Geography Notes and Flashcards
Coral bleaching refers to when too warm water causes corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white, exposing their skeleton. Bleached corals are not dead but are more at risk to undergo starvation. When corals bleach, expelling the zooxanthellae algae causes them to no longer be able to have the food and energy the algae provide (through photosynthesis), necessary to grow and reproduce.
Coral bleaching has been caused by human actions. These include primarily rising ocean temperatures caused by global warming due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas. Other factors that can cause coral bleaching include increasing intensity of cyclones, ocean acidification and extreme weather events, all also caused by climate change and thus human actions. Record breaking marine heatwaves are causing mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally, and furthermore since 2016 the reef has suffered five mass bleaching events. This year, some regions of the southern reef experienced significantly higher water temperatures that broke all previous records for weeks. This is a crucial issue for not just for corals, but all marine life, and the food we rely on, with one quarter of all marine life relying on coral reefs at some point in their lifecycle.
The continuation of devastation coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef can be seen as a result of our inaction to act collectively on climate change due to the many different stakeholders of varying wealth and power across the world with contesting world views. People with a more egocentric or Anthropocentric world view, and are more interested in the profit that mining and burning fossil fuels may bring than the short and long term human and ecological problems humanity must face as a result of their actions. Tackling the issue of coral bleaching is made even harder through it not being a localised issue, i.e. just in Australia, but a global problem that can only be solved through global collaboration. To achieve this, people with more earth-centric or ecocentric/biocentric world views have created activist groups to pressure the government and companies to be more environmentally conscious.
Water | Air | Land |
•Ocean Acidification refers to the increasing acidity, measure in "ph" of water in the ocean as a result of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. •Water Pollution refers to the contamination and destruction of water bodies through man-made objects being left in the water to a negative affect. •Overfishing describes the state of there being too many fish being taken by the fishing industry to sustain the populations of the fish. •Coral Bleaching refers to when too warm water causes corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn comletely white. •Rising Sea Levels refers to the average increase in the water level of the Earth's oceans. | •Climate Change refers to the long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. •Air Pollution is described as the contamination of an indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or boilogical agent that modifies the natural conditions of the atmosphere •Ozone Layer Depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer present in the upper atmosphere | •Deforestation refers to the loss of trees due to human means. •Soil Erosion is the gradual process that ocurs when the water or wind detached and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deterioate. •Urbanisation is the process of making an area urban. •Loss of Biodiversity refers to the loss and decline of biological diversity; the range and breadth of organisms that live in an ecosystem. •Land Pollution is defined as the deposition of solid or liquid waste materials on land. •Land degradation is the negative trend in land condition as a result of human or non-human means. |
Changes to the land
The two most pressing land uses affecting our land are urbanisation and agriculture
Less than 1/4 of the worlds original forest cover remains intact today
Chemicals, deforestation, and the impact of animal hooves on soil fertility has decreased the soil fertility, which also fuels more land to be cleared to make way for more farms
As the population expands, the pressure on liveable spaces increases, meaning we need to clear more forest to have places to live.
An increasing population also needs more and more food - farmed on cleared land.
Brazil's deforestation
How and why did humans change the environment
Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, starting in the 1970s.
5 million square kilometres
Originally as an economic growth strategy by the Brazil government and military, turning the rainforest into pastures for animals, fuelled by growing meat consumption, and furthermore soy beans to feed these animals and in other products
First cattle allows for deforestation then soy bean plantations moved in, creating a cycle.
More efficient techniques created more profitable and sustainable use of the Amazon
Human-centred vs earth-centred world views
1/5th of the worlds oxygen
1/2 of the worlds fresh water
Crucial part of the planet
What are the ongoing consequences of this change
Booming economy during the 2000s but also unprecedented deforestation
17% of the Amazon has been deforested
If it reaches 20%, then it will reach a "tipping point" collapsing due to an incapability to sustain it's resources, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Changes to the atmosphere
The earth is surrounded by a combination of different gases known as the atmosphere
The atmosphere also protects the earth from ultraviolet rays form the sun and the freezing temperature of outer space
The burning of fossil fuels have changed the natural levels of certain gases in the atmosphere
In some cases, chemicals released into the atmosphere can create a hole in the ozone layer
In addition to this, they are responsible for an increase in the acidity of rain, and a warming of the atmosphere leading to global changes in our climate
Pollution in Delhi
How has the situation developed?
