Living with the physical environment – GCSE Edexcel Higher Geography revision notes

Living with the physical environment covers Section A: The challenge of natural hazards, Section B: The living world, and Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK in GCSE Edexcel Higher Geography. 25 lessons in 3 subtopics.

The UK's highest peak is Ben Nevis at 1,345 m, in the Scottish Highlands. The Diverse UK Landscapes notes cover this in full.

At a destructive plate boundary, two plates move towards each other and the denser oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate in subduction. The Understanding Tectonic Hazards notes cover this in full.

The rainforest has four layers: the emergent layer of the tallest trees, up to 50 m; the dense canopy at around 30 m, which intercepts up to 80% of sunlight; the understorey of shorter trees and shrubs, typically 10–20 m tall; and the dark, warm, humid forest floor, dominated by decomposers. The Tropical Rainforest Characteristics & Deforestation Causes notes cover this in full.

At a conservative plate boundary, two plates slide horizontally past each other, so no crust is created or destroyed and no volcanic activity occurs. The Understanding Tectonic Hazards notes cover this in full.

An ecosystem is a system in which living organisms (biotic components) interact with each other and with non-living environmental factors (abiotic components) in a specific area. The Ecosystems: Scales & Interactions notes cover this in full.

At a constructive plate boundary, two plates move apart and magma rises to fill the gap, creating new crust. The Understanding Tectonic Hazards notes cover this in full.

Earthquakes happen when friction stops tectonic plates sliding smoothly, so stress builds up in the rocks over years or centuries until it exceeds the rock's strength. The Understanding Tectonic Hazards notes cover this in full.

The effects of climate change include rising global temperatures and more heatwaves, melting ice sheets and glaciers, rising sea levels with more coastal flooding, more extreme weather, ecosystem disruption such as coral bleaching, and threats to food and water security. The What's Causing Climate Change? notes cover this in full.