Year 9 Geography: Sustainable Biomes and Changing Places

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Sustainable Biomes and Changing Places concepts from the Year 9 Geography Study Guide.

Biomes

Regions defined by landscapes that share similar climates and types of vegetation.

Ecosystem services

The various benefits that humans derive from healthy ecosystems.

Soil degradation

The decline in the physical, chemical, and biological quality of soil, driven by human activities.

Food insecurity

The condition of having limited or uncertain access to enough nutritious, safe, and acceptable foods for an active and healthy life.

Food security

When all people at all times have access to enough safe, nutritious food to sustain a healthy life.

Genetic modification

Process by which scientists can change the genes of plants and animals to give them certain desirable traits.

Biodiversity

The variety of all life on Earth, encompassing genes, species, and ecosystems, and the processes that sustain them.

Urban renewal

A method of economically revitalizing areas of "blight" through public investments that stimulate private development, reusing and redeveloping underused land or buildings within cities.

Urbanisation

The process by which an increasing proportion of a country's population comes to live in urban areas (cities and towns), often resulting in the growth and expansion of those urban areas.

Megacities

Defined as cities with populations over 10 million.

Population density

The amount of people per square kilometre.

Urban sprawl

The outward expansion of cities into surrounding rural areas, characterized by low-density and car-dependent development.

Decentralisation

The movement of people, commerce or industry out of a city's centre either naturally or deliberately by government policy, encouraging growth in regional and suburban areas (e.g. Tamworth, Orange, Port Macquarie).

Urban Drift Migration

The movement of people from rural areas to urban centers (also known as rural-to-urban migration), driven by the search for better employment, education, healthcare, and improved living standards.

Suburbanisation

Expanding cities outward by developing land on the edges, building new housing estates and businesses away from the central business district.

Factors contributing to biome variations

1. Topography, 2. Altitude, 3. Latitude.

Environmental factors in farming decisions

Aspects such as annual rainfall, temperature, topography (mountainous or flat), and soil quality.

Technological factors in farming decisions

Equipment and technology needs such as tractors, irrigation, drones, and electric milking machines.

Economic factors in farming decisions

Determining which crops will bring in the most money and which crops or animals are popular and in demand.

Historical factors in farming decisions

Past land and soil care history, historical performance of crops or animals in the area, presence of immovable heritage sites/graves, and advice from experienced local farmers.

Cultural factors in farming decisions

Local food preferences, food trends, and the presence of natural or cultural heritage sites on the farm.

Social advantages of living in cities

Access to services, cost efficiency, diverse amenities, and educational and health facilities.

Environmental advantages of living in cities

Reduction of CO2 emissions, efficient land use, energy savings, urban farming, green infrastructure, water and electricity management, and flood and stormwater control.

Economic advantages of living in cities

Job opportunities, economic contribution, business hubs, infrastructure access, transport efficiency, innovation centers, and historical thinkers.

Social disadvantages of living in cities

Traffic congestion, rising costs, service delays, and crime rates.

Environmental disadvantages of living in cities

Pollution, resource demand, environmental strain, habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and urban sprawl.

Economic disadvantages of living in cities

Rising costs, under and unemployment, and income inequality.

Urban Heat Island (UHI)

An urban condition threatened by low air quality and extensive infrastructure development replacing surrounding farmland, as seen in Shanghai.

Advantages of Suburbanisation

Quick and inexpensive to establish on cleared farmland, provides relatively affordable housing, and housing is more energy efficient.

Disadvantages of Suburbanisation

Clearing of land leading to loss of habitats for flora and fauna, expensive new infrastructure requirements, slow arrival of local services (e.g. schools, hospitals), and unreliable public transport leading to car dependence and heavy traffic congestion.

Advantages of Urban Renewal

Lessens the need for urban sprawl, allows developers to make use of existing infrastructure, and enables inner city living close to the CBD for work to reduce traffic congestion.

Disadvantages of Urban Renewal

Refurbishment of old buildings can be expensive, and increased population places more pressure on established services like public transport, medical services, and schools.

Advantages of Decentralisation

Relieves problems associated with housing costs, traffic congestion, and environmental damage in large cities.

Disadvantages of Decentralisation

Difficult and expensive to persuade companies and workers to move to regional areas or suburbs to make development programs successful.