Geography yearly Revision

Basic knowledge
Australia:
One of seven continents. Part of Oceania.
Neighbours: North: Papua New Guinea (closest) and Indonesia, South: New Zealand.
Latitude: 10 to 40 South. Longitude: 110 to 155 degrees East.
7.6 million km sq. Dry and little rainfall continent.

Weather Climate
Should term description of the environmental General description of the weather occurring in an
condition. area.
E.g. Temperature, Humidity, Cloud, Wind etc. E.g. dry, cold, arid.

Australia Climate Zones

North hot and wet.
South Cold and dry.
Skills
Latitude: Horizontal line.
Longitude: Vertical line.

Topography: Shape of the land.

Geomorphological view: Study of landforms.

Synoptic Charts
Isobar: lines that join places of equal atmospheric
pressure. In hectopascals (hPa).
Low-pressure system: unstable atmospheric
condition. Rain and strong wind.
Air pressure Decreases.
High-pressure system: stable condition.
Air pressure increases.
Cold fronts: spiky lines. Mass of cold air overtakes a
slower-moving mass of warm air.
More likely of rain and wind.
Warm Fronts: A warm air mass replacing a cold air
mass.
Scale

Written: 1 unit to 'n' unit(s).

Linear:

Fraction: 1:1000 (ratio)

Grid and Area Reference

Compass directions: NESW. Bearing: Always in 3 digit true bearings.

Shape of Land
Contour: Lines of a map join the same height.
Contour Interval: the difference in height.
Shows the steepness and slope of land.

Aspect Slope
Identifies the downslope direction of the maximum rate of change.
Measured in clockwise in bearings. Flat areas have value of -1.

Changing Australian Communities

Australian Population
Australian population is approx. 24 millions.
Dominated by middle-aged and middle-income earners.
Mostly live in costal and urban areas.

Population Issues:
Ageing Population: Consequences are the reduction of working population as more people retire. Greater
burden to working taxpayers.
Indications of ageing population: decline in death rate and decline in fertility rate (births).
Place stress on housing, social and financial markets.

Population growth:
Natural increase: more births over deaths.
Migration: more immigrants than Australians emigrating to overseas.
Demographic: study of population characteristic and trends in social norms.
Common statistics: size, growth rates, age structure and gender.
Replacement Rate: the fertility rate which results in the population replacing itself. 2.1 is Australia.

Australian Communities
Group of people who share a common interest or a common space.
Types: locality, culture or interests.
Factors: Channing work patterns and location.
Technology improvement and globalisation.
Recognition of native title (Indigenous people).
Changing lifestyle expectations.
Cultural integration and multiculturalism.
Solutions to change: Create more job opportunities. Pay respect to other communities. Eliminate
discrimination and prejudice.

Industries
Changing work pattern in primary and secondary sectors in developed countries.
Greater flexibility of work and more individuals are self-employed.
Primary Industry: Raw materials.
Secondary Industry: Production from raw materials.
Tertiary Industry: Provides a skill.
Quaternary Industry: Provides information in different forms.

Environmental Issues in Australia

1. Land Management
Can significantly alter the ecosystem and bring a reduction to native plants and animals in Australia.
Land Degradation: Agricultural and industrial activities.
E.g. growing, mining, industries, construction, housing and waste disposal.

Erosion
The movement of bits of rock or soil, often by water, wind or ice.
The impacts of erosion on cropping lands include:

reduced ability of the soil to store water and nutrients

exposure of subsoil, which often has poor physical and chemical properties
higher rates of runoff, shedding water and nutrients otherwise used for crop growth
loss of newly planted crops
Deposits of silt in low-lying areas.
Managing Erosion

use land according to its capability (stop over-grazing)

protect the soil surface with some form of cover
Control runoff before it develops into an erosive force.
Sheet erosion occurs when a thin layer of topsoil is removed over a
whole hillside paddock.
Rill erosion occurs when runoff water forms small channels as it concentrates down a slope.
Gully erosion happens when runoff concentrates and flows strongly enough to detach and move soil
particles.

Salinity:
Accumulation of salt in soil or water
Cause: Leakage of water to the groundwater system from the soil surface. Types of pastures on the
surface. The vegetation planted on the surface.
Increase bacteria which leads to destruction of soil.
Prevents vegetation growth and affects agricultural production.

Introduced Species
An invasive species which threatens valued environmental, agricultural and affect the balance of the
ecosystem.
Impact:
Loss of agricultural production.
Land degradation and cause erosion (European rabbits).
Feral cats and foxes kills native species. Loss of native species.
Control:
Eradication of pest in an area.
Controlling invaders.
Fencing, trapping, poisoning and shooting.

Intensive Farming and Logging

Over-grazing: Adverse effects to the environment land degradation and decrease of soil quality. Logging:
loss of native vegetation and biodiversity.

Land-clearing Management:
Federal Government: aims to conserve native vegetation by reducing land clearing and restoring degraded
land.
State Government: Aims to end broad-scale clearing and give flexibility to farmers and catchment
authorities to make decisions.
Catchment management Authorities: Knowledgeable locals to consult with farmers and help prepare
vegetation plans.
Farmers: Need to establish a boundary between profit and preservation of land.
Catchment management and source water protection provides the first barrier for the protection of water
quality. In providing the community's water needs both in terms of quality and quantity, we operate to
ensure protection for the source catchments and environment.

2. Water Management
Most important natural resource. Fresh water supply. Essential for development of industry, agriculture
and recreation.

Quality
Salinity: Affecting water quality. Problems to agricultural industries and irrigation. Affect taste of drinking
water. Reduce suitability of the water supply for grazing animals.
Pollution: waste pollution, erosion, sewage management.

