Sem 1 Exam - Land Cover Change S1

Question 1

Land Cover Change

Answer 1

The changes that have taken place in natural environments;

Due to natural and/or human induced causes

Question 2

Biosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmospehre

Answer 2

Biosphere - living things

Lithosphere - land

Hydrosphere - water

Atmosphere - air

Question 3

Anthropogenic Biomes

Answer 3

The result of sustained direct human interactions

Question 4

Environment

Answer 4

Means the living and non-living elements of the earths surface and atmosphere

Question 5

Ecosystem Structure and Dynamics

Answer 5

Ecosystem has a STRUCTURE: made up of biotic and abiotic factors with a hierarchy of organisms

DYNAMIC: there a relationships between these biotic and abiotic factors

e.g. the flow of energy between elements (food chains)

Question 6

Sustainability

Answer 6

Meeting the needs of current and future generations through environmental, economic and social adaptation and improvement

Question 7

Biodiversity loss

Answer 7

Decrease in species, genetic and or ecosystem diversity which may include:

The extinction of species worldwide

AND also the local reduction or loss of species in a certain habitat

Question 8

Climate Change

Answer 8

Is the long term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time (decades to millions)

It may be a change in the average weather condition or change in the average distribution of weather events, may result from global cooling/warming or anthropogenic causes - deforestation carbon cycle etc.

Question 9

Natural Biome

Answer 9

A community of life forms that have adapted to large natural area. These biomes are often named after the most common vegetation in that area due to their climate conditions. Are those that have not not sustained human interactions

Question 10

Biodiversity

Answer 10

The variety of life on earth

Question 11

Biome

Answer 11

A distinct geographical location with specific climate, animal life and vegetation etc.

Question 12

Remote Sensing

Answer 12

Process of obtatining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from air crafts or satellites

Location: Can examine local, regional and global

Extent/Type: Cameras can remotley collect images to detect and monitor changes to the physcial characteristics of an area

The rate of deforestation can be tracked

eg. Brazillian state of Mato Grasso, 1st Image red, 2nd Image blue etc. as images progress there a noticeable changes to natural landscape due to deforestation

Question 13

As populations become more increasingly more affluent ___________

Answer 13

there is an associated demands for more resources including: Meat

Question 14

Affluence

Answer 14

Defined has having a great deal of wealth

Question 15

Advances in technology

Answer 15

The industrial revolution in the 18th century saw the introduction of technology and machine development which allowed for: large scale production

Affluence and technology hungry populations worsened environment
quality

Question 16

Positive effect of Technology on LCC

Answer 16

Now technology can help slow land cover change

Innovations such as “GM Crops” have helped reduce LCC as more yield can be gotten from the same amount of land.

For eg corn yields increased by 6% to 25% over a ten year period

Technology also helps us clean up the environment for eg solar and wind energy

Question 17

How is affluence related in terms of LCC for mining purposes

Answer 17

Higher levels of wealth drives demand for resources and technology, there is more demand for material products which drives the extraction of resources

Advancements in technology increases deforestation through the invention of the chainsaw and tree removal machines rather than hand saws

In Australia, iron ore is extracted through mining to make steel which is a key material used in construction, agriculture, car manufacturing, engineering

Affluence and demands for resources proportional

Question 18

Factors to compare LCC: Govt Policy

Answer 18

Are rules, regulations, and actions put in place by the government to address specific issues or achieve certain goals

These policies guide decision making and actions related to aspects of society

Question 19

Gov Policy: Aus

Answer 19

3 levels of gov (local, state, federal) this means that LCC must be agreed upon all three —> This slows down the rate of LCC, and the extent and where it occurs

Very strict laws on mining regulations that require companies to rehabillitate mining sites after they are done with it

—> reinforced by WA Mining Act (1978)

Question 20

Gov Policy: Brazil

Answer 20

In Brazil, there has been a shift in Gov Policy toward protecting the Amazon Rainforest

