ ity to produce 174.5 billion barrels of oil. However, oil sand mining has a large impact on the environment. Forests must be cleared for both open‐pit and mining. Pit mines can grow to more than 80 meters depth, as massive trucks remove up to 720,000 tons of sand every day. The effort produced the equivalent of 86 to 103 kilograms of carbon dioxide for every barrel of crude oil produced. By comparison, 27 to 58 kilograms of carbon dioxide are emitted in the conventional production of a barrel of crude oil. Great Canadian Oil Sands opened the first mine in 1967, but growth was slow until 2000 because the global cost of a barrel of oil was too low to make oil sands profitable. The oil sands contain enough oil to produce 2.5 million barrels of oil per day for 186 years. The United States consumes 18.8 million barrels of oil per day.
Large‐scale oil sand mining
Canadian oil sands in 1984
The same sands in 2011
UK Drought Warnings
Areas affected in the UK
The UK has received less than ¾ of its annual rainfall this year, the drought in some places since June may well run into next summer. Thames Water is having to pump wa‐ ter out of reserve aquifers which were being left to replenish. Anglian Water has been granted per‐ mission to pump up to 17 million litres a day until next March into its Pitsford Reservoir, which supplies around 600,000 customers in the Northamp‐ ton area.
Durban Climate Talks (COP17)
A Conference Of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) consisting of 195 countries. Yearly meeting— this is the 17th year. Environment ministers and negotiators meet in Durban, South Africa, for the UN climate change conference to advance efforts to‐ wards cutting carbon emissions.
The main debates: Kyoto protocol: The only agreement committing rich countries to reduce emis‐ sions is the Kyoto protocol, whose first commitment period ends next year. Emissions: The US, backed by EU and most rich countries, are determined to get China and developing countries to commit to deeper cuts. Money: Rich countries have pledged to provide $100bn a year after 2020 for poor countries to adapt to climate change. Forests: An ambitious scheme to protect tropical forests in return for money generated mostly by carbon credits could be finalised. But forested countries are some of the most corrupt and doubts remain. Bertie Johnstone (c)
BBC Frozen Planet—A Review
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suppose many of us have come to expect the very best in television production when it comes to the BBC’s Natural History unit. But every year we seem taken aback by the sheer brilliance of a new series. Frozen Planet, narrated by the fa‐ ther of all knowledge, David Attenborough, follows on from the multi‐award winning Human Planet series to equal acclaim. So what about the Geography? One third of our planet is covered by ice and these vast ice sheets contain a staggering 80% of the world’s fresh water. However, Atten‐ borough describes it as ‘our last true wilderness that is changing just as we’re begin‐ ning to understand’. The poles are permanently covered in ice and there is no colder, windier or more hostile place on Earth. The sun doesn’t rise for half the year, and doesn’t set for the other. Winter transforms the landscape into a vast frozen desert where temperatures plummet to ‐70˚C and winds are in excess of 150mph. The polar spring is a brief op‐ portunity for life and summer brings with it the race to breed and nurture new off‐ spring. Autumn sees the ice extend its grip over the landscape as it prepares to settle in for the long, harsh winter. The extraordinary seasonal changes are beautifully captured by time lapse cameras which give a real insight into the severity of these transformations. Slow motion tech‐ nology superbly conveys the grace of birds in flight, the power of collapsing glaciers and the brutality of bisons charging at each other head first with the impact of a car crash.
