GCSE Geography Unit 1- Dynamic Planet

Brief overview study guide

opic 1: Restless Earth
1. What are the four spheres on earth and how do they interact?
Geosphere (rocks and land)
iosphere (all li!in" thin"s includin" plants and ani#als
$t#osphere ("ases surroundin" earth)
%ydrosphere (water anywhere on planet in any other sphere)
&. What is the structure of the earth?
'rust ((ithosphere)
)pper #antle (asthenosphere)
(ower #antle
*uter core
+nner core ,ou need to know how the te#perature and density of each layer chan"es (see
-ook notes)
.. What causes the Earth/s crust to #o!e?
'on!ection currents heat fro# the Earth/s core causes #a"#a to circulate -eneath the
Earth/s crust and #o!e plates.
,ou should know the process that "enerates the heat.
0ependin" on the position of the con!ection currents plates will #o!e in different directions
1. What features and conse2uences (ha3ards) does #o!e#ent of the Earth/s crust ha!e?
4eatures: 5late -oundaries
'onstructi!e plates #o!e away fro# each other to #ake #ore land
0estructi!e plates #o!e towards each other and create fold #ountains and ocean
trenches
'onser!ati!e plates #o!e alon"side each other causin" earth2uakes
'ollision sa#e as destructi!e -ut to continents #eet and create fold #ountains
'onse2uences: Earth2uakes and !olcanoes (see -elow key 2uestions)
6. %ow do !olcanic ha3ards affect people in different locations? ((E$R7 ,*)R '$8E 89)0+E8:)
0e!eloped (richer) world e;a#ple < Ey=akafa=kull !olcano in +celand
0e!elopin" (poorer) world < >ount 7yira"on"o in 0e#ocratic repu-lic of 'on"o
Refer to your notes on co#parin" these two !olcanoes and identify answers to these
2uestions
%ow are the causes of each !olcano different? %ow were people affected differently -y
each !olcano? %ow did each country respond to the !olcano differently?
?. %ow do earth2uakes i#pact on de!eloped @ de!elopin" countries? ((E$R7 ,*)R '$8E
89)0+E8:)
0e!eloped world e;a#ple < )8$ (o#a 5rieta earth2uake
0e!elopin" world < %aiti earth2uake
%ow well countries are prepared for earth2uakes has a -i" i#pact on how they cope do
they ha!e
technolo"y to -uild structures that can withstand shakin" etc? %ow are the structures in
each country different (re#e#-er dia"ra#s -a#-oo !s steel fra#ed pendulu#
-uildin"s...)
A. %ow can ha3ards -e #ana"ed?
0e!elopin" world < pendulu# skyscrapersB de!eloped world houses -uilt on stilts with
li"htwei"ht roofin" #aterialC si#ple additionally stren"thened corners
5redictin" earth2uakes and !olcanoes usin" seis#o#eters
%a!in" early warnin" syste#s with sirens and alar#s in place
!ey "ords
$sthenosphere the upper part of the earth/s #antleC where the rocks are #ore fluid.
'ollision plate -oundary a tectonic #ar"in at which two continental plates co#e to"ether.
'onser!ati!e plate -oundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other.
'onstructi!e plate -oundary tectonic plate #ar"in where risin" #a"#a adds new
#aterial to the di!er"in" plates.
'ontinental crust the part of the crust do#inated -y less dense "ranitic rocks.
'on!ection currents D circulatin" #o!e#ents of #a"#a in the #antle caused -y heat fro#
the core.
'ore the central part of the earthC consistin" of a solid inner core and a #ore fluid outer
coreC #ostly co#posed of iron and nickel.
0estructi!e plate -oundary tectonic plate #ar"ins where oceanic plate is su-ducted.
E!acuation the re#o!al of people fro# an areaC "enerally in an atte#pt to a!oid a
threatened disaster (or escape an actual one)
(on" ter# plannin" plannin" that looks -eyond i##ediate costs and -enefits -y
e;plorin" i#pacts in the future.
