geography sample essays leaving cert

Marking Scheme

Aerial Photo

Leaving Certificate Exam Papers

Junior Certificate Exam Papers

Global location of Earthquakes

Global location of Volcanoes

Igneous Rock Formation

Folding affecting Ireland

Plate Tectonics affect on Ireland

Plate Boundaries

Sedimentary Rock Formation

Metamorphic Rock Formation

Limestone Surface Features

Limestone Underground Features

Formation of a Waterfall

Formation of a Delta

Features of River Rejuvenation

Ireland Peripheral (N&W)- Primary Activites

Ireland Core - Primary Activites

Ireland Core - Secondary Activities

Ireland Core - Tertiary Activites

Urban Region - Dublin

Paris Basin - Secondary Activites

Urban Region - Paris City

Mezzigiorno - Tertiary Activites

India - Primary Activites

Indian - Secondary Activities

Cultural Conflict - Kashmir

Exam Papers and Sample Answers

Tara Lead and Zinc Mine

Options - Geoecology

Leaving Certificate Sample Answers

Characteristics of Brown Earth Soil

Human Actvities impacting on Soil

Biome (Desert)- Climate affecting soil and vegetation

Biome (Desert)- Human activity impacting biome

Options - Culture and Identity

Language as a Cultural Indicator

Strategies to aid the survival of Minority Languages

The Gaeltacht as a distinct Cultural Region

How people express their Culture and Identity

The importance of Religion as a Cultural Indicator

Conflict between political structures and Cultural Groups

Migration impacting Racial Patterns

Cultural Identity Case Sudy - Switzerland

Economic impact of Common Agricultural Policy on Ireland

Economic impact of Common Fisheries Policy on Ireland

Economic/ Environmental advantages of renewables

Impact of Colonisation/ Globaliation on a Developing country (Brazil)

Impact of Tourism in a  Developed country (France)

Ireland Peripheral (N&W)- Secondary Activites

Ireland Peripheral (N&W)- Tertiary Activites

Paris Basin - Primary Activites

Paris Basin - Tertiary Activites

Impact of EU expansion on Ireland

Conflict between Economic and Environmental interests

Exam Paper 1

Exam Paper 2

OS Map - Unavailable

Earthquakes & Volcanoes Revision Notes, Past Papers & Questions for Leaving Cert Geography

Join thousands of students using SimpleStudy to revise for their for Leaving Cert.

49642 happy Leaving Cert students

Study Geography Past Papers & Marking Schemes

SimpleStudy’s Leaving Cert Geography Past Papers cover all of Earthquakes & Volcanoes. Revise past papers and marking schemes, or just Earthquakes & Volcanoes questions.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes Revision Notes

Study beautiful, concise and carefully crafted notes, for your Leaving Cert.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes Questions

Past Questions, timed, divided by topic and automatically graded.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes Quizzes & Flashcards

Make studying easy with multiple choice quizzes and fun flashcards.

Practice Revision Questions For Earthquakes & Volcanoes

Test your knowledge! Try SimpleStudy’s interactive revision questions, made specifically for every topic and note so you’re properly prepared for your Leaving Cert Geography exam.

86% of students got this correct.

What is the point above the earthquake's origin referred to as?

Leaving cert geography earthquakes & volcanoes revision notes.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes revision notes, study carefully curated revision materials, broken down into focused topics.

Learn how to study Leaving Cert Geography .

Leaving Cert Earthquakes & Volcanoes questions and answers.

Reviewed by subject experts and top students.

Example Earthquakes & Volcanoes answers

Example answers, on past Earthquakes & Volcanoes Questions. Learn from other students with SimpleStudy’s example answers and essays.

Graded, marked example answers for every question.

Sample essays from A+ students.

Experiment write-ups, practicals, diagrams and more.

Scan your Earthquakes & Volcanoes Homework to get instant feedback and grading.

Upload a photo of your Earthquakes & Volcanoes homework or question and get feedback instantly using our AI.