But it’s the stories that truly capture the imagination. I was particularly captivated by the innovation and teamwork of a team of Killer Whales. By swimming in a synchro‐ nised fashion, the predators were able to create waves to knock a lone seal off an ice float. Once in the water, they would blow bubbles to distract the prey and create turbu‐ lence to confuse it as the other Killer Whales moved in for the kill. These moments of magnificence are accompanied by the lighter side of polar nature. Gentoo penguins comically surf the waves while others on land resort to a life of crime as they steal rocks from each other to create their nests for the oncoming winter. However, not all action is seen on the ice sheets. Underneath the ice is the home to a diverse range of wildlife. Unperturbed from the extreme weather above, nothing has changed down here for millions of years. It is one of the most alien places to humans on the planet and one where many species are yet to be found and accounted for. One particularly intriguing creature is the ice fish – made entirely of anti‐freeze. However, the variety doesn’t stop there. Above land the Antarctic also consists of mountain ranges, the driest valleys on Earth and a volcano, Mount Erebus. The Arctic also includes the Taiga Forest, 7000 miles long and home to a third of the world’s trees. Over time the significance of the poles has changed dramatically. They used to signify the ultimate test of human endurance and endeavour. But now we understand that what happens here affects every single one of the 7 billion people on this planet. However, my words cannot do justice to this fairytale world. Seeing is literally believing and the incredible work of the Frozen Planet team makes this series another joy to watch and definitely one not to be missed. And with Christmas around the corner, it is sure to be the perfect stocking filler. Hugh Wolton (g)
Radley College Geography Quiz
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his term her‐ alded the very first inter‐social Geography Quiz, held in the Silk Hall in early September. The aim of the quiz was to test general geographi‐ cal knowledge and every social fielded a team of three boys (one sixth former, one Remove or Fifth and one Shell). The big guns all turned out, with a number of heads of so‐ cial as well as some very confident looking Shells. A sizeable audience turned out to see the question finally answered—‘who are the best Geo‐men in the school?’ Competition was fierce as the rounds progressed. After a strong start by E so‐ cial on country locations A social took the front running position. This was held through the true or false and capitals rounds before they fell away on the pic‐ ture round. Going into the world flags final round it was neck and neck between E and K socials. A monumental effort by the three E boys managed to sneak it at the death by a single point from Freddie Wright and his team. The E social winners of the 2011 Radley College Geog‐ raphy Quiz were therefore Tom Nokes, Tom Goodings and Luke Stalder. The quiz will be held again in Michaelmas 2012 and plenty of those involved this year will have the opportu‐ nity to try again for the hal‐ lowed trophy. GJAH
1-2-1 A (quick) chat with Mr J. E. Gearing
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aking over temporarily from Hugh Wolton, cur‐ rently on sabbatical somewhere in Hertford College, Oxford, Tom ‘Parkinson’ Stables (d) pins down JEG for some quick questions. What brought you over to England from South Africa? It was initially the rowing that brought me over to the UK. I wanted to be part of the world's top rowing nation. I also wanted the challenge of being in a new country and adjusting to a different culture and lifestyle. How did the Apartheid affect your rowing career in South Africa? I rowed internationally from 1982‐1992 and we were only allowed back into interna‐ tional competition in 1992, so I sadly missed out on the Olympics. Whilst I regret not being able to compete I think the boycott was justified and am not bitter about the whole process, luckily I still managed to compete in a World Championship.s What inspired you to teach Geography? I think the relevance of the subject was the key for me. Geography has become increas‐ ingly linked to all physical and human issues nowadays and it is good to see the curricu‐ lum changing to keep up with the subject . Are you a Human or a Physical 'Geo Man'? That's a good question. I guess I'm more fascinated by physical Geography but the hu‐ man impact on physical Geography has interested me of late and I think nowadays the both cannot almost be separated. What is your favourite Geography Video? (laughing).. It's got to be Super‐Volcano hasn't it! I can't even count how many times I've watched it but put it this way I could quote a number of passages very well! Frozen Planet or Human Planet: Human Dream Motorbike: BMW GS1200 Lager or Ale: Lager 5km or 2km: 5km Favourite music: Traditional rock Favourite band: Counting Crows 1st VIII or Geo: (Deep sigh saying, 'I'm going to get in trouble for this one') 1st VIII
Impressions
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ith Geography now studied by approximately half the school, and many opting for the subject for A level and IGCSE, Henry Wilson (j) and Piers Hugh‐Smith (f) checked out the feelings on the subject.
‘Geo at A level has really got me interested in studying Geography at univer‐ sity’ (6.1) ‘I am really enjoying the tea and coffee during JMS period 1!’ (6.1) ‘Looking at subjects in more depth has proved Geo to be a really good choice for A level’ (6.1) ‘Favourite subject so far, really interesting’ (Shell) ‘It think I will continue Geo for my GCSEs as it is my favourite so far’ (Shell) ‘Really enjoying doing Geo as I enjoyed it at my prep school. I’m definitely going to continue to GCSE’ (Shell) ‘Disappointed—we’ve not touched a colouring pencil so far at Radley’ (Remove)