>a"nitude the si3e of so#ethin".
*ceanic crust the part of the crust do#inated -y denser -asaltic rocks.
5late #ar"ins the -oundary -etween two tectonic plates.
5rediction the forecastin" of future chan"e.
5reparation the process of "ettin" ready for an e!ent.
Response the way in which people react to a situation.
8hort ter# e#er"ency relief help and aid pro!ide to an area to pre!ent i##ediate loss of
life -ecause of shorta"e in -asicsC such as foodC water and shelter.
9ectonic ha3ards D threats posed -y earth2uakesC !olcanoes and other e!ents tri""ered -y
coastal processes.
opic &: 'li#ate and 'han"e
1. %ow has cli#ate chan"ed in the past due to natural causes?
Eruption of super !olcanoes dust in the at#osphere -locks out the sun
8unspot acti!ity areas of the sun/s surface chan"e and can heat or cool the Earth
*r-it chan"es of Earth/s a;is and as the Earth wo--les on its a;is it is further or near to the
sun causes
chan"es in te#perature
&. %ow has past natural cli#ate chan"e affected people and ecosyste#s?
(ittle +ce $"e "ood e;a#ple of i#pact on hu#ans (e.". in )E fro3en 9ha#es affected
tradeB crops in certain areas were da#a"ed)
Ecosyste# chan"e at the end of the last +ce $"eD #e"afauna (woolly #a##oth etc.)
-eca#e e;tinct as the trees and plants that supported the food chain died with chan"es in
rainfall and te#perature. $lso possi-ly due to huntin" as hu#ans thri!ed.
.. %ow is Earth/s cli#ate chan"in" today as a result of hu#an acti!ity?
9he Greenhouse Effect "reenhouse "ases such as '*& lead to the earth/s at#osphere
trappin" #ore heat than it should. 9he earth/s surface then heats up which is chan"in"
ecosyste#s and affectin" li!in" thin"s.
E!en worseC this heatin" #elts ice which used to reflect li"htFheat -ack out to space this
is called positi!e feed-ack and causes the earth to heat up at an e!en faster rate:
1. %ow will future cli#ate chan"es affect people (intro)?
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect if populations continue to "row and the Earth continues to
war# there will -e #any conse2uences.
'han"es in ecosyste#s and land #ay #ean that there is not enou"h food to #eet
e!eryone/s needs
'han"es in the weather #ay #ean there are #ore unpredicta-le and disastrous weather
e!ents (e.". hurricanes -ecause of war#er seasC floods -ecause of hi"her rainfall etc.)
6. %ow will future cli#ate chan"e affect people in the )E?
9e#perature chan"e in )EC wild weatherC the 8tern report
9he )E is particularly sensiti!e to hi"her rainfall especially in hotspot areas such as ,orkC
8heffield and 8hrews-ury these locations ha!e lar"e ri!ers that often -urst their -anks
causin" #uch da#a"e and de!astation
Risin" sea le!els are also a concern there are #any areas of the )E lyin" only a few
#etres a-o!e sea le!el.
+f sea le!els continue to rise this land #y -eco#e flooded. 9he southDeast of the )E is
particularly at risk
?. %ow will cli#ate chan"e and water scarcity affect people in the de!elopin" world?
