Geo S1 Exam

Topic 1: Sustainable Biomes

1.1   Biomes

1.        Define Key Terminology Associated with Biomes, Anthromes and Ecosystems

·        Biomes – large ecosystems characterised by a particular climate and its dominant plants and animals

·        Anthromes – Modified biomes or anthropogenic biomes restructured for agricultural, mining and urban functions.

·        Ecosystems – ecosystems are the result of the interactions of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements. The biotic consists of flora (plants) and fauna (animals), and the abiotic is divided into

-            Lithosphere (land)

-            Hydrosphere (water)

-            Atmosphere (air)

-            *Biosphere including plants and animals and not part of abiotic

·        Types of ecosystems:

-            Aquatic or water-based ecosystems – divided into freshwater (rivers and lakes) and marine (oceans and coral reefs).

-            Terrestrial or land-based ecosystems – deserts, rainforests, tundra (the coldest biome), grasslands, woodlands and forests.

2.        Identify and describe different types of biomes and their physical characteristics.

·        Types of Biomes:

-            Tundra -  the coldest of all biomes – frost-molded landscapes, extremely low temperature, little precipitation, poor nutrients, short growing seasons.

-            Desert – extremely dry conditions with very little rainfall, typically less than 250 mm per year.

Boreal forest – cold temperatures, long winters, dense coniferous forest. Taiga or boreal forest is the world’s largest terrestrial biome and characterised by coniferous forests such as pines.

-            tropical forest – warm temperatures, high humidity and heavy rainfall. High biodiversity, nutrient-poor soil and dense vegetation structures.

-            temperate grassland – vast, open spaces dominated by grasses, with few trees and significant temperature variations between seasons.

-            savanna – rolling grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs

-            temperate forest – moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall

-            mountain – high relief, steep slopes, a variety of microclimates due to elevation changes.

-            Scrub – a dominance of shrubs and other woody plants shorter than trees, along with grasses and other low-growing vegetation.

3.        Describe the Spatial distribution of biomes in global and Australian Contexts.

·        Determined by factors such as climate, particularly temperature and precipitation and also by altitude and latitude. (in global context)

·        Due to its vast size, Australia exhibits a diverse range of biomes and varied climate zones, including tropical, subtropical and temperate regions.

·        Temperature and precipitation are the two most significant factors affecting the location and distribution of terrestrial biomes à these factors are responsible for regulating photosynthesis and plant growth.

·        Temperature and precipitation are the two most significant factors affecting the location and distribution of biomes. For example, vegetation in tundra has adapted to the cold, dry environment, meaning most tundras are located in areas with low precipitation and temperature as they have adapted to survive in that environment.

·        Latitude – the unequal heating of the Earth’s atmosphere causes temperatures to decrease from hot, wet rainforest biomes at the equator to cold, dry polar biomes at the north and south poles.

·        Altitude – the higher the height above sea level, the colder the temperature. The temperature drops about 10 degrees for every 1000 metres above sea level. This is called the ‘lapse rate’. à biomes change

1.2   Changing biomes

1.        Investigate how humans modify and alter ecosystems and biomes to gain resources and produce foods

·        Early humans began to adapt farming methods to the environment in search of easier food.

·        To overcome lack of precipitation and poor soils, nomadic herders periodically moved their cattle to new grass and water to avoid overgrazing and land degradation.

2.        Use an illustrative case study of resources and palm oil extracted from the Tropical Rainforest biome to investigate the processes, impacts and sustainable strategies involved. (extended response!) Palm Oil Extended Response Scaffold 27052025

·        What – edible vegetable oil, two types of oil can be produced from the fruit – crude palm oil and palm kernel oil

·        Where – palm oil plantations located across Asia, West Africa and Latin America. 90% of palm oil plantations found in Malaysia and Indonesia.

·        Why – palm oil is versatile and a very efficient crop, able to produce high quantities of oil over small areas of land all year round, making it an appealing crop for farmers, as they are able to rely on the income that palm oil provides, particularly in developing countries.

·        Who – by country, the biggest buyer of palm oil is india.

·        Impacts:

-            Intense air, soil and water pollution, soil erosion à causing blankets of smog to fall regularly on cities such as Indonesia.

-            Production of palm oil robs indigenous people of their land, causing widespread economic loss for those affected.

-            Large-scale devastation of rainforests across south-east asia to make room for palm plantations à widespread habitat loss for critically endangered species – orangutans.

-            ‘slash and burn’ technique, used to cut down large areas of the rainforest causes large amounts of carbon dioxide to release into the air, causing global warming.