Exam-focused quizzes for Earthquakes & Volcanoes

Fun and easy Earthquakes & Volcanoes quizzes based on Leaving Cert Geography past papers. Practice multiple choice questions, see explanations for every answers, and track your progress.

Over 34 quiz questions on Earthquakes & Volcanoes.

94% of students improved their grades.

The best way to revise for class tests.

Try our Earthquakes & Volcanoes flashcards, or create your own.

Join the leaving cert geography students..., 97% of students.

Report Improved Results

98% of Students

Recommend to friends

Students Supported

Questions answered

Students love Leaving Cert Geography Revision

SimpleStudy makes revision simple, with easy to study resources and PDF’s for every level and every topic.

Google Reviews and Trustpilot

Other Leaving Cert Geography topics to explore

Economic - european union, economic - multinationals & globalisation, human - urban geography, karst regions, option - culture & identity, option - geoecology, tectonic plates, regions - continental, regions - european.

Leaving Cert Papers, News, Notes, Tips and Resources

Guide to Geography

note: this is based on the old course and was written 4 years ago

Geography is a fairly easy subject to do well in. You can’t really fail it, but at the same time, an A is hard work. Common sense will be enough to pass and if you’ve done geography for the JC, it’s pretty similar at LC level, just a bit more detail and more focus on the human environment rather than the physical one. A lot of it is bluff work and common sense, however to obtain a high mark, a bit of detail and accuracy is needed.

What you have to learn (~41%) Short questions are mostly bluff work but i’d say 4% out of the 16% going for it requires some learning/work. Then you have choices which invites you to bluff! – You have to answer 3 longish questions (80mks each) from a choice of about 12 and finally – do an essay-type question (80mks). I’d say 50% or more of each question is bluff work. The geography project you have to hand up during the year is worth 20%, a good 15% is bluff work though. Overall, that totals roughly 41% learning.

What you can bluff… (~59%) Firstly, you have the short questions which are basically bluff work and common sense and you’re only marked on 10 out of 12. That’s worth 16% overall, a good 12% is bluff work. As i’ve said above, you then answer 3 long questions and 1 essay question, all of which could be bluffed for 50% of the marks. The project is very bluffable too – about 15% of 20% could be bluffed. That gives us an overall total bluffing mark of 59%.

Conclusion: The majority of Geography is bluff work/common sense. That said, don’t fall in to the trap of thinking it’s an easy A1 – it’s not. However it’s easy to pass with very little work. The project you hand up during the year also makes things easier as that’s 20% done and dusted and 20% less to worry about come June.

44 thoughts on “Guide to Geography”

sorry but that assessment of goegraphy is ridiculous its not all bluff obviously whoever wrote it is a very foolish person.

Sorry the idea that most of the geography exam can be bluffed is completely off the wall altogether. It goes against everything my teacher has been teaching me. SRPs are needed for every answer, these can’t be bluffed. An examiner can tell a bluffer a mile away. Quite simply bluff your way through the exam and you’ll get your C.

That is a load, in a fairness, lets be realistic here! You have to learn a ton of stuff in geography, to say it is a bluff subject means you must never have done it………………or maybe you did pass??………………….

I really don’t agree that it is mostly bluff! That is just beyond crazy am sorry!!! 😯 ❗

Sorry pal, you are talking at of your backside!!

i am an actual geography teacher, and this idea that geography can be bluffed is a joke.you have obviously made up those percentages, and the marking scheme (as any geography student would know) is made up of s.r.p’s which are actual pieces of significant relevent information, so you have to know your facts to get your points!! and the number of facts should run alongside the marks allocated per question, i.e. 10 mark question, takes 5 s.r.p’s to answer!! so you obviously made up your facts, so why dont you leave the teaching to the properly qualified!!!

Well after readin that i would have to say that u would b wrong to say it is a bluff!!! It is an exam that needs much practice in gettn the right SRP’s!!! Sure the project got me 20% and the short q’s may be easy once gne thru in the papers!!! Bt to achieve a high grade in it is really difficult now i must sit it tomorrow!!!