Water shorta"es in E"ypt da##in" in other countriesC rainfall unpredicta-leC water wars
0a#s -uilt upstrea# on the 7ile in )"anda are affectin" the a#ount of water lower
downstrea# in E"ypt
if this continues it is -elie!ed that there #ay -e conflicts -etween the two countries
Rainfall is also -eco#in" #ore unpredicta-le in 7orth $frica and this is leadin" to water
scarcity and a process of 0E8ER9+4+'$9+*7 where once "ood fertile land is -eco#in" dry
and una-le to support crops people are less likely to -e a-le to li!e off the land and are
#i"ratin" to areas where they co#e into conflict with other people
1
!ey "ords
$2uaculture co##ercial fish far#in"C e.". rearin" fish prawns in ponds of su-#er"ed
ca"es
'li#ate chan"e lon" ter# chan"es in te#perature and precipitation
0eforestation the choppin" down and re#o!al of trees to clear an area of forest
Ecosyste#s a co##unity of plants and ani#als that interact with each other and their
physical en!iron#ent
Enhanced "reenhouse effect the increased "reenhouse effect resultin" fro# hu#an
action (e#ission of "reenhouse "ases) and leadin" to "lo-al war#in"
E;tinction the per#anent loss of so#ethin"C "enerally used with reference to species of
plants or ani#alsC where there are no li!in" e;a#ples left
Geolo"ical cli#ate e!ents cli#ate chan"es that result for# #a=or "eolo"ical e!ents such
as !olcanic eruptions
Glo-al war#in" a trend where-y "lo-al te#peratures rise o!er ti#eC linked to #odern
ti#es with the hu#an production of "reenhouse "ases
Greenhouse "ases those "ases in the at#osphere that a-sor- out"oin" radiationC hence
increasin" the te#perature of the at#osphere
+ce $"e a lon" ti#e period (up to 1GGCGGG years) in the Earth/s past when te#perature
where #uch cooler than today and when the polar ice caps were #uch lar"er than today
(ittle +ce $"e a period of sli"ht "lo-al coolin" that lasted fro# around the #id fifteenth
century to the #id nineteenth century
>e"afauna !ery lar"e #a##alsC such as those that li!ed durin" the last +ce $"e
7atural causes those process and forces that are not caused -y hu#ans
*r-ital chan"es chan"es in the pathway of the Earth around the 8un and in its a;ial
"eo#etry
Huaternary period the #ost recent #a=or "eolo"ical period of Earth/s historyC consistin"
of the 5leistocene and the %olocene
8olar output the ener"y ad#itted -y the 8un
Iolcanic acti!ity the escape of #olten rockC ash and "ases for# an openin" in the Earth/s
surface (or when there is e!idence that it is i##inent)
opic .: attle for the iosphere 1. What is a -io#e and
what is the distri-ution of -io#es on Earth?
io#es are distri-uted accordin" to how #uch heat and water there is a!aila-le in an area
&. What factors e;plain the location of -io#es?
8un is stron"er at the e2uator than at the poles and this sets the te#perature and rainfall of
-io#es there are other factors to consider -ut these are the #ain two -ecause te#perature and
rainfall control what plants and ani#als can sur!i!e
.. %ow do -io#es pro!ide ser!ices to the at#osphereC soil and hydrolo"ical cycle?
Rainforest recycle "ases storin" car-on and producin" o;y"en
Water is purified -y creatures which colonise and eat -acteria
1. %ow do hu#ans -enefit fro# the ser!ices that -io#es pro!ide?
%u#ans -enefit fro# cleanC o;y"en rich air (recyclin" "as is a ser!ice)
4ertile soil allows hu#ans to far# and produce food (soil is a "ood)
'lean water ("ood) is pro!ided -y the hydrolo"ical cycle (a process)
6. %ow is hu#an action directly destroyin" -iospheres?
8pecies e;tinction: such as cod fro# the 7orth 8ea
+##ediate causes of threats: lo""in"C o!erfishin"B pollutionB
Root causes: e;pandin" populations of people usin" fuelDwood etc.
?. %ow is hu#an -eha!iour indirectly destroyin" -iospheres?