Evidence —> the decline in the rate of deforestation between 2004-2014 which saw an 83% reduction in the rate of forest clearing

This was achieved through —> The Forest Code

• which stated that “Only 20% of farmland could be cleared and the rest must be set aside for native vegetation in a protected reserve

Question 21

Factors to compare LCC: Land Ownership

3 types

Answer 21

Land ownership refers to the legal rights and responsibilities associated with owning land

including: the right to use, manage and transfer land

Private ownership:

Land owned by individuals, corporations, organisations. Owners have exlcusive rights to use and develop land, often profit motives

Public ownership:

Land owned by government entities such as: national parks, forests and reserves. Prioritise conservation and recreation

Communal Ownership:

Land owned and managed collectively as a community. May involve indigenous tenures

Question 22

Land Ownership: Aus

Answer 22

Land can be privately owned,bought and sold in AUS

All land ownership and transactions are recorded by State Government Authorities

the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Consevation Act 1999 protects native areas and there are many restrictions

About 20% of Australia’s total amount of land is protected

Question 23

Land Ownership: Brazil

Answer 23

Brazil has a very high level of land ownership inequality

45% of all land in Brazil is owned by 1% of the population. Thus, just 1% of population has a significant impact on LCC

Inequality of land distribution in Brazil leads to: land degradation, destruction of forests, rural poverty, human right abuses

Question 24

Mosaic Burning

Answer 24

Mosaic burning involves the use of cool burns (regular, relatively controlled, low intensity burns) to clear native vegetation

This is used to:

• Clear the undergrowth to provide paths for travel
• Reduce the risk of wildfire because of the regular burning of fuel loads
• This practice also assisted in controlling weeds and seed germination allowing plant growth to flourish

Help to contain deforestation

Question 25

Seasonal Calendars

Answer 25

Inlcudes six different seasons in a year which explain seasonal changes

it is key to understanding:

• flowering of plants
• hibernation of reptiles
• when and where to hunt certain animals

During Birak (December and January) country would be burned in mosaic patters to increase grazing pastures, reduce fuel loads

Question 26

Impact of Mosaic Burning on LCC

Answer 26

• Conversion of dense forest areas into more medium scrub lands and grasslands
• Native plant species developed adaptations to help survive low intensity fires

Question 27

Impacts of LCC: Changes to the Water Cycle - Deforestation

Answer 27

Deforestation has a significant impact on “The Water Cycle”

BECAUSE tree roots take moisture from deep in the soil and release it through their leaves into the air via - transpiration

Can also impact the effects of infiltration and percolation due to “lack of roots”

This can result in less regulation of floods and river levels without the protection that forests provide

Question 28

Impacts of LCC: Soil Erosion and Degradation - greater demand

Answer 28

Soil degradation refers to chemical and physical changes of the land that are enhanced by humans, which reduces the quantity and quality of land

With the greater demand for agricultural commodities –> comes the need for LCC as agricultural prduction expannds –> this means that forests and grasslands become croplands.

The impact of this is soil erosion

This can reduce the productivity of the land and therefore economic vaule which threatens food security

2/3s of all AUS agricultural land affected by degradation

Question 29

Three main factors which influence the global population

Answer 29

• Humans are living longer
• Birth Rate/Death Rate
• Migration

Question 30

World population growth impact on LCC

Answer 30

Impact through:

• Birth Rate refers to the number of live births per 1,000 individuals in a population within a given period. Influenced by fertility rates
• Death rate - refers to the number of death per 1,000 individual in a population within a given period

Causes decrease in population

• Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another, either within countries or between countries
• Urban land use (to house growing population)
  - Urban areas have doubled in size since 1992 because of growing population causing deforestation and increased global temps due to urban heat island effect
• Land required for agriculture (to feed the population and provide goods and services)

