chapter 32 australia & oceania. chapter 32:1 objectives 1. describe how mountains, plateaus, and...
Post on 23-Dec-2015
233 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 32:1 Objectives
1. Describe how mountains, plateaus, and lowlands differ
in Australia and New Zealand.
2. Explain how volcanoes and continental shelves formed
the islands of Oceania.
3. Discuss why the physical geography of Antarctica
attracts scientists.
Building Geography Literacy
Rock climbing and mountain climbing are
popular sports in Australia.
The Great Dividing
Range and the craggy island of Tasmania provide rock
climbing opportunities.
I. Australia: A Continent and a Country (p. 793-796)
Australia is the only country in the world that
covers an entire continent.
Surrounded by water, Australia is really an
island.
It is called a continent because of its tremendous
size.
A. Mountains & Plateaus
The Great Dividing Range
is a chain of hills and
mountains along the
eastern coast.
The Western Plateau
(Outback) covers almost 2/3rds of the
continent.
There are three deserts: Great Sandy, Gibson, Great
Victoria.
South of the deserts lies the
barren Nullarbor (“no
tree”) Plain, which ends in
cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean.
B. Central Lowlands
An expanse of grasslands and desert that separates the Great Dividing Range from the Western Plateau (Outback).
Infrequent rains are heavy and fill the area’s usually dry lakes and rivers.
Great Artesian Basin – an underground source of water that ranchers use.
C. Great Barrier Reef
Lies off the eastern coast of Australia.
Has about 2500 coral
reefs.
Is a national park and World Heritage site.
Great Barrier Reef
provides a home for
many species of
tropical fish and sea
creatures.
D. Natural Resources
Only 10% of Australian land is arable (farmable).
Major crops are wheat, barley, fruit and sugarcane.
Arid areas contain live-stock ranching.
Minerals include: bauxite, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, nickel and petroleum.
Australia is a major producer of opals.
Discussion Question
• What do these geographical facts suggest to you about where most Australians live?
II. Oceania: Island Lands (p. 796-797)
Oceania is a group of
thousands of islands, some separated by
great distances,
that were formed by colliding tectonic plates
millions of years ago.
A. Island Clusters
The three main island clusters are:
Melanesia to the north &
east of Australia;
Micronesia to the north of Melanesia;
Polynesia, extending
from Midway Island to New
Zealand.
B. Island Types
High islands feature volcanoes and coastal plains.• Fiji & Tahiti
Islands
Low islands are atolls; each a ring of land around a lagoon, the result of buildup of coral reefs on a submerged volcano.• Marshall Islands
Continental islands – feature rugged
interior mountains, plains, swamps &
rivers. – Papua New Guinea &
New Caledonia.
III. New Zealand: A Rugged Landscape (p. 797-798)
New Zealand’s two largest islands are called North Island and South Island.
Both islands feature mountains, fertile soil, sparkling lakes and scenic coastlines.
North Island includes hot springs and active volcanoes.
South Island features the Southern Alps and the fertile Canterbury Plains.
About 55% of New Zealand’s land supports crops and livestock.
The country’s sheep and wool products dominate exports.
Its forests yield valuable timber.
Most power is hydroelectric or geothermal.
Several varieties of fish populate the coastal waters.
Discussion Question
• Would New Zealand’s environment be different if New Zealanders used nuclear power plants or coal-burning power plants?
IV. Antarctica: A White Plateau(p. 797-798)
Antarctica is twice the size of Australia.
98% is covered by a massive ice cap.
It holds 70% of the world’s fresh water.
Activity is limited to scientific research..
Krill is harvested from the ocean because it is protein-rich.
Discussion Question
• Why do you think the countries of the world have agreed not to permit mining and exploitation of Antarctica’s natural resources?
Chapter 32:2 Objectives
1. Examine how variations in rainfall affect Australia’s
climate and vegetation.
2. Consider how elevation affects climate patterns in
New Zealand.
3. Identify what vegetation survives in the cold, dry
Antarctic climate.
Building Geography LiteracyEucalyptus trees grow
as tall as 300 feet.
Oil from the leaves is
used as an antiseptic.
Europeans began
harvesting the oil for medicine,
industry, flavorings and
perfumes.
I. Australia (p. 799-801)
A. The Western Plateau is
scorched by the sun during the
day but,
temperatures are much
colder after dark.
Receives less than
10” of rain,
and its sparse vegetation does not support grazing.
B. Steppe climate – between 10-20” of
rain.
Supports grazing and
some agriculture.
C. Coastal areas have
moister climates.
This is where most
of the country’s
farmland is.
Discussion Question
• Which geographical features account for Australia’s moister climates? (p. 801)
• answer: air masses block Pacific Ocean winds that would bring precipitation to the area.
II. Oceania (p. 802)
• Oceania has a tropical rain forest climate.• Temperatures are always warm, except on
some high mountain peaks where the snow never melts.
• Seasons alternate between wet and dry.• High islands get a lot of rain;• low islands get very little.• Oceania is vulnerable to typhoons.
Discussion Question
• Why does snow remain on some mountaintops year-round?
• answer: the higher the elevation, the colder the temperature.
III. New Zealand (p. 802-803)A. New
Zealand has a marine west
coast climate; with cool
summers and mild winters.
B. North Island’s central plateau is warm and sunny in summer, but mountain tops
may be covered with snow year-
round.
Average yearly
rainfall – 25 to 60”.
South Island can get as much as
315” annually.
Discussion Question
• Why are summers cool and winters mild in a marine west coast climate?
• answer: ocean winds warm the land in winter and cool it in summer.
IV. Antarctica (p. 802-803)
A. Antarctica is the world’s highest,
driest, coldest and windiest continent.
Temperatures may drop to -
129°F in winter.
Snowfall varies from 2 to 24”
annually.
B. Only the hardiest vegetation survives in Antarctica – mosses, algae, lichens.
A small area on the Antarctic Peninsula is home to only two species of flowering plants, because it is warmer there.
C. Antarctica’s ice cap is frozen but its weight causes it to move toward the coast.
As it moves, the ice breaks into pieces (calves) and leaves huge cracks called crevasses.
Discussion Question
• Why is there so little precipitation in Antarctica?
• answer: air loses its moisture as it travels over Antarctica’s plateau.
top related