Year 10 Geography - HASS Study Guide Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the Greenhouse Effect, Wellbeing indicators, Population Pyramids, Marine Systems, and key Economic concepts as outlined in the Year 10 Geography HASS study guide.

Greenhouse Effect

The natural process where certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun to support life, which has been intensified by human activity causing enhanced global warming.

$CO_2$ (Carbon Dioxide)

The most abundant human-caused greenhouse gas, primarily sourced from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and cement production.

$CH_4$ (Methane)

A greenhouse gas sourced from livestock, landfill, rice paddies, and natural gas leaks that is $80\times$ more potent than $CO_2$ over $20$ years.

$N_2O$ (Nitrous Oxide)

A greenhouse gas produced by fertilisers and burning biomass that is nearly $300\times$ more potent than $CO_2$.

Water Vapour

The most abundant natural greenhouse gas that amplifies the effects of other greenhouse gases through evaporation.

Net-zero emissions

A target identified by Bill Gates in 'How to Avoid a Climate Disaster' where the amount of greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed.

Green Premiums

A concept by Bill Gates referring to the additional cost needed to make clean energy alternatives affordable compared to traditional fossil fuels.

Wellbeing

The overall quality of life and happiness of individuals and communities, encompassing physical, mental, social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

Quantitative Indicators

Measurable numbers and statistics used to assess wellbeing, such as $GDP$ per capita, life expectancy, and literacy rates.

Qualitative Indicators

Descriptive measures of wellbeing based on perceptions and experiences, such as freedom of expression and sense of community belonging.

HDI (Human Development Index)

A composite index ranging from $0$ to $1$ that measures human development based on life expectancy at birth, education (years of schooling), and $GNI$ per capita.

HPI (Happy Planet Index)

A measure of wellbeing achieved per unit of environmental impact, calculated using the formula: $HPI = (\text{Wellbeing} \times \text{Life Expectancy} \times \text{Equality}) \times \text{Ecological Footprint}^{-1}$.

SPECS-ET framework

A strategy used to classify factors affecting wellbeing: Social, Political, Economic, Cultural, Environmental, and Technological.

Population Pyramid

A bar graph showing the age and sex distribution of a population, used to identify demographic trends and levels of development.

Dependency ratio

The proportion of the non-working population, including the young and the elderly, compared to the working-age population.

Thermohaline Circulation

A global system of ocean currents, also known as the ocean conveyor belt, driven by differences in water temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline).

Upwelling

A process where cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface due to winds, supporting phytoplankton and major fishing grounds such as the Humboldt Current.

Downwelling

The process where warm surface water sinks, carrying oxygen to the deep ocean; it is less productive for fisheries than upwelling zones.

Microplastics

Plastic particles smaller than $5\text{ mm}$ that enter the food chain through bioaccumulation and pose risks to marine life and human health.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A massive accumulation of plastic in the North Pacific gyre that is twice the size of Texas.

Law of Demand

An economic principle stating that as the price of a good increases, the quantity demanded decreases, reflecting an inverse relationship.

Economic Growth

An increase in the output of goods and services produced by an economy over time, measured by the percentage change in real $GDP$.

Real GDP

The total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year, adjusted for inflation.

Lorenz Curve

A graph showing actual income distribution compared to perfect equality; a greater distance from the diagonal indicates higher inequality.

Gini Coefficient

A statistical measure of income inequality ranging from $0$ (perfect equality) to $1$ (perfect inequality).

Productivity

A measure of efficiency calculated by the amount of output produced per unit of input, such as labour, capital, or resources.

Business Cycle

The recurring pattern of economic activity over time, consisting of four phases: expansion (boom), peak, contraction (recession), and trough.

Fiscal Policy

The use of government spending (stimulus packages) or tax adjustments to influence the economy during different phases of the business cycle.

Monetary Policy

The adjustment of interest rates by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to stimulate the economy or cool down inflation.

Progressive Tax

A tax system where the tax rate increases as income rises, such as Australia's income tax brackets, aimed at reducing income inequality.

Regressive Tax

A tax system where lower earners pay a higher percentage of their income in tax, such as the Goods and Services Tax ($GST$) or excise duties.