What has a pliosaur got to do with Higher Geography?

This is a pliosaur . It was in the news today because a fossilised 2.5m long skull and lower jaw of this voracious sea monster have recently been found in an undisclosed location on the Jurassic Coast - a stretch of coastline which we will be studying in the RLR unit. Click image to link to the BBC website report.

Fossil collection attracts many thousands of vistors to the Jurassic Coast each year and fossils continue to be found here because one stretch of this amazing coastline near Lyne Regis has very soft rocks which are easily eroded by the sea. Stormy seas release 'fresh fossils' all year round and so fossil hunters constantly unearth new finds.

You may find yourself explaining why the Jurassic Coast attracts so many visitors. Fossil hunting is one reason.... but of course there are lots of others!

Interactive Climate Change Impact Map

Here's a nice interactive map for you to explore showing the potential impact of climate change....

Click map to link

A couple of things.....

....related to population and development.

Firstly some good interactive maps courtesy of the Office for National Statistics which allow you to examine aspects of the population structure across the UK. We are familiar with the idea that population structure varies between LEDCs and MEDCs but the variations within a MEDC like the UK are less often examined. It is, for example, interesting to see where the population is significantly aged or juvenile and to ask why. The map below is just one of many maps which you can create and then follow changes from the present until 2031 (click on the map to link to the site)

Secondly the United Nations Development Programme has just published its annual report which comprises many findings relating to population and development. This year's report particularly focuses on migration and is accompanied by a short video...

A ranking of the world's countries by HDI (Human Development Index) has also just been published today. The place to be, it would seem, is Norway and as for where you wouldn't want to live, click here to link to the report! And while you are on that page, it would also be worthwhile to follow the hyperlink to 'Getting and using Data'.