5ollution of at#osphere is causin" chan"es in "lo-al te#perature < ha-itat chan"e
5lants and ani#als -eco#e stressed and cannot adapt 2uickly enou"h
8pecies -eco#e less and less co##on e;tinction occurs
E;a#ple: -utterfly on >adeira that lost its ha-itat to touris#
A. %ow is -iosphere conser!ation occurrin" at a ran"e of scales? ((E$R7 ,*)R '$8E
89)0,)
Glo-al < e.". '+9E8 ('on!ention on +lle"al 9rade in Endan"ered 8pecies)B R$>8$R)
7ational < e.". 7ational 5arks and the 'o##unity 4orest 5ro=ect
(ocal initiati!es < iodi!ersity $ction 5lan (e.". Rhondda 'ynon 9aff hed"erows)
J. %ow are the principles of sustaina-ility -ein" used to preser!e -iospheres? ((E$R7
,*)R '$8E 89)0,)
'ase 8tudy: Eilu# 'o##unity 4orest 5ro=ect 'a#eroon
8electi!e lo""in" to #aintain tree co!er (protects soil erosion into ri!ers)
>ultiple 3onin": huntin"C touris# and conser!ation ("ood -alance of acti!ities)
$"roforestry: plantations of lar"er trees ha!e s#all plants (ananas) "rowin" within the#
increases -iodi!ersity and protects the soil
E;tracti!e Reser!e: ru--er and nuts are taken fro# trees to -e sold
!ey "ords
iodi!ersity the nu#-er and !ariety of li!in" species found in a specific area
iofuels fuel sources deri!ed for# a"ricultural crops
io#e a plant and ani#al co##unity co!erin" a lar"e area of the Earth/s surface
iosphere the li!in" part plants and ani#als of the Earth
'+9E8 'on!ention on +nternational 9rade in Endan"ered 8pecies of Wild 4auna and
4lora an international a"ree#ent
'onser!ation #ana"in" the en!iron#ent in order to preser!eC protect or restore it
0eforestation the choppin" down and re#o!al of trees to clear an area of forest
0e"radation the socialC econo#ic and en!iron#ental decline of an areaC often throu"h
0eindustrialisation
E!apoDtranspiration water e!aporates fro# the pores (sto#ata) of lea!es into the
at#osphere. 9his results in water -ein" drawn up plant ste#s
Gene pool the "enetic #aterial contained in li!in" or"anis#s
Goods produced ite#s and #aterials
%ydrolo"ical cycle the "lo-al stores of water and linkin" process that connect the#
Ra#sar 9he Ra#sar 'on!ention on Wetlands is an inter"o!ern#ental treaty for the
conser!ation and wise use of wetlands
8er!ices those thin"s that are pro!idedC -ou"ht and sold that are not tan"i-le
8uperpower countries the world/s #ost powerful and influential nations the )8$ andC
increasin"ly 'hina and +ndia
8ustaina-ility the a-ility to keep so#ethin" "oin" at the sa#e rate or le!el. 4ro# this
ste#s the idea that the current "eneration of people should not da#a"e the en!iron#ent
in ways that will threaten future "enerations/ en!iron#ent.
)nsustaina-le una-le to -e kept "oin" at the sa#e rate or le!el
Water ta-le the le!el in the soil or -edrock -elow which water is usually present
Wilderness unculti!atedC uninha-ited and inhospita-le re"ions
opic 1: Water World
1. What is the hydrolo"ical cycle?
What e;ists on Earth in three states: li2uidC solid and "as
9he hydrolo"ical cycle is a closed syste# (neither "ains nor loses anythin")
Water is either in stores (rocksC soilC lakes and oceans) or #o!in" in transfersFflows (such as
e!aporationC precipitation
etc.)
&. %ow can chan"es to the hydrolo"ical cycle affect hu#an and ecosyste# health?
iosphere interacts with the hydrosphere e.". trees interceptin" rainB it then e!aporates or continues
to "round le!el. 5lants store water and purify it.
+nteractions with lithosphere include when water flows throu"h and -etween layers of rock -eneath
the "round. 9his filters water and stores it for hu#an use.
.. %ow do hu#ans affect the 2uality of ri!ers (2uantity and 2uality)?
