AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1: Complete Revision Guide
Living with the Physical Environment
This guide covers ALL essential content for AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1: The Living World and
Physical Landscapes in the UK
SECTION 1: THE LIVING WORLD
A. Ecosystems
Key Definitions
Ecosystem: A community of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components that interact
together (e.g., pond, woodland, desert)
Biome: A large-scale global ecosystem characterized by distinctive vegetation and climate (e.g.,
tropical rainforest, hot desert, temperate deciduous forest)
Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal species in an ecosystem
Producer: An organism that gets its energy from primary sources (mainly plants through
photosynthesis)
Consumer: An organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms
Decomposer: An organism that breaks down dead organic material
Nutrient Cycling
Process: Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break down dead plant and animal matter → nutrients
are recycled back into the soil → plants absorb these nutrients through their roots
Importance: Essential for maintaining soil fertility and supporting plant growth
Human Impact: Deforestation disrupts this cycle (less leaf litter means fewer nutrients returned to
soil, leading to infertile soil)
Global Distribution of Biomes
Tropical Rainforests: Found near the equator (0-5°N/S) - hot and wet all year
Hot Deserts: Found around 30°N/S of equator - hot and dry
Temperate Deciduous Forests: Found between 40-60°N/S - moderate temperatures, seasonal
rainfall
B. Tropical Rainforests
1. Characteristics
Climate
Temperature: Consistently hot (26-28°C) with little seasonal variation
Rainfall: Very high (over 2000mm per year), with rain most days
Humidity: Very high (80-90%)
Structure and Layers
1. Emergent Layer: Tallest trees (45-55m) that emerge above the canopy (e.g., kapok trees)
2. Canopy: Dense layer of leaves (30-45m) where most biodiversity is found
3. Understory: Sparse vegetation (5-30m) adapted to low light conditions
4. Forest Floor: Dark, humid layer with decomposing organic matter
Soils
Characteristics: Thin, nutrient-poor, red in color due to iron content
Rapid Nutrient Cycling: Nutrients are quickly taken up by plants, leaving soils infertile
Leaching: Heavy rainfall washes nutrients away
2. Plant and Animal Adaptations
Plant Adaptations
Drip-tip leaves: Pointed tips allow water to run off quickly, preventing fungal growth
Buttress roots: Large, flattened roots provide stability in shallow soils
Smooth bark: Helps water run off and prevents epiphytes from growing
Climbing plants (lianas): Grow up other plants to reach sunlight
Epiphytes: Plants that grow on other plants to access light
Animal Adaptations
Camouflage: Many animals have patterns/colors that help them hide (e.g., jaguars)
Nocturnal behavior: Active at night when it's cooler
Arboreal lifestyle: Many animals live in trees (e.g., monkeys, sloths)
Loud calls: Animals use sound to communicate through dense vegetation
Bright colors: Some animals use bright colors for warning or mating displays
3. Biodiversity and Interdependence
High biodiversity: Tropical rainforests contain over 50% of world's species despite covering only
6% of Earth's surface
Interdependence: All organisms depend on each other for survival
Food webs: Complex relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers
4. Deforestation
Causes of Deforestation
Commercial logging: Harvesting valuable hardwoods (mahogany, teak)
Agriculture: Clearing land for cattle ranching and crop cultivation
Palm oil plantations: Especially in Malaysia and Indonesia
Infrastructure development: Roads, dams, settlements
Mining: Extracting minerals and fossil fuels
Impacts of Deforestation
Loss of biodiversity: Species become endangered or extinct (e.g., orangutans)
Climate change: Reduced CO₂ absorption, increased CO₂ release
Soil erosion: Without tree roots, soil is washed away
Disrupted water cycle: Less evapotranspiration leads to reduced rainfall
Loss of indigenous cultures: Traditional ways of life are destroyed
Management Strategies
Selective logging: Only cutting certain trees, allowing forest to regenerate
Replanting: Afforestation and reforestation programs
International agreements: CITES controls trade in endangered species
Ecotourism: Provides economic incentives to conserve forests
Debt-for-nature swaps: Rich countries pay off poor countries' debts in exchange for
conservation
Education: Raising awareness about rainforest importance
C. Hot Deserts
1. Characteristics
Climate
Rainfall: Very low (less than 250mm per year)
Temperature: Extreme daily variations - very hot days (up to 50°C), cold nights (can drop below
0°C)
Sunshine: High levels of sunshine throughout the year
Wind: Strong winds common, causing sandstorms
Soils
Characteristics: Thin, dry, low in organic matter
