Examine the importance of permafrost in the development of periglacial landscapes.

Examine the political issues associated with mineral extraction in two or more extreme environments.

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

Permafrost is the most distinctive feature of periglacial environments. Many periglacial landforms are associated with permafrost. Permanently frozen ground is overlaid by an “active layer”, which undergoes seasonal melting and freezing.

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

• The importance of permafrost and the active layer in periglacial environments.
• Freeze–thaw processes in the active layer and frost wedging of exposed bedrock produce large areas of coarse, angular rock debris (blockfields or felsenmeer).
• Widespread areas of patterned ground, thermokarst and polygons, formed by thermal contraction, cracking and frost heave.
• The formation of pingos within the active layer.
• The role of solifluction as a transportation process within the active layer, forming solifluction lobes and terraces.
• Sediment transport by solifluction may modify the patterned ground into stone nets and stripes and produce depositional solifluction lobes and terraces.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) that examines the role of permafrost in the formation of periglacial landscapes. Periglacial landscapes may depend on the type of permafrost, seasonal process changes and the interrelationships between processes. The different scale of landform features – e.g. widespread areas of thermokarst, isolated patterned ground features or pingos.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of the formation of periglacial landforms/landscapes.

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

• either an evidenced explanation of the importance of permafrost in the formation of periglacial landforms/landscapes
• 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).

Extensive valuable mineral resources occur in different extreme environments and their exploitation poses significant human and physical challenges. Opportunities include economic gains by TNCs, governments and local populations from the exploitation of resources. They also provide employment opportunities and higher wages for local people.

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

• Valuable mineral deposits occur in extreme environments, such as oil in North America and iron ore in Australia.
• Political issues may arise between different stakeholders, including national governments, TNCs and local peoples.
• Financial gains by TNCs and local and national government may contribute to economic and social development.
• There is the political problem of “leakage” to TNCs and a lack of skilled local labour
• Other political issues may concern environmental degradation, pollution, and disagreements over land ownership and rights.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the varying power of different stakeholders, interactions between different political forces and the connected issues, and possibilities for conflict resolution.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of some political issues associated with mineral extraction in one or more extreme environments.

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

• either an evidenced explanation of the political issues in two or more extreme environments
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

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

Apart from those who considered the periglacial landscape to be how man copes in this environment, there were some excellent responses here with very good knowledge and understanding shown about the importance of permafrost.

Case studies of mineral extraction were well understood but many struggled to discuss political issues. Many were just descriptive responses of their case studies (rainforests are not considered extreme environments in this syllabus).