Physical Geography of Oceania By: Ray Garcia, Westin Kirby, Rosa Lugo, Brianna Vigil, Vanessa Zuniga

Essential Questions: 1. “How do physical systems and human systems shape a place?” (pg.828) 2. “How do the islands of Oceania affect settlement?” (pg.828) 3. “How do the bodies of water surrounding the islands of Oceania affect ways of life and settlement?” (pg.830) 4. “What landforms are found in the Pacific Ocean?” (pg.830) 5. “How do various climates on the islands of Oceania affect the biomes?” (pg.831) 6. “What are some of the natural resources of Oceania?” (pg.831)

Terms you will need to know: High Islands = an island with mountain ranges and volcanic soil Low Islands = an island formed by the buildup of a coral reef on the rim of a submerged volcano, sometimes known as an atoll Coral Reef = a reef made up of fragments of coral, coral sands, algal and other organic deposits, and the solid limestone resulting from their consolation Micronesia = little islands Melanesia = black islands Polynesia = many islands Offset = to compensate for or serve to counterbalance Atolls = ring-shaped islands Lagoon = shallow pools of clear water

Terms you will need to know: Mauna Kea = largest mountain peak in Hawaiian Islands of Polynesia Mariana Trench = world’s greatest ocean depth 36,198 ft. Doldrums = generally windless area Endemic Species = a certain animal or group of animals found only in that region

Landforms Oceania consists of three island groups: Melanesia; Micronesia; and Polynesia. (groupings based on location, how they are formed,and culture.) Melanesia = Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia (self- governing French territory); Papua New Guinea = largest country Micronesia = Palau, the Federal State of Micronesia, Nauru, and Kiribati, it also includes the U.S. territories of Guam and the Mariana Islands Polynesia (largest area span) = Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu (independent) French Polynesia and Tahiti (Polynesia's largest island) (French Territories) Some of the Polynesian Islands such as those, make up the state of Hawaii, they relatively clustered together.

Landforms The landscape of highlands include; mountain ranges split by valleys that fan out in coastal plains. These mountains create areas that are almost inaccessible. Mountain areas on highlands have a greater population density such as the; interior of Papua New Guinea has a greater population. Differs from Fiji since the more dense population are on the coast Settlement patterns = limited by the physical geography of the region Isolated valleys such as the larger islands in Melanesia created an environmental and cultural diversity between the people living on the coast and on the interior Volcanoes = lowlands; such as many of the Marshall Islands, which are known as atolls; they are formed by the build up of coral reefs on the rim of submerged volcanoes; Atolls encircle lagoons and usually rise only a few feet above sea level Low Islands = poor soil and few natural resources; landscape of low islands increased interaction between people, since the lack of physical barriers allowed more uniformed languages and cultures to spread

Brief History on Water Systems Asian migrants settled in OCeania in family groups along island coasts They survived on; fish, turtles, and shrimp, as well as breadfruit and coconuts. OVer time they cultivated root crops including taro and yam. They raised livestock such as chicken and pigs. Well-built canoes made trading possible between islands, thus begging the island trading system. Shell pieces were sometimes used as a way of currency

Water Systems ⅓ of earth's surface = Pacific Ocean Landforms in the ocean = large various mountain ranges (Mauna Kea = largest mountain peak), exposed volcanic summits Mariana Trench are located next to island chains Important trade routes cross the ocean surrounding the subregion The majority of the exports moving from west to east and from north to south are manufactured goods on their way to the markets. Raw materials = huge major export Oceania depend heavily on trade -- especially for basic necessities such as foodstuff and fuels Papa inea = more exports than imports

Water Systems Freshwater bodies = vary depending on the island type High Islands = have sources of freshwater and support agriculture Low ISlands = typically no freshwater sources other than places that catch rain water

Climate and Biomes Most of the OCeania = tropical wet climate and warm year-round. Dry season = cloudless skies; Wet season = constant rain and high humidity High Islands = high enough to force warm, moist air to rise, then cools and condenses Low Islands = do not have this effect so there is less rainfall The great expanses of open water in the Pacific Ocean influence wind and pressure patterns, these are reflected in climate conditions Doldrums occupy a narrow band near the equator where the direct sun rays of the sun cause air to rise vertically instead of blowing horizontally When air rises + the air from north and south drawn from the low surface pressure = trade winds (which causes typhoons to occur)

Climate and Biome Amount of rainfall on the island creates both arid and wet climate regions depending on the location of the island itself Low Islands = shrubs and grass only grow (dry) ; small portions of arable land, palm and other trees only grow when heavy rainfall occurs How and steamy rainforest thrive where heavy rain drenches the interior (Summit of Mount Waialeale on Hawaii’s island of Kauai = wettest place on earth 450 inches of rain) Rich soils of high islands = support for a diverse group of plants and animals Isolation of many islands = endemic species, meaning they are only found in that place. The international and accidental introduction of new species to the islands of OCeania = negative changes to the ecosystem

Resources The Island type and location influence resources Low Islands = poor soil and few resources beyond the sea These mainly consist of : coconut oil, dried coconut, bananas, and seabed minerals. The volcanic materials of the island of American Samoa include an abundance of pumice and pumicite ( a very light and porous volcanic rock formed when a gas-rich froth of glassy lava solidifies rapidly). Fiji also volcanic, has timber, gold, and a potential for offshore oil, Gigi also generates hydropower High Islands = rich soils that support agriculture Export products = sugar, coffee, and cocoa Many rainforest with diverse flora and fauna

Resources Islands with forests (Samoa = harvest hardwoods); Islands without forest (import wood) Solomon = variety of natural resources (fish and other marine animals, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, and nickel Tourism is a major key, it helps offset the lack of natural resources on many of the islands, especially the mineral-poor islands.

Bibliography: Boehm, Richard G., and Jay McTighe. "Chapter: 33 Lesson: 1." World Geography. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Education,