That was my opinion, they were percentages i made up after going through exam papers, i call it as it is and in my view, geography was one of the easier subjects to pass.

I got a ‘b’ something in my leaving cert, didn’t kill myself studying either. As i keep saying, if you want A1’s, don’t look at me, i was never an A1 student in any leaving cert subject.

Any A1 student, or examiner, teacher etc… will of course tell you nothing can be bluffed – that’s to be expected, naturally, as all of those guys demand the best.

But when i was sitting my leaving not so long ago, geography was the easy touch and i know most of the people in my group put much more effort in to other subjects.

here dats a load of bull i tried dat for d moks an failed…

who ever is writin this is a plank,,, i studyin my ass off all day n i came on this to get a few tips n u say its all a BLUFF… ur havin a bubble mate/// 👿

The reality is… anyone who does nothing will fail – simple as. I set this site up because it’s always useful to get advice/experience/help online… and there’s a severe lack of it…

You guys think you know better, by all means set up a site and i’ll happily link to it 😉

I dont know about what your sayin, but i didnt study or do much work at all in the last 2 years and i have my geography tomorow..i was comin on to find some tips to and bluff isnt really gonna help somwon out now is it.. alot of it is common sense but i think in my opinion most of the knolage of it comes from the JC..i got 84% in my mock ordinary level and i was well happy with that wouldnt mind getin it tomorow! id say the best thing to do at this stage is read them rapid revision books there pretty good!

ok well i sat the geog exam yesterday at higher lever, AND IT WAS NOT BLUFF!! it was tough!!!! tougher than the mock id say everone wud agree!! i thought yea i got a B3 in the mock, it should go up in the real thing, but i went in there with the wrong intentions, thinkin it was “bluff”, but i did myself no favours, if anythin I stayed at a B3 or went down, only for the project i’d be damned. . there was no A1 in that for me, so bluff your way thru that!!!!!

yes well i sat the geography exam too on friday and to be honest i just waffled my way through it.. big surprise if i passed haha !

Can anyone help me with Wednesday history’s exam? I was really happy with my answer on the Eucharistic Congress. But not with my answer on the Communications in Ireland in topic 6 which althougb I mentioned the impact of rte, I feel I may have bluffed a little. Myh answer on Stalin and Lenin is kind of hazy, I knew all my stalin stuff, but was weak on Lenin, though I mentioned him, I feel I focused a lot on Stalin. I loved the Vietnam set question and think I got high marks on it. My research project I think might get close to 20%. Does this 20% make a difference to the grade? Lets say if the worst happened and I only got 50% in the written paper(I need a high grade in this) and I had the 20% in the project. Is the 20% and 50% added together to give you, your final grade – 70%? I’m so worried about this 🙁

Geography Can Compltly Be bluffed You can twist most of the regional questions and still get the marks..I did it!

Geography can be bluffed. In the mocks, wen it’s marked harder, i did the atomispheric 80 mark question with out learning it in school yet and i got 65marks wit just common sense

dis is all a loda shit dont ye have anything betta 2 do

ur a bluff. that was the biggest bluff “advice” i have ever seen. write about something you know and dont be a bluffer ur whole life.

So I’m guessing it can’t be bluffed no? I’m repeating the leaving and I took it up this year will i be able to get through it with at least a B3 in honors or is that just a dream? x

sccgirl has it right

its True its hard to faiol geography.. but it is extremely difficult to get a c!

can it really be that easy? my geog teacher is the biggest stresser in the whole world and always goes on about S.R.Ps saying that they’ll get u most of the marks once its accurate. I’m sh*te at geography and find it rli hard to study too, so is a B3 (ish)easy to achieve through bluffin?? XxX

It is that easy, you can make up most points about things, but there is some learning

just study from the exam papers is the best way to go

Well i tried bluffin my way thru the Geography xmas exam which ws on the 2008 H.L. geog paper n all i got was 28% so basically DONT BLUFF Lol i aint bluffn on d mocks dahs 4 sure…:D

If you are struggling with Geography Revison try downloading this software – absolutely brilliant http://www.ictgeography.com

i agree geography is soo not easy but it is kinda common sence..!!