Quantity
One of the worlds driest inhabited continent. Extreme rainfall patterns cause droughts and floods.
Fresh water dams to collect water and creeks to make possible for in-land water flow. For agriculture.

Management
setting water policy
developing statutory water sharing plans
negotiating interstate and national water agreements
determining how available water is allocated to water users, particularly during times of drought
Assessing the ecological health of our aquatic ecosystems.
3. Waste Management
Types of wastes
1. Municipal wastes: generated from households.
2. Commercial/Industrial wastes: industry or trade activities.
3. Prescribed wastes: Hazardous wastes that affect the environment.

Methods of Disposal
1. Landfill
Largest method of disposal in Australia.
Issues: Requires space to store the wastes.
Close to urban society. Smell and health issues.
Air pollution and groundwater pollution.
2. Incineration
For municipal solid wastes. Burned at high temperatures to convert them into gases and residue.
Reduce volume.
Convert to heat energy while burning.
Modern technology allows all types of wastes to be safely burned.
Can produce toxic chemicals which flows into the air.

E-waste
Australian are quick to picking up new technological devices, such as computers and mobile phones.
Every year Australians buy 2.1 million pc and 100 million TVs. They upgrade their mobile phones every 18-
24 months.
This creates huge amount of waste, partly resulted from globalisation and advancement in technology.
Could also be the result of the increasing wealth and living standards of the Australians, so they can afford
more and change more frequently.
Solution:

Send it overseas for recycle.

End up in toxic landfill sites overseas.
Transportation of hazardous waste requires permit.
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of hazardous waste and
disposal began in 1989.

Medical Waste

Healthcare related waste that may be contaminated by blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious
materials.
It is often referred to as regulated medical wastes.
Origin:
Healthcare facilities, hospitals, dental practices, blood banks and veterinary clinics.
Waste Disposal Steps:
1. Segregate: into different containers.
2. Storage: in a safe place before transportation.
3. Transportation: to waste disposal centres.
4. Incineration or other waste treatment methods: solid waste pits, sharp pits, autoclaving waste centres.
5. Transport of the debris
6. Landfill of debris.

Waste management hierarchy/Sustainable measures

Government (ACT):
The ACT Water Strategy 2014-44: Striking the Balance (ACT Water Strategy) details the Governments
vision for water management in the ACT over the next 30 years.
The ACT Water Strategy provides long term strategic guidance to management the Territorys water
resources.
The Water Resources Act 2007 is the governing legislation for managing water resources in the ACT,
defining access rights to surface and ground water resources, environmental flow provisions, water
licensing requirements, resource management and monitoring responsibilities and setting penalties for
water-related offences.

Local Government (Sydney):

The City of Sydney has worked closely with a huge range of industry partners including Sydney Water, to
come up with a solid master plan that will ensure the local areas water needs are met sustainably.
Localised management of water, wastewater and stormwater is a major part of the plan.
The best solution for Sydney is based on water efficiency, recycled water options, a reduction in
stormwater pollution and cost.

Organisation (Sydney Water):

Water Conservation Strategy 2010-2015:
This plan helps us meet our Operating Licence target and contributes to water use reduction and
recycling targets.
Drinking Water Management Manual:
This manual is part of our Drinking Water Management System and outlines our commitment to providing
safe and reliable drinking water.
1. SQID: Stormwater quality improvement device
Preventing Waste Entering Waterways
Comprises a naturalised channel, an open sedimentation basin and a trash rack, as well as a wetland.
Regularly maintained.
Benefits: improve water quality removing sediments and wastes and other gross pollutants.
Improve habitat for animals and plants.
2. Stormwater Harvesting
Involves collecting, storing and treating stormwater from urban areas, which can be used as recycled
water.
Collected from stormwater drains or creeks rather than roofs.
Recycled water is treated so it is safe to use. Commonly for gardening, parts and fields.
Benefits: reduce the demand for drinking water.
Reduces stress on urban streams and rivers by capturing some pollutants.
Enables users to access an alternative source of water for non-drinking use.
3. Landfill management
Problem: Waste decays methane which escapes into the air.
Soil contamination
Vermin, odour and noise.
Lack of space
Solutions: Covered with soil to prevent smell and dust.
Waste decays forms leachate (nutrient rich substance). Good fertilisers for plants on top of landfill.

Other Revisions
Summer: Low pressure system on North and High on South.
Winter: switched around.
Concave slope:

Convex slope:

Uniform slope:
Geography gradient: run over rise (opposite to maths).

Part 2 - Community:
Urban community:
Have more than 1000 residents.
Mostly tertiary and quaternary industries.

Rural community:
Have less than 1000 residents. Mostly primary and secondary industries.

Community Factors:
Cultural diversity: A society that includes many different cultural groups.
Cultural links: factors that attract people with a particular interest.
Factors Changing Community:
Changing network and patterns: types of industry, changing work patterns and expectations.
Flexibility and self-employment.
Cultural Integration: cultural diversity, common traditions, community services and government
supports of a particular culture.
Demography Change: Changes in birth and death rate, types of demographic in a specific area.
Expansion of urban areas, moving to Western Sydney due to lack of space. Youth and seniors.
Globalisation: Moving services, people, goods, money and ideas. Decrease/Increase in job
opportunities.
Lifestyle Expectation: Increasing living condition and expectations. Socioeconomic status. Society
pressure and trend.
Resource Depletion: lack of certain resources.
New technologies: advancement and expectations. Urban and modern perspective.

Case Study: Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl

Reveals diversity of views on Lebanese-Australians.
Last decades crises for Lebanese Muslim communities in Sydneys west.
There remains among them a shared cultural concern for respect and explores the tension existed with the
Punchbowl Lebanese community.
Lebanese immigrants have travelled to Australia. Earlier generations battled White Australia to become a
respected part of our diversity