OCR B GCSE Geography Revision
Revision materials to support you in preparing for your GCSE Geography exams.
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High and low pressure
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- AQA Paper 1 Revision
- The Challenge of Natural Hazards Revision
- What is a natural hazard?
- Types of Natural Hazards
- Hazard Risk
- Plate Tectonics
- Why do tectonic plates move?
- The global distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes
- Destructive plate margins
- Conservative plate margins
- Constructive plate margins
- Causes of earthquakes
- Measuring Earthquakes
- What are the effects of earthquakes?
- Responses to Earthquakes
- Case Study – HIC Earthquake
- Case Study – LIC Earthquake
- Why do people live in tectonically active areas?
- Managing Tectonic Hazards
- Global Atmospheric Circulation
- The Challenge of Natural Hazards Revision
Revision Notes
Interactive Revision
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Climate Zones
A climate zone is a region of the Earth that has distinct weather patterns and temperatures. These zones are classified based on factors such as latitude, altitude, and nearby oceans or mountains. Each climate zone is characterised by its typical range of temperatures, precipitation levels, and vegetation types.
You need to understand the relationship between the global circulation system and the different climate zones.
| Climate Zone | Laitude | Characteristics of climate | Link to global circulation system |
| Polar | 60° to 90° North and South | Very cold temperatures year-round, with long, harsh winters and short, cool summers. Low precipitation, mostly as snow. | Influenced by the Polar cell, where cold air descends at the poles, creating high-pressure systems and cold, dry conditions. |
| Temperate | 30° to 60° North and South | Moderate temperatures with four distinct seasons. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year. | Affected by the Ferrel cell, where warm air moves poleward and interacts with colder polar air, leading to variable weather. |
| Subtropical | 20° to 30° North and South | Hot, dry summers and mild winters. Low annual precipitation, often in the form of brief, intense rainstorms. | Linked to the descending air of the Hadley cell, which creates high-pressure zones and dry conditions in these regions. |
| Tropical | 0° to 20° North and South | High temperatures year-round with significant rainfall, especially in equatorial regions. Two main seasons: wet and dry. | Dominated by the Hadley cell, where warm air rises at the Equator, leading to heavy rainfall and the formation of rainforests. |
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Extreme Weather