Question 31

Urban heat island effect, 5 types on graph

Answer 31

The warming of temperatures in urban areas due to the replacement of vegetation and natural surfaces with a man made built environment which uses materials which are non-reflective and water resistant which radiate more heat

  - Black and tarmac roads as well as concrete buildings absorbs amd stores heat

• 5 Types:
  rural commercial centralised buisness district urban residential suburban residential

Question 32

Hydrological Cycle

Answer 32

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water through the Earth’s atmosphere, surface and underground. The energy from the sun drives the cycle and gravity plays a key role in moving water across and beneath the Earth’s surface

Begins with evaporation of water from the surface of the ocean

As most air is lifted, its cools, and water vapour condenses to form clouds

Moisture is transported around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation

Once it reaches the ground:
1. Some of the water may evaporate back into the atmosphere

  2. The water may penetrate the surface and become groundwater. The water may either seep into oceans, rivers and streams, or be released back into the atmosphere through transpiration

Question 33

Influence of WC

Answer 33

The WC regulates the elements of weather: rainfall, humidtity, cloud cover and temperature

For e.g. The greenhouse effect causes a rise in temperature. Without the evaporative cooling effect of the water cycle, the temp on Earth would rise drastically

Changes to the WC can shift precipitation patterns, leading to extreme weather - such as droughts and/or floods in several regions

Question 34

The Greenhouse Effect

Answer 34

The capacity for certain gases in the atmosphere to be able to trap heat. It is important for climate system as it is cause for a higher quantity of heat being stored in the atmosphere. this leads to a higher average temperature in the atmosphere

Question 35

Global Heat Budget

Answer 35

The balancing of incoming and outgoing solar radiation

Insolation is input recieved in the form of short wave solar energy. Albedo is a measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects. Around 52% of insolation reaches the Earth’s surfaces.

• Insolation is absorbed by water vapour, dust or clouds
• Insolation is reflected by the Earth’s surface and scattered by particles in the air

Reflected heat, in the form of long-wave radiation, is trapped in our atmosphere and keeps the planet warm

Question 36

Processes of LCC

Answer 36

Deforestation

Expansion/Intensification of Agriculture

Mining

Growth of Urban Settlement

Question 37

Expansion/Intensification Agriculture

Answer 37

Expansion refers to the increasing amount of land available for agriculture

   - Over a third of the world’s terrestrial land are dedicated to          
   crop and livestock production

Intensification refers to the increase in the output from existing agricultural areas

Question 38

The Growth of Urban Settlement

Answer 38

Transformation of urban settlements to allow them to grow which include: clearing of native vegetation, fragmentation of habitats and the building of infrastructure

Despite only covering 1-3% of the land surface, the growth of urban areas is responsible for much of the worlds LCC

This is due to the larger area needed to support urban areas

Generally involves clearing of native vegetation

Logos, Nigerian is one of the worlds fastest growing cities, experiencing rapid urban growth expanding from 490 sqkm in 1990, to over 1200 sqkm in 2020

Question 39

Mining - heavily regulated

Answer 39

Mining is the extraction of valuable geological materials

Involves large clearing of land to make way for mine sites

In AUS, mining is heavily regulated, and mining companies are often required to restore and rehabilitate land they have used and damaged

1% of the world’s terrestrial land is currently used for mining

Extremely important industry for impacts on biodiversity, greenhouse gases, water quality

Mining represents a significant part of Australia’s economy, generating $270 B in export revenue in 2020

Question 40

Deforestation

Answer 40

The removal or clearing of forests for other uses, generally urban, agricultural and industrial

Usually occurs through:

Fires clear cutting logging degradation

Forests cover about 30% of the Earth’s surface and provide habitat for 80% of the worlds biodiversity

More than 50% of Indonesias rainforests have been cleared and 90% of West Africa’s coastal forests have been cleared

Causes extreme change to the land and affects water cycle, global temp etc.

Question 41

Ecosystem

Answer 41

A community of plants and animals in a non-living environment