This person's comment is poorly punctuated and poorly written, as well as containing the imaginary word “relevent”, rather than the correct “relevant”; therefore I would hope that this person is not a teacher.

Sir youclearly did not take geography since… it has been on the Leaving Cert course. Which is probably since the begining. There are similar areas focussed on, with more human/social stuff, but that means you need 15 statisitics per 30 mark question. These are the essay questions, and may come up in different forms, so you need about 30 for each topic. Out of over 100 topics/chapters… You work that one out. Saying there is “a bit” more detail in it compared to the JC is like saying there is “a bit” more detail in the Sistine Chapel (spelling?) compared to an A JC art project.

you can't just bluff in geography. there is a hell lot to learn because there is so much detail. if you bluffed in an exam you would fail and many people do. it's actually really hard to do well and get an A1. This is the worst tip ever and if anyone follows it they will fail, so don't. this is a pile of bull.

are you fucking shitting me easy my bollocks have you even taken this subjet or are you just makin up numbers

Im a student , passed mocks with flying colours , all bluff work. dead right , small bit of learning for real thing along with alota common sense and im in for a good grade

Bad Advice but it is true that if you got a A in the Junior Cert. you could bluff the leaving Cert. to a C grade (i.e. 59%). Besides in general all L.C. exams are getting easier every year and in geography the questions seem not to stray too far from the core information, which was studied for the Junior Cert.

dead right you can bluff a pass … but not an A..GIVE THE GUY A BREAK

What the hell? Bluff? Geography teachers are also scientists!! You can’t bluff facts! You can bluff in physical geography when giving examples such as a waterfall but you CANNOT bluff ‘mostly’.

I have my christmas test in geography tomorrow, it is sooooo much harder in irish! its not common sense

Hes right in the sense some of it is common sense,but to say you can pass it with common sense is a bit far fetched.With JC knowledge you might pass but i have to say failing geography would take skill and more time than it takes to pass it.It is easy to do well in it,but getting above the B3 is very difficult.SRP’s cannot be bluffed,they are facts that every examiner will know because they will be correcting hundreds of papers,not just an individuals.

I agree with what you’re saying actually! In my year Geagraphy is a subject thats often left until last by many students! In my opinion it’s easy to pass but very difficult to achieve an A in! I know for my mocks I did literally no study for it and passed easily, a bit of common sense goes a long way in Geography, a lot longer than in any of my other subjects anyway!

i totally agree, i got a B1 in the mocks and genuinely didnt do a tap .. i expect and A through sheer guess work

If you go to your classes and re-read the sample answers youll get a decent grade

XD I have to disagree with most of these comments, since you can most definitely bluff your way through the paper to pass. You just need to study to actually get a good grade.. XD Yes, you do have to have SRPs but as long as you make it sound real and concise, you can mask the bluff ^.^ All it takes is listening in class to be able to bluff.. 😀

your all a bunch of idiots what he’s saying is so true if you have paid any attention in class youl be able to piss through the exam without studying , I didnt study for my mocks this year and I got 58% without the field study being there obviously so shut up you stress heads it’s not that hard to make up an srp from common sense if you have a few brain cells! I’d say this article is pretty accurate and he never said you could get an A if you read it properly you illiterate morons youl notice he says if you want a high Mark you HAVE TO STUDY so dont comment without at least reading the article properly!!!!

ffs. if i hear my teacher say “oh jimmy, you need 12 srp’s” I KNOW I NEED THEM. but how i can i distinguish what is an SRP and how can I expand all my srp’s to 1 page and 1/2 ? everytime i do a long question essay, i can only do it in 1 line bullet points. if anybody has the book “Planet’s and People” then you will know how I feel. i think that book is very hard to understand. im not sure if it has to do with my Dyselxia or what, but i’m really frustrated about doing geography. at this point, all i want is a D3

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Option - Geoecology

Videos from the community ( 0 ).