Second largest city in the world
More people = more cars
More people also create more polluting industry
The smog is so bad you can see it from space
Rice farming burning is causing huge spikes in the air pollution
Warm air currents trap the polluted air on the city
Crop stubble burning most be stopped for the pollution to decrease
How does it affect the people living here?
Every two minutes someone dies from air pollution in India
People need to wear masks
Spending a day outside in these conditions is the equivalent of smoking 50 cigarettes.
Sometimes you cannot even see in front of you
Changes to water
Fresh water is vital to the survival of all life on Earth
We use it for drinking, fishing, washing, and so many more things
We rely on fresh water for the food we eat
The diversion and damming of rivers to provide reliable supply of water for farmers and city dwellers is causing water shortages in other places in the world
Inland waters such as rivers, lakes and wetlands are some of the worlds most degraded environments. Human activities have reduced the quality of water supplies around the world.
70% of the total water taken from water supplies is for agriculture
Human changes to water supplies also have serious impacts on other species on the Earth as we destroy the stability in their ecosystems
Water pollution can result in loss of clean, safe drinking water
Pollution can be the result of human activities near the water such as shipping, fishing, and oil drilling, or from activities conducted on land, a long way from the waterways.
In extreme cases, water pollution can cause famine and death.
Degrading water
Damming the rivers
Of the worlds 292 large river systems, two thirds have been changes by dams and reservoirs.
The natural interaction between rivers and coastal ecosystems is degraded as fewer nutrients and less water and sediment reach the river mouth and sea.
Pollutants in our water
Water pollution is the contamination of our rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other water bodies
The results are devastating to both human health and animal species and ecosystems that rely on the fresh water
Fish, humans, and other life forms may be killed, having devastating affects
Indian River
How do people use the river
Drinking, bathing and cleaning
Pilgrims pray and immerse themselves in the water for spiritual reasons, believing it brings health and prosperity
Chemicals, sewage, and plastics are all deposited
More than 60 million rely on the river for water
There is no other option to live
What are the consequences of this usage
The river has been "killed" by human activities and chemicals such as metals
No animal life can be sustained
Planting crops has been ban by the Supreme Court, however continues unpoliced
Causes many health conditions and death
Lake Chad
Formerly one of Africa's largest freshwater lakes
In 1963, it was the world’s 6th largest lake with a total surface area of 23000 square km. By 2001, this had declined by almost 75 per cent to just 300 square km.
This has been a result of:
Increasing population
Increasing demand for water irrigation
Extremely high rates of evaporation from the climate and shallowness
Increasing desertification of the Lake's catchment area
Whilst human-centred world views prioritise the importance of human life as the most important priority that exists for earth, and resources should be used to sustain our life first, a earth centred world view prioritises equality with other species and sustainability in preserving all life.
Ecocentric
a) I think I have a biocentric world view, and I'm not sure about Australia, but based upon asking other people, I feel most would lean towards an earth centred world view, or at least away from egotism.
b) I could not find someone who supported logging, however I talked to my friend about electric cars. He believes that although climate change is a massive risk for all of us, but that electric cars are not the solution, rather synthetic fuels, due to production costs and environmental impact. However, I researched this and found that even accounting for this, EVs have lower emissions over their life.
Geography Introduction
Physical geography:
Looks at how the earth was formed and how it continues to change
For example volcanos, etc.
Human (cultural) geography
Looks at people and how they interact with the environment
For example human water consumption etc.
BOLTSS
Border - an outline drawn around the map
Orientation - an indication of direction
Legend - an explanation of the symbols, colours and patterns used on the maps
Title - a heading describing the map and what it is
Scale - a way of indicating distances on the map represent in the real world. Can be written, a line scale or a ratio.
Source - where the data used to make the map is from
Types of Maps
Maps that summarise the landscape (topographic and general reference maps)
Maps that describe or comment on the landscape, often called thematic maps
Physical maps (landscape features)
Political maps
Social maps
Synoptic maps - used to display weather conditions
Climate maps - climactic data (must include both rainfall and temp, describes longer term patterns)
Chloropleth maps - uses shading or colour to show the particular density or concentration of a particular feature in an area
Coral bleaching refers to when too warm water causes corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white, exposing their skeleton. Bleached corals are not dead but are more at risk to undergo starvation. When corals bleach, expelling the zooxanthellae algae causes them to no longer be able to have the food and energy the algae provide (through photosynthesis), necessary to grow and reproduce.
