Chapter 32 Australia & Oceania

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.

Tasmanian Devil

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.

Great Dividing Range

Australian Outback (Western Plateau)

Ayers Rock (Uluru Rock)

Uluru Rock

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.

Great Barrier Reef

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.

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.

Melanisia – meaning the people are black.

– Papua New Guinea & New Caledonia. 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.

Atoll

lagoon

Discussion Question Which type of island do you think is the least populated? Why?

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.

New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

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.

Krill

Scale

Discussion Question Why do you think the countries of the world have agreed not to permit mining and exploitation of Antarctica’s natural resources?

2. Consider how elevation affects climate patterns in New Zealand. 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.

Terms to Know Wattle Doldrums (ITCZ) typhoon Manuka Lichen crevasse

Building Geography Literacy Eucalyptus 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) Receives less than 10” of rain, 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) Average yearly rainfall – 25 to 60”. 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.

Crevasse

Discussion Question Why is there so little precipitation in Antarctica? answer: air loses its moisture as it travels over Antarctica’s plateau.

End of Slide Show