Why not start the community off by adding a post or uploading a resource?

Notes from the community ( 0 )

Websites from the community ( 0 ).

Exam Skills Geography 4th Edition

Leaving cert geography.

Exam Skills Geography 4th Ed.

EXAM SKILLS GEOGRAPHY TEXTBOOK

• Model Answers to Higher Level Questions in ALL sections of the LeavinG Certificate Exam Paper: Core (Physical and Regional),  Electives The Human Environment and Economic Activities, Options Geoecology and Global Interdependence
• Additional questions and updated model answers inserted,
• including LC 2018.
• Option marking scheme and Overall Coherence Guidelines included.
• Existing questions updated to reflect recent trends in exam style .
• Marking schemes provided for each question.
• ‘What You Need To Do’ box appears before each answer explaining hoW students should approach the question in order to maximise their marks.
• Clear, focused SRP-based approach to answers. Total exam focus with no unnecessary information.
• Guidelines on how to get full marks in graphing skills questions.
• Simple sketch maps provided for questions on map and photo skills .
• Clear, labelled diagrams used in Core Physical section and throughout book.
• Brazil, India and the South-West USA covered in continental/sub-continental questions in the Core Regional section.
• Options essays for the most examined topics in Geoecology and Global Interdependence.

ESG4 SAMPLE CHAPTER 35

Other Titles You May Be Interested In

Username or email  * Required

Password  * Required

Remember me Login

Lost your password?

Email address * Please enter email address!

Confirm Email address * Please enter email address! Email address do not match

Password * Please enter password

Confirm password * Please enter password Password do not match

Rocks for Leaving Cert Geography

Rocks Key Words:

• Igneous: Rocks made from magma or lava.
• Sedimentary: Rocks made from sediments of other rocks and/or fossils/dead plant and animal remains.
• Metamorphic: Rocks formed when heat or pressure changes the composition of other rocks.
• Intrusive: Inside the earth’s crust.
• Extrusive: On top of/on the earth’s surface.
• Plutonic: Intrusive
• Volcanic: Extrusive

Past Exam Questions:

• Explain the formation of Igneous/Sedimentary/Metamorphic rocks.

(This question can contain just one type or sometimes you must explain two or you could be given a choice between two groups).

• Explain how different rock type produce distinctive landscapes in Ireland, with reference to examples you have studied.
• Humans interact with the rock cycle in a number of ways. Describe and explain how this interaction with the rock cycle takes place, with reference to one of the following: Mining, Extracting Building Materials, Oil/Gas Exploitation, Geothermal Energy Production.

You may also like: Complete Guide to Leaving Cert Geography

~Sample Answer

Igneous Rocks

Rocks are continually formed, changed, destroyed and reconstructed as part of the rock cycle. The rock cycle is the process by which each rock type can be changed into another. Rocks vary in their origin, formation and characteristics. There are 3 main rock categories, igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. This essay will focus on the formation of igneous rocks, the examples I will use are granite and basalt. Igneous rocks are formed when magma or lava cools and hardens within or on the earth’s crust. They can be either intrusive (plutonic) or extrusive (volcanic) depending on where they form.

Intrusive igneous rocks are formed within the earth’s crust. This happens when magma cools slowly, deep inside the rock of the earth’s crust. Rocks like granite are formed this way, they contain minerals such as feldspar, mica and quartz. The amount of the minerals present will determine the colour of the rock. Granite can be black, white, pink or grey. Granite forms at destructive plate boundaries when the oceanic crust is subducted beneath the continental crust. The oceanic crust is pushed into the mantle causing the plate to melt, magma rises inside the buckled plate through a small fissure. As the magma gathers here inside the crust the rock that surrounds it acts as an insulating blanket. This blanket causes the rock to cool very slowly, forming large crystals and producing granite rock as it does so. Granite is a coarse grained rock with large crystals. It forms the core of many fold mountains e.g. the Caledonian Fold Mountains. Granite can be found in the Wicklow Mountains and the Mourne Mountains in Ireland.

