100 not out

This is the 100th article on the Hulme Geog Blog and it brings a weather warning -

Icy winds heading for the UK will make temperatures feel "sub zero" as forecasters predict the coldest winter in 13 years.
Snowstorms from Russia are expected to hit the eastern part of England on Sunday night.

For more information click on the Met Office Website.

Maps and facts

For those of you doing some research here are some useful parts of aneki.com "the source of World rankings". It has the facility that enables you to compile a map of the world like the one below:
This is where I have been in the World - still a lot to cover I'd better keep playing the lottery!
To make your own maps click this - Customise a map of the world
Another very useful tool is the ability to make comparisons between two countries - click this -compare two countries
aneki has lots of lists but as yet does not list City as the richest football club in the world!

Thanks to Miss Ellis at geogtastic for drawing our attention to this website.

It's all in a box

The Box is an ambitious and unique year-long project for BBC News to tell the story of international trade and globalisation by tracking a standard shipping container around the world


It began its journey in September 2008 with a consignment of Scotch whisky where it was placed on a container ship at the port of Greenock near Glasgow which was bound for China. Since then it has been to Los Angeles carrying tape measures and is now heading for Brazil with a consignment of household goods.

To track the containers journey and to find out more click this link to the BBC's home to the box.

Flooding project

Produce a presentation that shows two recent flood events from contrasting areas of the world.
Each case study should include:
1) The causes of the flooding
2) The impact of the flooding including maps and data
3) The flood management strategies at the time and that have been introduced since

Where to start researching:
Wikipedia
Environment Agency
Your textbook
This blog

What's in a name?

I've been studying settlements with my year 7's and came across this website:

Institute for name studies

It helps explain the origin of place names in England.

I found it quite interesting and so did the pupils.

So why is Oldham called Oldham?

Harsh Start to Winter Affects Death Rate

This winter's death rates could well be the worst since the turn of the century, as freezing temperatures and virulent flu take their toll on tens of thousands of Britain's frail and elderly.
Winter always sees an increase in death rates - on average, 25,000 more older people die between December and March. But experts are already warning that this tough winter could see at least a doubling of that figure.
Dr Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Facility of Public Hea3th, said there was a known correlation between the weather and mortality rates. For every 1C the temperature falls below the winter average, there are some 8,000 extra deaths in Britain - a higher proportion of the population than in Finland or Russia, where inhabitants are better prepared for harsh winters.

For more details see Guardian On line.

Death toll rises in Costa Rica

At least 14 people are now known to have been killed in Costa Rica by a powerful earthquake which struck on Thursday, officials say.
The magnitude 6.1 tremor devastated the Poas Volcano National Park north of the capital San Jose, triggering landslides blocking roads and damaging buildings.
Red Cross officials said 10 of the victims were buried by a landslide at the popular La Paz waterfall.
Rescue workers fear more victims will be found as relief operations widen.

To read more click on this link - Costa Rica earthquake

To watch a video of the quake click on the link.

Structure of the Earth

Welcome back after the holiday.

Tonights homework is easy to research but you can get carried away with the amount of information - so to make it easier follow these steps:

• You need a digram showing you the cross-section of the earth (a bit like this one but more detailed).

• Tell me in no more than five lines (for each) about the four layers: Crust, Mantle, Outer Core and Inner Core.

I could put a link on but that would be far too easy!

The Geography of Crime

Residents of England and Wales can now access online maps which plot recorded crime in their neighbourhood.
The maps show where and when crime happened and they are updated on a monthly basis.

For more information follow this link to the news item on the BBC.

Click this link to take you to the Greater Manhester Police interactive map.

Coral Calamity

Coral growth in Australia's Great Barrier Reef has slowed to its most sluggish rate in the past 400 years.
The decline endangers the species the reef supports, say researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Read more on the BBC Website

For more information about Coral Reefs click on this link to Coral Reef Info

Happy New Year

It's 2009!

The International Year of Astronomy, and

The International Year of Natural Fibres.

What else will 2009 have in store?

Make your resolutions and stick to them!

May we wish all of you a healthy and prosperous New Year.