Coral bleaching has been caused by human actions. These include primarily rising ocean temperatures caused by global warming due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas. Other factors that can cause coral bleaching include increasing intensity of cyclones, ocean acidification and extreme weather events, all also caused by climate change and thus human actions. Record breaking marine heatwaves are causing mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally, and furthermore since 2016 the reef has suffered five mass bleaching events. This year, some regions of the southern reef experienced significantly higher water temperatures that broke all previous records for weeks. This is a crucial issue for not just for corals, but all marine life, and the food we rely on, with one quarter of all marine life relying on coral reefs at some point in their lifecycle.
The continuation of devastation coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef can be seen as a result of our inaction to act collectively on climate change due to the many different stakeholders of varying wealth and power across the world with contesting world views. People with a more egocentric or Anthropocentric world view, and are more interested in the profit that mining and burning fossil fuels may bring than the short and long term human and ecological problems humanity must face as a result of their actions. Tackling the issue of coral bleaching is made even harder through it not being a localised issue, i.e. just in Australia, but a global problem that can only be solved through global collaboration. To achieve this, people with more earth-centric or ecocentric/biocentric world views have created activist groups to pressure the government and companies to be more environmentally conscious.
Water | Air | Land |
•Ocean Acidification refers to the increasing acidity, measure in "ph" of water in the ocean as a result of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. •Water Pollution refers to the contamination and destruction of water bodies through man-made objects being left in the water to a negative affect. •Overfishing describes the state of there being too many fish being taken by the fishing industry to sustain the populations of the fish. •Coral Bleaching refers to when too warm water causes corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn comletely white. •Rising Sea Levels refers to the average increase in the water level of the Earth's oceans. | •Climate Change refers to the long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. •Air Pollution is described as the contamination of an indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or boilogical agent that modifies the natural conditions of the atmosphere •Ozone Layer Depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer present in the upper atmosphere | •Deforestation refers to the loss of trees due to human means. •Soil Erosion is the gradual process that ocurs when the water or wind detached and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deterioate. •Urbanisation is the process of making an area urban. •Loss of Biodiversity refers to the loss and decline of biological diversity; the range and breadth of organisms that live in an ecosystem. •Land Pollution is defined as the deposition of solid or liquid waste materials on land. •Land degradation is the negative trend in land condition as a result of human or non-human means. |
Changes to the land
The two most pressing land uses affecting our land are urbanisation and agriculture
Less than 1/4 of the worlds original forest cover remains intact today
Chemicals, deforestation, and the impact of animal hooves on soil fertility has decreased the soil fertility, which also fuels more land to be cleared to make way for more farms
As the population expands, the pressure on liveable spaces increases, meaning we need to clear more forest to have places to live.
An increasing population also needs more and more food - farmed on cleared land.
Brazil's deforestation
How and why did humans change the environment
Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, starting in the 1970s.
5 million square kilometres
Originally as an economic growth strategy by the Brazil government and military, turning the rainforest into pastures for animals, fuelled by growing meat consumption, and furthermore soy beans to feed these animals and in other products
First cattle allows for deforestation then soy bean plantations moved in, creating a cycle.
More efficient techniques created more profitable and sustainable use of the Amazon
Human-centred vs earth-centred world views
1/5th of the worlds oxygen
1/2 of the worlds fresh water
Crucial part of the planet
What are the ongoing consequences of this change
Booming economy during the 2000s but also unprecedented deforestation
17% of the Amazon has been deforested
If it reaches 20%, then it will reach a "tipping point" collapsing due to an incapability to sustain it's resources, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Changes to the atmosphere
The earth is surrounded by a combination of different gases known as the atmosphere
The atmosphere also protects the earth from ultraviolet rays form the sun and the freezing temperature of outer space
The burning of fossil fuels have changed the natural levels of certain gases in the atmosphere
In some cases, chemicals released into the atmosphere can create a hole in the ozone layer
In addition to this, they are responsible for an increase in the acidity of rain, and a warming of the atmosphere leading to global changes in our climate
Pollution in Delhi
How has the situation developed?