Extrusive igneous rocks are formed on top of the surface of the earth. This happens when lava flows out from the vent of a volcano and cools and hardens on the cone or on the land that surrounds a fissure. The lava was once magma but forced its way towards the crack in the crust and between the layers of rock. As the cracks were narrow the magma reaches the surface as lava but cools quickly as it comes into contact with the atmosphere. This causes the rock to have only microscopic crystals because of the speed it cools at. The lava flows out without violence and spreads evenly, 5-6km thick. The thick layers of lava form basalt when they cool quickly on the surface. This process occurred at the Giants Causeway in Co. Antrim where lava spilled out on to the surface and cooled in hexagonal columns over a large area of land on the coastline of Antrim. Basalt is also a medium grained rock, usually a dark colour, charcoal or black. Basalt is used for building roads.

~Tip to remember : Intrusive means inside and so is formed by magma. Extrusive means outside (exit) and is formed by lava.

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks are continually formed, changed, destroyed and reconstructed as part of the rock cycle. The rock cycle is the process by which each rock type can be changed into another. Rocks vary in their origin, formation and characteristics. There are 3 main rock categories, igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. This essay will focus on the formation of sedimentary rocks, the examples I will use are limestone and sandstone. Sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments of other rocks, and or dead plants and animals are lithified, compressed and cemented together forming a rock with layers. Sedimentary rocks can be organic and inorganic.

Organic sedimentary rocks are those made from something that was once living such as plants or animals. An example of an organic sedimentary rock is limestone. Limestone was formed over millions of years by the remains or animals and plant compressing and cementing under great pressure. Irelands sedimentary rocks were formed at various stages as the Eurasian plate drifted north from its original location near the Antarctica about 500 million years ago. The climates Ireland experienced on its journey and the position above and below sea level helped the formation of limestone rock. Limestone formed under the sea near the equator. When shell sea creatures die, they remain on the sea bed sometimes a victim of the waves which break them up into tiny pieces and sometimes forming mud. This is what makes up the limestone, the sediments and mud. The sediment builds up and are compressed by their own weight cementing together and forming the rock. Limestone also forms when water containing calcium carbonates evaporates and deposits sediments on the sea floor. Over millions of years layers of sediment builds up, compresses and cements forming the rock. Limestone rock contains layers called strata, vertical joints and horizontal bedding planes. Irelands limestone is called carboniferous limestone and it is the most common rock in Ireland. As the rock contains calcium carbonate it is a victim of carbonation which is evident at the Burren Co. Clare, this is a karst region, an area of exposed limestone that has been formed and altered by chemical weathering.

Inorganic sedimentary rocks are those made from lithified material e.g. other rocks that have been weathered down into sediments. The more common type of inorganic sedimentary rock is sandstone and the most common type of sandstone in Ireland is old red sandstone (ORS). This ORS was formed around 350 million years ago when Ireland was located at the same latitude as Southern African Deserts and has the same climate that they do today. The Caledonian mountains of Galway, Mayo, Donegal and Wicklow were victims of heavy rain from time to time. Flash floods flooded the lowland areas as the rain rushed down off the side of the mountains. Debris from the floods spread out over the lowland channels and floodplains in the form of beaches (along the seashore), gravel and sand. Over long periods of time and after a huge build-up of such sediments the deposits were cemented into larger particles. The cemented gravel made a rock called conglomerates and the cemented sand created sandstone. Large dunes of sand were also compressed into sandstone but later it was covered with limestone deposits. The sediments are laid down in layers and each successive layer compressed and compacted the next layer. Sandstone is exposed in the mountains of southern Ireland e.g. Macgillycuddy Reeks, the Galtees, and the Knockmealdowns. Sandstone is a coarse grained rock and usually brown or red in colour. The iron particles trapped in the rock give them the reddish colour as they become rusted.