Color: Often red/orange due to iron oxides
Fertility: Generally infertile due to lack of organic matter
Vegetation
Sparse: Widely scattered plants adapted to drought conditions
Seasonal: Some plants only appear after rare rainfall events
2. Plant and Animal Adaptations
Plant Adaptations
Water storage: Cacti store water in thick stems and leaves
Reduced leaves: Spines instead of leaves reduce water loss
Deep roots: Tap into groundwater far below surface
Waxy surfaces: Reduce water loss through evaporation
Dormancy: Some plants remain dormant until rainfall occurs
Animal Adaptations
Nocturnal behavior: Active at night to avoid heat (e.g., fennec fox)
Burrowing: Live underground during hot days
Water conservation: Get water from food, produce concentrated urine
Large ears: Help dissipate heat (e.g., jackrabbit)
Light coloration: Reflects heat and provides camouflage
3. Development Opportunities
Mineral Resources
Oil and gas: Major source of energy and economic development
Metals: Iron ore, copper, uranium mining
Building materials: Sand, gravel for construction
Energy
Solar power: Abundant sunshine ideal for solar farms
Wind power: Strong, consistent winds in some areas
Farming
Irrigation: Using groundwater or river water to grow crops
Nomadic herding: Traditional livestock management
Tourism
Landscape tourism: Unique desert scenery attracts visitors
Adventure tourism: Off-road driving, camel trekking
Cultural tourism: Indigenous cultures and traditions
4. Development Challenges
Water Supply
Scarcity: Limited freshwater sources
Quality: Groundwater may be saline or contaminated
Competition: Multiple users competing for limited water
Extreme Temperatures
Health risks: Heat exhaustion, dehydration
Infrastructure: Buildings and roads damaged by temperature extremes
Agriculture: Difficult growing conditions
Accessibility
Remote locations: Far from markets and services
Poor infrastructure: Limited roads, communications
Transport costs: Expensive to move goods and people
SECTION 2: PHYSICAL LANDSCAPES IN THE UK
A. River Landscapes and Processes
1. The River System
Key Terms
Source: Where a river begins (usually in upland areas)
Mouth: Where a river ends (flows into sea, lake, or another river)
Confluence: Where two rivers meet
Watershed/Drainage basin: Area drained by a river and its tributaries
Channel: The route the river takes
2. River Processes
Erosion Processes
Hydraulic action: Force of moving water breaks away rock particles
Abrasion/Corrasion: Rocks carried by river scrape and wear away the riverbed and banks
Attrition: Rocks carried by river knock together and become smaller and rounder
Solution/Corrosion: River water dissolves soluble rocks
Transportation Processes
Traction: Large rocks and boulders rolled along riverbed
Saltation: Smaller stones bounced along riverbed
Suspension: Fine particles carried in the water
Solution: Dissolved materials carried in the water
Deposition
Occurs when river loses energy and can no longer carry its load
Happens when river slows down, becomes shallower, or load increases
3. River Landforms
Upper Course Landforms
V-shaped valleys: Created by vertical erosion cutting down into landscape
Interlocking spurs: Hills that stick out into valley, force river to wind around them
Waterfalls: Form where hard rock overlies soft rock
Process: Soft rock erodes faster → overhang develops → overhang collapses → waterfall
retreats upstream
Example: High Force on River Tees
Middle Course Landforms
Meanders: Bends in the river caused by lateral erosion
River cliff: Steep bank on outside of bend (faster flow, more erosion)
Slip-off slope: Gentle bank on inside of bend (slower flow, deposition)
Oxbow lakes: Formed when meander is cut off from main river
Lower Course Landforms
Floodplains: Wide, flat areas either side of river that flood during high discharge
Levées: Natural embankments along river channel built up by deposition
Deltas: Landforms created where river meets sea and deposits sediment
Estuaries: Tidal mouth of river where it meets the sea
4. Factors Affecting River Discharge
Physical Factors
Precipitation: Type, amount, and intensity of rainfall/snowfall
Temperature: Affects evaporation and snowmelt rates
Vegetation: Trees intercept rainfall and take up water through roots
Rock type: Permeable rocks allow water to soak in, impermeable rocks cause surface runoff
Soil type: Clay soils become waterlogged, sandy soils allow infiltration
Relief: Steep slopes increase surface runoff
Human Factors
Urbanization: Concrete surfaces increase surface runoff
Deforestation: Reduces interception and infiltration
Agriculture: Ploughing can increase or decrease infiltration
5. River Management
Hard Engineering
Dams and reservoirs: Control water flow, provide water storage
Channel straightening: Increases flow velocity, reduces flooding upstream
Embankments: Artificial levées raise river banks
Flood relief channels: Divert excess water around settlements
