GEOG 1010: Exam 3 Oceania

How did Oceania's subregions get their names?

- Polynesia: many islands

- Melanesia: black islands

- Micronesia: small islands

What 3 major topographic regions dominate Australia's physical geography?

- Western Plateau

- Interior Lowlands

- Great Dividing Range

How did New Zealand originate?

- volcanic mountain building

What is the Ring of Fire?

- an area of volcanic eruptions, major earthquakes, and tsunamis

What are high vs. low islands? What is an atoll?

- high: hundreds to thousands of feet above sea level

- low: formed from coral reefs

- atoll: islands that are the low-lying tops of submerged volcanoes

How do climates vary throughout the region?

- Australia: drier in center, precipitation around coasts

- NZ influenced by latitude, proximity to pacific and local mountain ranges

- high islands have more precipitation

- low islands have less

Why is so much of Australia and New Zealand's plant and animal life unique?

their sepration from the rest of the world for long periods of time

Why has the introduction of exotic species been a problem in the region?

- endangered native species through hunting and habitat destruction

What impacts of climate change is the region already facing?

- NZ mountain glaciers are melting

- Australia has suffered from frequent droughts, heat waves, and bushfires

Why have bushfires become more troublesome in recent decades?

- climate change

How do Australia vs. New Zealand's preferred power sources vary?

Australia: generates most carbon emissions, 80% of energy comes from fossil fuels

NZ: more than 1/2 energy comes from hydroelectric power

How does population density vary throughout the region?

- Australia has most urbanized pop

- 90% live in cities

- more than 70% NZ lives on North island

- Papua New Guinea live in isolated areas

- Honolulu is more populated and largely urbanized

Where is most population growth in Australia and NZ coming from today (as opposed to the 20th century)?

- immigration

- in 20th century, it was from natural increase

What is a major population challenge facing many smaller, less-developed nations?

- no room for big population

- outmigration is very high

What was the White Australia policy? Where does most migration to Australia come from today?

- government policies promoted European and N. American immigration at the expense of other groups

- Asia

Who (ethnically) makes up the majority of the Australian population today?

- people of European descent

Approximately what percentage of Australians are foreign-born?

- 29.5%

Why were New Guinea and Australia settled before more distant islands of the Pacific? What was a major reason behind colonization of more distant islands?

- close to Asian landmass

- population pressures on smaller islands led to colonizing of other islands

When did European colonization begin in Australia?

1788

Why was Hawaii initially able to fend off attempts at colonization?

- emerged as a united and powerful kingdom

What is the "Asian Pivot"?

US military in Pacific

Who is Australia's top trade partner, and why has this relationship been strained in recent years?

- China

- human rights abuses

What is AUKUS?

Australia, the UK, and the US signed a trilateral security pact

What has much of Australia's wealth been built on?

trade with china boosted a variety of industries

How do social conditions for Aborigines and Maori compare to other parts of society?

- Maoris are better integrated in NZ society than Aborigines in Australian

What is the least-developed and poorest part of Oceania and why?

- Melanesia

- they benefit significantly less from tourism and subsidies