Second largest city in the world
More people = more cars
More people also create more polluting industry
The smog is so bad you can see it from space
Rice farming burning is causing huge spikes in the air pollution
Warm air currents trap the polluted air on the city
Crop stubble burning most be stopped for the pollution to decrease
How does it affect the people living here?
Every two minutes someone dies from air pollution in India
People need to wear masks
Spending a day outside in these conditions is the equivalent of smoking 50 cigarettes.
Sometimes you cannot even see in front of you
Changes to water
Fresh water is vital to the survival of all life on Earth
We use it for drinking, fishing, washing, and so many more things
We rely on fresh water for the food we eat
The diversion and damming of rivers to provide reliable supply of water for farmers and city dwellers is causing water shortages in other places in the world
Inland waters such as rivers, lakes and wetlands are some of the worlds most degraded environments. Human activities have reduced the quality of water supplies around the world.
70% of the total water taken from water supplies is for agriculture
Human changes to water supplies also have serious impacts on other species on the Earth as we destroy the stability in their ecosystems
Water pollution can result in loss of clean, safe drinking water
Pollution can be the result of human activities near the water such as shipping, fishing, and oil drilling, or from activities conducted on land, a long way from the waterways.
In extreme cases, water pollution can cause famine and death.
Degrading water
Damming the rivers
Of the worlds 292 large river systems, two thirds have been changes by dams and reservoirs.
The natural interaction between rivers and coastal ecosystems is degraded as fewer nutrients and less water and sediment reach the river mouth and sea.
Pollutants in our water
Water pollution is the contamination of our rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other water bodies
The results are devastating to both human health and animal species and ecosystems that rely on the fresh water
Fish, humans, and other life forms may be killed, having devastating affects
Indian River
How do people use the river
Drinking, bathing and cleaning
Pilgrims pray and immerse themselves in the water for spiritual reasons, believing it brings health and prosperity
Chemicals, sewage, and plastics are all deposited
More than 60 million rely on the river for water
There is no other option to live
What are the consequences of this usage
The river has been "killed" by human activities and chemicals such as metals
No animal life can be sustained
Planting crops has been ban by the Supreme Court, however continues unpoliced
Causes many health conditions and death
Lake Chad
Formerly one of Africa's largest freshwater lakes
In 1963, it was the world’s 6th largest lake with a total surface area of 23000 square km. By 2001, this had declined by almost 75 per cent to just 300 square km.
This has been a result of:
Increasing population
Increasing demand for water irrigation
Extremely high rates of evaporation from the climate and shallowness
Increasing desertification of the Lake's catchment area
Whilst human-centred world views prioritise the importance of human life as the most important priority that exists for earth, and resources should be used to sustain our life first, a earth centred world view prioritises equality with other species and sustainability in preserving all life.
Ecocentric
a) I think I have a biocentric world view, and I'm not sure about Australia, but based upon asking other people, I feel most would lean towards an earth centred world view, or at least away from egotism.
b) I could not find someone who supported logging, however I talked to my friend about electric cars. He believes that although climate change is a massive risk for all of us, but that electric cars are not the solution, rather synthetic fuels, due to production costs and environmental impact. However, I researched this and found that even accounting for this, EVs have lower emissions over their life.
Geography Introduction
Physical geography:
Looks at how the earth was formed and how it continues to change
For example volcanos, etc.
Human (cultural) geography
Looks at people and how they interact with the environment
For example human water consumption etc.
BOLTSS
Border - an outline drawn around the map
Orientation - an indication of direction
Legend - an explanation of the symbols, colours and patterns used on the maps
Title - a heading describing the map and what it is
Scale - a way of indicating distances on the map represent in the real world. Can be written, a line scale or a ratio.
Source - where the data used to make the map is from
Types of Maps
Maps that summarise the landscape (topographic and general reference maps)
Maps that describe or comment on the landscape, often called thematic maps
Physical maps (landscape features)
Political maps
Social maps
Synoptic maps - used to display weather conditions
Climate maps - climactic data (must include both rainfall and temp, describes longer term patterns)
Chloropleth maps - uses shading or colour to show the particular density or concentration of a particular feature in an area