0ecline in water a!aila-ility: population "rowthB a"ricultural de#andB ur-anisationC industrial
de!elop#entB cli#ate chan"eB touris#B ener"y
0ecline in water 2uality: industry pollutes water with hea!y #etalsB nonDor"anic far#in" uses
pesticides and her-icides which da#a"e the en!iron#ent and poison other li!in" thin"s
1. %ow does deforestation affect water supply?
'li#ate chan"e is worsenin" the lack of water that is already a pro-le# in #any parts of the
world (e.". unpredicta-le
rainfallB loss of trees that store water and keep it fro# e!aporatin")
'ase 8tudy: 9he 8ahel D narrow -elt of se#iDarid land i##ediately south of 8ahara 0esert.
0rou"ht causes seasonal
ri!ers and water holes to dry up and water ta-le to fallB no#ads with "ra3in" ani#als and
crops sufferB "rass diesC and soil is eroded (or -lown away) and cannot -e used to far# <
0E8ER9+4+'$9+*7 (areas that -eco#e desert -ecause of hu#an actions)
6. %ow does o!erDa-straction of "roundwater affect water supply?
Water 2uality threatened -y: deforestationB disposal of ha3ardous wasteB landfillB industrial
dischar"eB crop sprayin".
+#pacts !ary -ut one si"nificant threat is eutrophication where there is a lack of o;y"en in
the water and this causes
natural life to die. $lsoC radioacti!e su-stances that find their way into water can cause
cancer.
9he least de!eloped countries (e.". an"ladesh) and #ost de!eloped countries (e.". )E)
tend to ha!e lower le!els of
pollution in their water. 9he countries that are -e"innin" to de!elop ('hina and +ndia) with
factories and #anufacturin" tend to ha!e the worst water 2uality.
?. %ow do reser!oirs affect water supply?
(oss of landB in war#er countries they can cause disease (e.". >alaria)B drowns !e"etation
and creates #ethane "as (pollutin")
%u#ans also interfere in the water cycle -y cloud seedin" (#akin" it rain)B deforestationB
ur-anisationB o!era-stractionB da# -uildin"B "lo-al war#in".
A. What are the costs and -enefits of lar"e scale water #ana"e#ent pro=ects?
(ar"eDscale solutions to #ana"in" water supplies often in!ol!e da#s D da#s ha!e #any
ad!anta"es such as relia-le supply of waterC "eneration of electricity and the creation of
recreation areasB there are also disad!anta"esC such as loss of far#land and !illa"es
(flooded)C increased hu#idityC sedi#entation in lakeC da#a"e to wildlife routines (e.".
8al#on).
'ase study: 9hree Gor"es 0a# D asics D co#pleted in &GGKB &? "enerators capa-le of
creatin" J1.A -illion kWh of electricity a yearB the i#pact on -iodi!ersity has -een
de!astatin"B 1.1 #illion people lost their ho#es (1&GG !illa"es destroyed:)B water 2uality has
deteriorated.
J. What are the costs and -enefits of s#all scale water #ana"e#ent pro=ects?
8#allDscale sustaina-le solutions to #ana"in" water supply in!ol!e the work of 7G*s such
as Water$id and 5ractical
$ction in assistin" s#all co##unities. 7*Gs often use appropriate or inter#ediate
technolo"y that is si#pleC effecti!e and can -e #aintainedC repaired and renewed -y local
people usin" the water ser!ice (think of the -asic "utterin" and tank #ade of -a#-oo D a
local resource that is easily "rown and har!ested).