Soft Engineering
Floodplain zoning: Restricting development in flood-risk areas
Planting trees: Increases interception and infiltration
River restoration: Returning rivers to natural state
Flood warnings: Early warning systems allow preparation
B. Coastal Landscapes and Processes
1. Coastal Processes
Wave Formation
Waves formed by wind blowing over sea surface
Wave height depends on wind speed, wind duration, and fetch (distance wind blows over water)
Types of Waves
Constructive waves: Low energy, strong swash, weak backwash → build up beaches
Destructive waves: High energy, weak swash, strong backwash → erode coastline
Coastal Erosion Processes
Hydraulic action: Force of waves compresses air in rock cracks
Abrasion: Waves throw rocks and sand against cliffs
Attrition: Rocks knock together and become smaller and rounder
Solution: Seawater dissolves soluble rocks
Coastal Transportation
Longshore drift: Waves approach beach at angle, carry sediment along coast
Process: Swash carries material up beach at angle → backwash carries material straight down →
zigzag movement along coast
2. Coastal Landforms
Erosional Landforms
Headlands and bays: Form where alternating hard and soft rocks meet the sea
Wave-cut platforms: Flat rocky areas at base of cliffs, created by wave erosion
Caves: Form where waves erode weaknesses in headlands
Arches: Form when caves are eroded through headlands
Stacks: Form when arches collapse, leaving isolated pillars of rock
Stumps: Form when stacks are eroded down to base
Depositional Landforms
Beaches: Accumulations of sand and pebbles between high and low tide marks
Spits: Long, narrow ridges of sand/pebbles extending into sea
Bars: Ridges of sand/pebbles that connect island to mainland or stretch across bay
Sand dunes: Hills of sand formed by wind deposition behind beaches
3. Coastal Management
Hard Engineering Strategies
Sea walls: Concrete barriers that reflect wave energy
Advantages: Very effective, long-lasting
Disadvantages: Expensive, can increase erosion elsewhere
Rock armour/Rip rap: Large rocks placed at base of cliffs
Advantages: Absorbs wave energy, allows water to pass through
Disadvantages: Expensive to transport, can be moved by storms
Groynes: Wooden/concrete barriers built across beach
Advantages: Trap sediment, build up beach
Disadvantages: Increase erosion downdrift
Gabions: Wire cages filled with rocks
Advantages: Cheaper than sea walls, absorb wave energy
Disadvantages: Can be damaged, may look unsightly
Soft Engineering Strategies
Beach nourishment: Adding sand/pebbles to beaches
Advantages: Looks natural, provides recreation space
Disadvantages: Expensive, needs constant maintenance
Dune regeneration: Planting vegetation to stabilize sand dunes
Advantages: Natural defense, provides wildlife habitat
Disadvantages: Takes time to establish, easily damaged
Managed retreat: Allowing sea to flood low-value land
Advantages: Cost-effective, creates natural habitat
Disadvantages: Loss of farmland, compensation costs
CASE STUDIES
Case Study 1: Malaysian Borneo Rainforest
Location: Borneo (shared between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei), Southeast Asia
Characteristics
Climate: Tropical (26-28°C year-round, over 2500mm rainfall annually)
Biodiversity: Home to orangutans, proboscis monkeys, Rafflesia (world's largest flower)
Structure: Classic four-layer structure with emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor
Deforestation Causes
Palm oil plantations: Malaysia is world's second-largest palm oil producer
Logging: Valuable hardwoods (meranti, keruing) exported globally
Infrastructure: Roads, dams, urban development
Agriculture: Rice cultivation, cattle ranching
Impacts
Biodiversity loss: Orangutan population declined by 50% since 1990s
Indigenous displacement: Dayak and Penan peoples lose traditional lands
Climate change: Reduced CO₂ absorption, increased emissions from burning
Soil degradation: Erosion and nutrient loss after forest removal
Management Strategies
Protected areas: Kinabalu National Park, Danum Valley Conservation Area
Sustainable logging: Reduced impact logging techniques
RSPO certification: Sustainable palm oil standards
Ecotourism: Generates income while preserving forest
Replanting programs: Government targets 175,000 hectares by 2025
Case Study 2: Thar Desert, India/Pakistan
Location: Northwestern India (Rajasthan) and southeastern Pakistan
Physical Characteristics
Climate: Arid, less than 150mm rainfall per year
Temperature: Extreme variations (50°C in summer, near freezing in winter)
Landscape: Sand dunes, rocky outcrops, seasonal salt lakes
Size: Approximately 200,000 km²
Development Opportunities
Farming: Indira Gandhi Canal brings water for irrigation
Crops: Wheat, cotton, mustard seed
Success: 3.5 million hectares now irrigated
Energy: Bhadla Solar Park (world's fourth-largest solar installation)
Tourism: Jaisalmer Fort, camel safaris, desert festivals