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks are continually formed, changed, destroyed and reconstructed as part of the rock cycle. The rock cycle is the process by which each rock type can be changed into another. Rocks vary in their origin, formation and characteristics. There are 3 main rock categories, igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. This essay will focus on the formation of metamorphic rocks. The examples I will use are marble and quartzite. Metamorphic rocks are formed when igneous and sedimentary rocks come into contact with great heat (magma) and/or pressure (folding) and their chemical composition is changed forming a new rock type e.g. limestone changes to marble.

Metamorphism is the process in which a rocks composition is changed by great heat or pressure, there are two types; regional metamorphism and thermal metamorphism. Thermal metamorphism is the process of using heat alone and regional is where great heat and pressure will be applied over a large area e.g. fold mountain building.

Marble is created through regional metamorphism. Limestone changes to marble through great heat and pressure where the calcite in limestone changes and fossils disappear as interlocking grains grow. Marble is created at destructive plate boundaries where fold mountains are made. Most of Irelands metamorphic rocks were formed during the Caledonian fold mountain period. Here the North American and European plates collided causing the crust to buckle upwards and magma rose through the cracks inside the buckled rock. The pressure from the folding and heat from the magma caused limestone to change into marble. The metamorphism process changed the chemical composition of limestone. We know this as limestone is grey however Kilkenny marble is black and cork red.  If the limestone is pure it forms white marble. However as limestone contains layers of clay and other materials it may form attractive flow banding (marble effect) and the other colours such as black, green and pink.

Quartzite is created through thermal metamorphism. Sandstone changes to marble through great heat. This type of metamorphism occurs when the heat from volcanic activity changes the rock that it comes into contact with. Quartzite in  the Sugarloaf mountain in Co. Wicklow was formed when hot molten magma came into contact with sandstone changing the composition of the rock. Quartzite is a light coloured rock and can also be found in Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo.

~Sample Answer (Human Interaction)

  Humans interact with the rock cycle in many different ways, I will explain this process by examining Geothermal Energy in Iceland.

Iceland sits on the middle of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a constructive plate boundary where a lot of volcanic activity takes places. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a huge opening in the ocean floor created as the North American and Eurasian plates separate. Iceland was created when magma rose through this opening and cooled and hardened on the earth’s surface, over time it built up creating an island called Iceland.

Geothermal energy uses heat from rocks (igneous rocks) to heat water, turn into steam and resulting in the creation of energy. This type of energy is produced in Iceland due to the endless amounts of volcanic activity there. Over 90% of houses in Iceland are heated naturally by geothermal energy, this type of energy is one of the cheapest and cleanest forms of energy that exists today.  The magma rises from the mantle and heats the surface of the earth to around 200 degrees Celsius, this heats the water below the rocks. In order to retrieve the boiling water a well is drilled into the rock. The hot water is collected in pipes that are placed in the mantle. The water is superheated but stays in liquid form due to the pressure from the rocks above. However, once this water reaches the surface it changes state and turns to steam, the steam turns turbines and electricity is generated from these turbines. If there is not enough groundwater present then large pipes of cold water must be  pumped into the rock through another series of wells. This water will be around 10 degrees Celsius.

Hot springs can be found all over Iceland and the melt water created provides the country with the potential to create huge amounts of hydroelectric power. Geothermal energy has many benefits for Iceland as a country. It provides 89% of the electricity uses in Reykjavik (capital city) to homes and industry. The geothermal energy is used to heat greenhouses and therefore increasing the production of potatoes and other vegetables. This has creates a longer growing season and encourages horticulture to thrive in Iceland.

Geothermal energy has also created benefits in the tourism industry. Nowadays many tourists travel to visit the ‘blue lagoon’ spa which is a mineral rich, outdoor, heated pool. Tourists also go to Iceland to visit the springs and geysers which are created by the volcanic activity. This increase in tourism adds to the economy of Iceland generating capital in help the development of tertiary economic activities. Iceland has less need to use oil, gas and other non-renewable sources of energy reducing their carbon footprint and the negative impact they have on the environment.

• Post author: Martina
• Post published: February 12, 2018
• Post category: Geography

You Might Also Like

Leaving cert geography predictions 2024 (higher level), greater dublin area (gda) for leaving cert geography.