Examine the role of local communities in the management of water resources.

Examine the ways in which different physical factors can affect the characteristics of hydrographs.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).

Freshwater is an essential resource that has come under increasing pressure due to growth in demand, especially from increased population and urbanization, industry and intensive agriculture. Water quality is also under threat from physical and chemical pollution and salinization. Scarce and poor water quality can seriously affect the health of local communities.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Local management strategies aimed at providing fresh, sustainable water quality; access to clean and affordable water.
• Local communities play an important role in the improvement of health and well-being, and adequate supplies for agriculture and irrigation.
• Local efforts or strategies to reduce pollution from urban areas and agricultural run-off.
• Construction of wells, boreholes and small reservoirs.
• The role of different stakeholders, for example national governments, international organizations, TNCs, in assisting local communities in management of water resources.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) that examines the role and power of different stakeholders. Another approach might be to critically evaluate the importance of interactions between different scales of management using a sustainability framework.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of some local strategies in relation to management of water resources.

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account that includes:

• either an evidenced explanation of the role/importance/work of local communities managing different water resources
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).

A range of different physical factors affect the characteristics of river hydrographs. Many physical factors may be inter-related to affect the shape of the hydrograph. Physical factors may vary between rivers in different places, and also within the same large river basin. They may vary over different time scales, from seasonal to annual and long term. Climate change may have a long-term influence.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Characteristics of the hydrograph include peak discharge, lag time, steepness of rising and falling limbs, and baseflow.
• Physical factors that affect the characteristics of hydrographs include:
  
  • rock permeability and soil type/thickness; topography and relief; the type and amount of vegetation cover
  • climatic factors, such as rainfall amount, duration and intensity
  • snowfall (precipitation held in storage)
  • drainage basin characteristics, such as basin shape, drainage density and bifurcation ratio.
• Climate change may cause the character of the hydrographs to change overtime, eg the impact of reduced rainfall, or more intense rainfall.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) that examines the different scales/importance of physical factors, and the interactions between different physical factors, eg the impact of climate change on local water systems.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of the influence of two different physical factors.

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account that includes:

• either an evidenced explanation of two or more physical factors affecting hydrograph characteristics
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

Many ignored the emphasis on local communities and looked at general problems rather than the management. There was a tendency to repeat case studies, often of marginal relevance to the question, for example, describing river management strategies but making no mention of the role of local communities. However, there were some excellent responses with well evidenced, detailed and local examples, including a balanced discussion of the power of local communities.

This was generally well answered with some good knowledge and understanding of hydrographs demonstrated. Most included at least one diagram. There were some who included human factors, such as urbanization or channelization, which were not relevant to the question.