Minerals: Gypsum, limestone, oil and gas reserves
Development Challenges
Water scarcity: Groundwater depletion, high salinity
Extreme temperatures: Infrastructure damage, health risks
Desertification: Overgrazing, soil erosion, climate change
Accessibility: Remote location, poor transport links
Sandstorms: Damage to equipment and crops
Management Strategies
Water conservation: Traditional methods (tankas, baoris) combined with modern techniques
Afforestation: Planting drought-resistant species (Prosopis juliflora)
Technology: Drip irrigation, drought-resistant crop varieties
Alternative livelihoods: Handicrafts, solar panel manufacturing
Case Study 3: River Tees, England
Location: Flows from Pennines to North Sea through northern England
Upper Course Features
High Force: 21m waterfall where River Tees crosses Whin Sill (hard rock)
V-shaped valley: Steep-sided valley carved by vertical erosion
Cow Green Reservoir: Provides water supply and flood control
Middle Course Features
Meanders: River begins to wind across landscape
Wider valley: Lateral erosion creates broader valley floor
Lower Course Features
Middlesbrough: Major industrial city on River Tees
Tees Estuary: Important for shipping and industry
Mudflats and salt marshes: Important wildlife habitat
Human Uses
Water supply: Reservoirs provide water for region
Industry: Teesside industrial complex uses river water for cooling
Transport: River navigable for ships up to Middlesbrough
Recreation: Walking, fishing, canoeing
Management
Tees Barrage: Controls water levels, prevents flooding
Cow Green Reservoir: Regulates river flow
Flood defenses: Embankments protect Yarm and other settlements
Environmental monitoring: Regular water quality testing
Case Study 4: Holderness Coast, England
Location: East Yorkshire coast from Bridlington to Spurn Head
Physical Geography
Rock type: Soft boulder clay (glacial deposits)
Erosion rate: Up to 2 meters per year (fastest eroding coast in Europe)
Fetch: Long fetch across North Sea increases wave energy
Longshore drift: Sediment moves south along coast
Erosion Impacts
Land loss: 30 villages lost to sea since Roman times
Property loss: Homes, farms, and infrastructure destroyed
Economic impact: Reduced property values, tourism affected
Social impact: Communities relocated, historical sites lost
Management Strategies
Bridlington: Sea wall and promenade protect town center
Hornsea: Sea wall, groynes, and beach nourishment
Mappleton: Rock armour protects village but increases erosion south
Spurn Head: Managed retreat allows natural processes
Management Issues
Cost: Expensive to protect entire coastline
Effectiveness: Protecting one area increases erosion elsewhere
Conflict: Disagreement over which areas to protect
Environmental impact: Hard defenses can damage ecosystems
EXAM TECHNIQUE AND SKILLS
Command Words
Describe: State what you can see or what is happening (no explanation needed)
Explain: Give reasons why something happens (use "because," "due to," "as a result")
Compare: Identify similarities and differences
Evaluate: Weigh up advantages and disadvantages, make a judgment
Assess: Make a judgment about the importance or success of something
Analyze: Break down information and examine relationships
Question Types and Structure
4-Mark Questions (Usually describe/explain)
Make 4 clear points
Use geographical terminology
Reference data/maps if provided
6-Mark Questions (Explain/compare)
Use PEEL structure:
Point: Make your argument
Evidence: Use facts, figures, or examples
Explain: Show how evidence supports your point
Link: Connect back to the question
9-Mark Questions (Evaluate/assess)
Present balanced argument
Consider multiple factors
Use case study examples
Reach a conclusion
Structure: Introduction → Arguments for → Arguments against → Conclusion
Key Exam Tips
1. Read questions carefully - look for command words and mark allocations
2. Use geographical terminology - shows understanding and knowledge
3. Include specific examples - named places, figures, case studies
4. Manage your time - roughly 1 minute per mark
5. Check your work - ensure answers are complete and make sense
Essential Case Study Facts to Remember
Malaysian Borneo
Deforestation rate: 140,000 hectares per year
Palm oil: Malaysia produces 19.5 million tonnes annually
Orangutans: Population declined from 230,000 to 104,000 since 1990s
Thar Desert
Indira Gandhi Canal: 650km long, irrigates 1.8 million hectares
Bhadla Solar Park: 2,245 MW capacity
Population density: 83 people per km² (one of world's most densely populated deserts)
River Tees
High Force: 21m high waterfall
Cow Green Reservoir: Holds 40 million cubic meters of water
Tees Barrage: Cost £54 million, completed in 1995
Holderness Coast
Erosion rate: Up to 2m per year
Villages lost: 30 since Roman times
Mappleton sea defenses: Cost £2 million in 1991
Good luck with your exam! Remember to practice past papers and time yourself under exam
conditions.
