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Issues in Australian environments
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Geographical issues: physical environments
Topic : Geographical issues: physical environments
In this topic you will learn...
Chapter 1 :
Land management
The land is a resource which humans use to meet their survival needs
Aboriginal people used the land sustainably for tens of thousands of years
Human use of the land has drastically changed since Europeans arrived in Australia
Agriculture is one of Australia's most economically important industries
Agriculture has had a detrimental impact on Australia's physical environment
The agricultural industry is the major cause of Australia's salinity crisis
Land clearing to create crop and pasture fields has lead to soil erosion and infertility
Land clearing for timber harvesting has exacerbated Australia's salinity crisis
The use of chemicals to grow crops leads to the formation of acid soil and toxic soil
Technological advancements in agriculture have had environmental and social costs
Chapter 2 :
Water management
The demand for water around the world currently exceeds supply
The distribution of natural water sources plays a key role in settlement patterns
Rainfall in Australia divides the continent into the arid centre and the moist periphery
The quality and quantity of water in Australia has suffered as a result of our use of it
Much of the rain that falls over Australia evaporates before it reaches our rivers
Improving land management practices will increase the quality of our water
Water salinity is one of Australia's biggest environmental concerns
Damming alters ecosystems by damaging habitats and disrupting the flow of rivers
Our waterways have become severely polluted by domestic and industrial runoff
Some introduced species reduce the biodiversity and overall health of our waterways
Chapter 3 :
Air quality
Air quality directly affects the health and well being of all living things
Degradation of our ambient (outdoor) and indoor air affects our overall quality of life
Exhaust fumes from cars are the major cause of air pollution in Australia
The three key air contaminants are criteria pollutants, air toxins and biological pollutants
The two criteria pollutants of greatest concern in Australia are particles and ozone
High levels of air toxins are hazardous to humans and the natural environment
Biological pollutants can trigger asthma and allergic reactions in humans
Brown haze and photochemical smog are two symptoms of air pollution in large cities
Australians spend much time indoors so indoor air quality is a key public health concern
Australia is one of the biggest contributors to the greenhouse effect and global warming
Chapter 4 :
Coastal management
About two-thirds of the Australian population live in coastal regions
The coastal zone is made up of marine and estuarine environments
Coastal areas constantly evolve as a result of wind, rain, sun, waves and tidal flows
The coastline has many uses as a resource and holds many social and cultural values
Human impacts on the coastline have upset natural sand erosion and deposition cycles
Use of the coastline for settlement and industrial purposes has destroyed many habitats
Development along sand dunes has disrupted the natural cycles that form sand banks
Deepening waterways to enhance navigational potential disrupts natural erosion patterns
Contaminated stormwater and rainwater runoff pollutes the waterways of large cities
Sand mining for mineral exportation depletes sand banks and can destroy beaches
Chapter 5 :
Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms that exist on planet Earth
Biodiversity helps prevent extinction and preserve the balance of nature on Earth
When food chains are broken, organisms become extinct and biodiversity declines
Habitats high in biodiversity are better able to survive threats than those which are not
Population growth and settlement has destroyed habitats and led to extinction
Deforestation and agriculture has also destroyed habitats across much of Australia
Sheep and cattle have damaged soil compositions and destroyed native vegetation
Human interference with bushfire disrupts the evolutionary process of flora and fauna
Pollution and global warming threaten the survival of many species
Exotic species are unnaturally occurring pest animals or environmental weeds
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1 final exam
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