ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHY WINTER SCHOOL

Our Matric Winter School is a comprehensive three week course run during the school holidays. It covers the entire Geography Syllabus.

The first 8 sessions of the course will cover all the material for term one and two. This is an opportunity to revise what you've already learned and then fill in the gaps. The final session will be for going over past papers. We will prepare you for questions and what to expect in the final exams. We will also teach you exam tips and techniques.

Our goal is to help you achieve your best results! If you would like to book please fill in the form below. Space is limited.

COURSE OUTLINE

Session 1:

CLIMATE AND WEATHER

• Outline of course
• Explanation of composition of end of year examinations

MID-LATITUDE DEPRESSIONS

• General Characteristics
• Areas of formation
• Conditions necessary for formation
• Stages in the formation
• Associated weather patterns - cold, warm and occluded front conditions
• Cyclone families
• Impact on human activities and the environment
• Possible pre-cautionary and management strategies
• Identification on synoptic weather maps and satellite images - development stages on synoptic weather maps. Interpretaion of weather symbols. Predicated weather and impact.

TROPICAL CYCLONES

• General characteristics
• Areas of formation and associated terms
• Conditions necessary for formation
• Stages in formation
• Associated weather patterns
• Impact on human activities and the environment (including impact of flooding)
• Pre-cautionary and managements strategies to manage the effects of tropical cyclones (including floods)
• Identification on synoptic weather maps and satellite images - development stages on synoptic weather maps. Interpretaion of weather symbols. Predicated weather and impact.
• Case study of ONE recent tropical cyclone that affected Southern Africa.

Session 2:

SUBTROPICAL ANTICYCLONES (high-pressure cells) AND THE RESULTANT WEATHER OVER SOUTH AFRICA

• Location and identification of the THREE high-pressure cells that affect South Africa. South Atlantic/St Helena, South Indian/Mauritius and Kalahari high-pressure cell.
• General characteristics of the THREE high-pressure cells
• Influence of anticyclones on South Africa’s weather and climate
• Reading and interpretation of information related to the THREE high-pressure cells on synoptic maps
• Development of travelling disturbances associated with anticyclonic circulation. Moist front & line thunderstorms. Coastal Low Pressure. South African berg wind.
• Resultant weather and impact associated with moving disturbance
• Reading and interpretation of synoptic maps and satellite images that illustrate weather associated with anticyclonic conditions

VALLEY CLIMATES

• Definition.
• Impact
• Development of Katabatic winds, Anabatic winds, Inversions/Thermal belts, Frost pockets, Radiation fog
• Influence on human activities, Settlement & Farming

Session 3:

URBAN CLIMATES

• Reasons for differences in rural and urban climates
• Urban heat islands. Causes of urban heat islands/factors contributing to higher city temperatures. Effects of urban heat islands. Strategies to reduce the urban heat island effect
• Pollution domes. Causes, effects and strategies to reduce pollution dome effect.

INTERPETATION OF SYNOPTIC WEATHER MAPS

• Use of international symbols
• Identification and characteristics of high- and low-pressure cells
• Reading and interpretation of station models
• Satellite images – reading and interpretation
• Comparison of satellite images to synoptic weather maps

Session 4:

DRAINAGE BASINS IN SOUTH AFRICA

• Concepts of: Drainage basin, Catchment area, River system, Tributary, Confluence, Watershed, Interfluve, Source, River mouth, Surface run-off, Groundwater and Water table.
• Type of rivers: Permanent, Periodic, Episodic, Exotic
• Underlying rock structure, development and characteristics of the following drainage patterns: Dendritic, Trellis, Rectangular, Radial, Centripetal, Deranged and Parallel
• Definition and factors influencing drainage density: Precipitation, evaporation, soil moisture, vegetations, slope, porosity and permeability.
• Determining stream order
• Use of topographical maps to determine drainage patterns; drainage density and stream order
• Discharge of a river: Laminar and turbulent flow.

FLUVIAL PROCESSES

• River profiles:
• River grading:
• River rejuvenation:
• Identification, description and formation of fluvial landforms:

CATCHMENT AND RIVER MANAGEMENT

• Importance of managing drainage basins/catchment areas
• Impact of people on drainage basins/catchment areas.
• Strategies to manage drainage basins/catchment areas
• Case study of one catchment management strategy in South Africa.

Session 5:

RURAL SETTLEMENTS

• Concepts of settlement site and situation.
• Classification of settlements.
• How site and situation affect the location of rural settlements.

Session 6:

URBAN SETTLEMENTS

• Concepts of settlement site and situation.
• Urban Migration.

Session 7:

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH AFRICA

• Structure.
• Economic Sectors - primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary activities.
• Agriculture.
• Mining.
• Secondary and tertiary sectors.
• The informal sector.

Session 8: Mapwork

Session 9: Revision

Past Papers. Exam techniques and tips.