H2 Geography

This course explores the interactions between human activities and the environment, covering physical and human geography concepts. It emphasizes geographical inquiry and application of knowledge to real-world issues. The syllabus is structured around four themes:

Theme 1: Tropical Environments

This theme examines the physical processes shaping tropical landscapes and the associated issues.

• Topic 1.1: Physical Processes in the Tropics: This topic covers the dynamics of tropical climates using the Koppen-Geiger classification system, including humid tropics (tropical rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna) and arid tropics (sub-tropical steppe, tropical desert). It also explores the influence of atmospheric circulation (Hadley Cell, ITCZ, trade winds, monsoons, Walker Circulation, ENSO), topography, ocean currents, and continentality on tropical climates. Additionally, it delves into catchment hydrology (drainage basin water balance, fluvial processes, runoff processes, river channel morphology), and geomorphic processes (weathering, soil formation, erosion, mass movements).
• Topic 1.2: Landscapes and Issues in the Tropics: This topic investigates the formation of characteristic landforms in the humid and arid tropics, including karst landscapes (tower karst, cone karst, isolated karst) and arid landscapes (rills, gullies, yardangs, dunes, loess). It also examines flooding in the tropics (hydrographs, tropical cyclones, human and physical factors influencing floods, flood management strategies) and tropical deforestation (causes, effects, management strategies).

Theme 2: Development, Economy and Environment

This theme explores the relationship between human development, economic activities, and the environment.

• Topic 2.1: Development and the Global Economy: This topic covers different perspectives on development (core-periphery model, dependency theory, bottom-up development), measuring development using SDGs, the structure of the global economy (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary sectors), global production networks (GPNs), transnational corporations (TNCs), and the role of state and non-state actors in governing the global economy.
• Topic 2.2: Environment and Resources: This topic examines human-environment relationships, factors influencing resource appraisal, perspectives on population-resource relationships, managing the resource base (classification of resources, extractive industries, the "resource curse" thesis), and water resource management (water scarcity, transboundary water management).

Theme 3: Sustainable Development

This theme focuses on the concept of sustainable development and its application to climate change and urban development.

• Topic 3.1: Climate Change and Energy: This topic covers the definition and tenets of sustainable development, challenges in achieving sustainable development, the science of climate change, effects of climate change on sustainable development, responses to climate change (mitigation and adaptation), and the use of alternative energy sources (energy use and the global carbon cycle, debate on alternative energy sources).
• Topic 3.2: Sustainable Urban Development: This topic examines urbanization and cities, measuring sustainable urban development, urban liveability, issues in sustainable urban development (solid waste management, slum management, traffic congestion management), and improving liveability in cities (urban reimaging, needs of different social groups, responding to environmental hazards like pluvial floods).

Theme 4: Geographical Investigation

This theme equips students with the skills to conduct independent geographical investigations. Students will formulate research questions or hypotheses, develop investigation plans, collect and analyze data, and communicate their findings. Specific areas of investigation include living with rivers, people and the economy, and urban living today. This theme is an integral part of the H2 Geography course and is assessed through a dedicated Data Response Question paper.