Year 12 Assesment 1 Flashcards
Natural biomes?
A community of life forms adapted to a large natural area. Natural biomes may cover a region made up of ecosystems
Anthropogenic biomes?
Human biomes show activity, created as a direct result of human interactions with the ecosystem and environment.
Land cover change: and examples
The changes to natural elements due to a variety of natural (cyclones, floods, droughts) or human induced causes (agriculture, urbanisation)
What is biodiversity loss?
When there is a decrease in the number, type or variety of living organisms within an environment or ecosystem.
What is climate change?
The long term permanent shift in some or all parts of the weather conditions experienced in an area
Sustainability:
Meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, economic and social adaptations.
What are the 6 impacts of changes to the water cycle?
Damming Irrigation Land cover change Deforestation Air born pollutants Overuse of groundwater
Define the nature/cause of soil erosion/degradation?
With greater demand for palm oil, coffee, cotton and soybeans a greater demand for land cover change also follows.
What is the impact of soil erosion?
less fertile land and an increase in levels of soil acidity. Due to land cover change the impact includes soil erosion, soil compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation and soil salinity.
As a result of farming processes there are clogged waterways from sediment and soils becoming prone to flooding because they have lost water retention qualities.
What causes the loss of habitat and biodiversity?
Caused by deforestation and degradation of forests.
What are the 3 impacts of degradation to the aquatic/marine environments?
Pollution
Damming
Ocean acidification
What are the 8 impacts of loss of ecosystem services?
- Food security
- A loss of energy security (having access to native wood products- if not LEDCs women and children have to travel further to fetch)
- Difficulty in providing clean water (due to elimination of marshes, wetlands, diversion of surface water and creation of urban infrastructure)
- A loss of social relations (indigenous culture)
- A loss of freedom in choice
- Invasion by non native species
- A lock of pollination in plants
- An impact of climate regulation
What causes urban heat islands ?
Caused due to the removal of natural surfaces which absorb and use a greater level of heat, whereas as built environments use materials that are non-reflective and water resistant meaning they radiate more heat
describe the impact pollution has on marine/aquatic environments?
chemicals cause damage
eutrophication occurs when fertilisers enter waterways and cause algal bloom (this reduces oxygen)
describe the impact of ocean acidification on degredation of marine environments?
occurs as a result of a rise in CO2 levels in atmosphere, this is then absorbed by the oceans. PH levels decrease and water becomes more acidic
describe what damming does to the degradation of marine environments?
stops normal flow of sediment through rivers and streams
changes the water temperature and levels of nutrients (causing an increase in pest fish, water weeds and mosquitos due to stilled water)
population size and density australia vs china
AUSTRALIA
- 6th largest country
- 24 million population
- 88.9% of population living urban
CHINA
- 4th largest country
- population of 1.4 billion
- 57% living urban
economic world standing australia’s vs china
AUSTRALIA
- 12th largest economy
- GDP $67,548
- relies on agricultural and mining exports
CHINA
- 2nd largest economy
- GDP $6,807
types of government and economy australia vs china
AUSTRALIA
- local, state and federal
- capitalism and socialism allows for controlled yet personal economic freedom
- for land cover change, must be approved by all 3 governments
CHINA
- communist
- socialist market economy
- land cover change for agriculture, large population, coal and urbanisation is common
land ownership australia vs china
AUSTRALIA
-private land ownership is
high yet policies influence the rate and location of land cover change
CHINA
- before 1778, due to communism there was no housing market
- in urban areas although people may own houses, the land is still owns by the government
- in rural areas farmland is owned by collectives
ideology and cultural views australia vs china
AUSTRALIA
- value outdoor lifestyle and environment
- land cover change influence is done via proposals from stakeholder groups
CHINA
- people prioritise cultural beliefs and wealth (this may mean sacrifice of environment)
- human beings reign superior
- due to mass pollution (up to 500,000 deaths a year) and more education, this view is staring to change
what are the 6 main impacts of land cover change?
changes to the water cycle soil erosion and degradation loss of habitat and biodiversity degradation of aquatic environments loss of ecosystem services urban heat islands and changes to regional climate