·        What’s being done?

-            WWF works with palm oil companies to lead them away from unsustainable palm oil production and instead towards more sustainable practices within the certified RSPO.

·        What can I do?

-            Shop sustainably

-            Buying from businesses or certain products that have RSPO certification

-            Choose to completely boycott palm oil

-            Raise awareness of the issue

-            Adopt an orangutan.

1.5 Food Security

1.        Outline Characteristics of the global food crisis

·        We are on track to reach 9.2 billion people by 2050 – 1 million people added to the population every 4 days

·        Water scarcity due to drought, intensive irrigation, industry and household use, limited water recycling.

·        Emerging scarcity of all the primary resources required to produce food and a global failure to reinvest in it.

2.        Define the term ‘food security’ and how it is measured

·        Food security – the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

·        Food sec exists when all people at all times have economic and physical access to sufficient and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life.

·        Food sec is for ‘all’ people at ‘all’ times.

3.        Describe threats to global food security

·        Growing global population

·        Natural disasters

·        Food shortages due to drought or inadequate precipitation

4.        Outline 4 dimensions in addressing food security.

·        Availability – determined by the amount and quality of food produced

·        Accessibility

-            Land to produce food

-            Financial resources to purchase food, seeds and livestock

-            Transport to buy and sell products

-            Shortages in food generally lead to an increase in price. While wealthy people can afford to feed themselves, poorer people have difficulty obtaining sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

·        Utilization – choosing, preparing and distributing safe and nutritious food to meet people’s dietary needs. It concerns sufficient protein, energy and micronutrients for a balanced and nutritious diet. It also includes hygiene, sanitation and water quality.

·        Stability – the previous three dimensions over a long period of time.

5.        Investigate, describe and justify Australian and global strategies to sustainably respond to food security issues.

·        The World Food Programme is working with organisations to address the issue by implementing 5 key solutions to food insecurity:

-            Prioritise the food security of the world’s poorest communities through social protection schemes and by investing in inclusive development.

-            Improve infrastructure such as roads and farming technology to help ensure agricultural trade and livelihood is well-supported.

-            Reduce food waste at all levels by introducing improved storage facilities and building a sense of sustainability among communities.

-            Encourage communities to diversify their food production and consumption to increase the availability of food at all times and decrease the ill-effects of malnutrition.

-            Promote the importance of proper nutrition during the first 1000 days of a child’s life to boost their health and help ensure good development.

Topic 2: Changing Places

2.1   Causes & Consequences of Urbanisation

1.        Outline the history and causes of urbanization

·        In the earliest days of human history, humans were hunter-gatherers, often moving from place to place in search of food

·        Learning the secrets of selective breeding and early agricultural techniques à led to the forming of semi-permanent villages for the first time

·        Only with the invention of techniques like irrigation and soil-tilling could people could rely on a steady and long-term supply of food à no longer necessary for everyone to farm

·        Allowed the development of other specialised trades and by extension cities

·        Now the possibility of commerce and interaction over longer distances.

·        Trade flourished à technologies that facilitated it flourished – carts, ships, roads, ports

·        Modern cities got their start with the industrial revolution

2.        Define and use key terms regarding urban settlements

·        Urban growth – an increase in the number of people living in urban places

·        Urbanisation – an increase in the proportion of people living in an urban place

·        Urban sprawl – the continuous outward spread of settlements via suburbanisation

·        Urban consolidation – building to allow greater population densities within established urban settlements.

·        Informal settlement – a settlement without regulation or legal status (i.e. a slum)

·        Megacity – a city with over 10 million inhabitants

·        World cities (global cities) – megacities and other very large cities in mainly developed countries are often referred to as ‘world cities’. Have global and national significance. Connected globally and are leaders in world trade, communications, banking, finance, entertainment and tourist attractions.

3.        Identify the characteristics and global spatial patterns of megacities and world cities and describe the factors influencing these patterns.

·        Clustered distribution, particularly in the northern hemisphere and along coastlines

·        Easy access to resources

·        More developed countries in Europe so better for economy etc.

4.        Examine the economic, social and environmental challenges/consequences caused by urbanisation and experienced by megacities and world cities.

·        Megacities:

-            Rapid population growth – both from within the city and from rural to urban migration.

-            Poor housing, water, sanitation

-            Waste disposal issues

-            Inadequate transport systems etc.

-            Overcrowded housing

-            Conflict (riots and protests) – due to water shortages

-            Traffic congestion

-            Air pollution (vehicles)

·        Degradation of the natural environment due to increased urbanisation