Bush fallowing is a system of farming or the cultivation of one piece of land for some years before the farmer leaves the piece of land to cultivate another in order to allow the former to regain lost nutrients. Favourable Conditions Necessary for Bush Fallowing (i) Abundance of large area of farmlands. (ii) Low population … Read more
Process of extracting valuable minerals from the earth’s surface. Formations in Which Minerals Occur Veins and Lodes – Occurrence of minerals in crevices, cracks or faults in igneous rocks. (a) They are said to occur in veins if they occur there in small quantities. (b) Said to occur in lodes if they occur there in … Read more
Phosphates used in the manufacture of fertiliser-Tororo in Uganda and Majingu Hill in Tanzania. Limestone used in cement manufacturing-Hima in N.W Uganda, Tanga in Tanzania, Athi River and Bamburi in Kenya. Fluorspar a source of fluorine used in chemical industries-Kerio Valley in Kenya. Common salt used for consumption-Kilifi and Magadi in Kenya and L. Kitwe … Read more
Language Barrier -Inability to communicate due to the interviewer and the respondent not sharing the same language or respondents may be illiterate and thus unable to fill questionnaire. The problems are: Data may not be collected Illiterate people may give wrong answers while attempting questionnaires An interpreter may have to be engages who would be … Read more
Minerals Inorganic substances occurring naturally at or below the earth’s surface. Characteristics of Minerals Different degrees of hardness e.g. some are very hard e.g. diamond while others are very soft e.g. talc. Some have atoms arranged in an orderly manner to form crystals e.g. quartz form a 6- sided prism. Varying number of elements e.g. … Read more
Scientific study of geography using the environment as a laboratory or source of information. Types of Field Work Field Excursion Visiting an area near or far from the school to see geographical phenomena then note down and discuss later in class. Aim a) Reinforce what has been learnt in class b) Gain more geographical knowledge … Read more
Examining the numerical figures in detail. Techniques of analysing Data Calculation of Percentages If in the study of a farm 10 hectares are devoted to coffee, what is the % of the area under coffee? 10/100×10% The table below shows the number of tourists who visited Kenya from various parts of the world in 2006. … Read more
Methods of storing information to avoid losing it. Note Taking -Writing in a note book what is being observed, answers during interviews and then notes are compiled in school or office when writing report. Filling In Questionnaires -Filling answers in questionnaires which are responses from a respondent by an interviewer or respondent himself which he/she … Read more
Sampling is examining by taking a sample -a part representing the whole (population). Types of Sampling Random Sampling Selection of members of a group haphazardly where every item has an equal chance of being selected e.g. to select 5 students to go for a tour from a class: Class members write their names on pieces … Read more
Discrete Data Which is given in whole numbers e.g. 16 elephants 1093 tonnes of wheat Continuous Data Facts and figures which can take any value e.g. Fractions e.g.23 ¼ Decimals e.g. 6.20 mm Values within range e.g. 0-30◦c Grouped Data Which is non precise/exact but values range in groups e.g. Sources of Statistical Data Primary … Read more
METHODS OF COLLECTING DATA (STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES) Observation Use of eyes to observe features or weather then information is recorded immediately e.g. cloud cover, rocks, soil, land forms, vegetation, etc. Advantages Gives 1st hand information which is reliable. Relevant material to the study is collected. Time saving since one doesn’t have to look for data in … Read more
Statistics – numerical figures collected systematically and arranged for a particular purpose. Statistical data-information presented inform of numbers e.g. No. of students in a school Mean daily temperature of a place Amount of milk produced daily from a farm Amount of money earned from exports annually. Statistical methods-techniques of collecting, recording, analyzing, presenting and interpreting statistical … Read more
Cyclone It’s a low pressure system characterised by low pressure at the centre and increases outwards. Starts in areas where air ascends from the ground to the atmosphere and descends at high altitude. It’s of two types. Tropical cyclones e.g. hurricane, typhoon and willy willies and depressions which are characterised by temperate latitudes. The movement … Read more
Are a mass of tiny droplets or ice particles formed when water vapour condenses. Three Cloud Forms Cirroform -Thin and wispy clouds composed of ice crystals. stratiform -Appear as greyish sheets covering most of the sky and are rarely broken into units. Cumuliform -Are massive rounded with a flat base and limited horizontal extent and … Read more
Distinct large parcels of air moving in one direction. Originate from areas of uniform weather and topography from where they derive their characteristics e.g. flat areas, forests, deserts, and snow covered areas. Characteristics of Air Masses A large volume of air. Covers an extensive area. Has uniform temperature and humidity. Distinct from the surrounding air. … Read more
Mist and fog are a mass of tiny water droplets suspended in the lower layers of the atmosphere. Fog is denser than mist i.e. has more moisture. Both hinder visibility although fog reduces visibility to less than a kilometre. When fog mixes with smoke its called smog. How They Form Moist air cools below dew … Read more
Factors Influencing Atmospheric Pressure Altitude: Pressure decreases with increase in altitude because the column of air becomes shorter hence it exerts less weight. Temperature: When air is heated it expands and exerts pressure over a large area resulting in reduced pressure. When it’s cooled it contracts and exerts pressure over a small area resulting in … Read more
Relief/Orographic/Mountain rainfall Rain experienced on the windward slopes of mountains or hills formed when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain or a hill. How it Forms Moist air is forced to rise over a hill or mountain. The temperature and air pressure decreases making it to expand. Air cools due to decreased … Read more
Relief/Topography Relief features such as mountains and hills results in the rising and cooling of moist winds to form relief rainfall. Aspect Windward slopes which are on the path of rain bearing winds receive heavier rainfall than leeward slopes which face away. Forests and Water Bodies Areas near forests and large water bodies experience higher … Read more
Affects rain formation in such as way that places with high humidity are likely to experience higher rainfall than those with low humidity. Regulates the heat loss from the earth’s surface by absorbing terrestrial radiation (process in which the earth gives off heat into the atmosphere). It affects sensible temperature in that the higher the … Read more