8e!eral case studies used -ased on the Water$id we-site... (Re#e#-er to na#e countries:
an"ladesh ($sia) and ukino 4aso ($frica)
J
!ey "ords
$2uifer an under"round store of waterC for#ed when water -earin" (per#ea-le) rocks lie on top
of i#per#ea-le rocks
iosphere D part of the earth and at#osphere in which li!in" or"anis#s e;ist
0eforestation the choppin" down and re#o!al of trees to clear an area of forest
Ecosyste# a co##unity of plants that interact with each other and their physical en!iron#ent
Groundwater water contained -eneath the surfaceC as a reser!e
%ydrolo"ical cycle the "lo-al stores of water and the linkin" processes that connect the#
%ydrosphere D consists of all water on planet
+#per#ea-le not allowin" water to pass throu"h
+nfiltration the process -y which water soaks into the soil and rocks
+nter#ediate technolo"y a technolo"y that the local co##unity is a-le to use relati!ely easily
without #uch cost Loints lines of weakness in a rock where water can pass alon"
(ithosphere rock layers of Earth/s surface (crust @ upper #antle)
*!erDa-straction when water is -ein" used #ore 2uickly than it is replaced
5er#ea-le allowin" water to pass throu"h
5ollution the presence of che#icalsC noiseC dirt or other su-stances which ha!e har#ful or
poisonous effect an en!iron#ent
5ores s#all air spaces found in rock or other #aterial that can also -e filled with water
5recipitation when #oisture falls fro# the at#osphereC as rainC hailC sleet or snow
Re"ulated flow the steady #o!e#ent of water throu"h a draina"e -asin that will not -rin" a flash
flood
Ri!er pollution the e#ission of har#ful or poisonous su-stances into ri!er water (or their
presence in the ri!er)
9hrou"hflow water that flows slowly throu"h the soil until it reaches a ri!er
9u-e wells D are -uilt where the water ta-le is too deep to -e reached -y a handDdu" well
Water flow #o!e#ent processes of the Earth/s waterC includin" e!aporationC precipitation and
o!erland flow
Water har!estin" storin" rainwater or used water (M"rey water/) for use in periods of drou"ht
Water #ana"e#ent sche#es pro"ra##es to control ri!ersC "enerally or"anised -y local or
central "o!ern#ent
Water stores a -uild up of water that has collected on or -elow the "roundC or in the at#osphere
Water ta-le the le!el in the soil or -edrock -elow which water is usually present
physical water scarcity D shorta"es occur when de#and e;ceeds supply econo#ic water scarcity D
when people si#ply cannot afford waterC e!en if it is readily a!aila-le
opic 6 'oastal 'han"e and 'onflict
$t the end of this unit you should know...
%ow rock type ("eolo"y) and structure influence coastal landfor#s
%ow landfor#s such as cliffs and stacks for#
9he key ter#inolo"y of coastal landfor#s
9he difference -etween erosionC weatherin" and #ass #o!e#ent
%ow these process help for# coastal landfor#s
9he different types of wa!esC constructi!e and destructi!e
%ow wa!e action #o!es sedi#ent and chan"es the profile of -eaches
%ow sedi#ent is transported and deposited on coasts
%ow so#e coasts are threatened -y rapid erosion and risin" sea le!els
%ow erosion can cause conflict
9he ran"e of #ana"e#ent options for coasts
9he costs and -enefits of the way the coast has -een #ana"ed at (y#e Re"is
!ey "ords ackwash water fro# a -reakin" wa!e which flows under "ra!ity down the
-each and returns to the sea
ay a feature produced when erosion creates an indent in the coastlineC often located -etween
two headlands
'oastal floodin" the inundation of low lyin" land in coastal areas and re"ions
'oastal #ana"e#ent the process and plans applied to coastal areas -y local authorities and
a"encies
'oncordant coastline a coastline created when alternati!e hard and soft rocks occur in parallel to
the coast and are eroded at different rates
'onstructi!e wa!es s#allC weak wa!es with a low fre2uency that tend to add sand and sedi#ent
to the coastline -ecause they do not -reak with #uch force
0eposition the droppin" of sedi#ent that was -ein" carried -y a #o!in" source 0estructi!e wa!e
lar"eC powerful wa!es with a hi"h fre2uency that tend to take sedi#ent away fro# the -eachC
-ecause their swash is "reater than their -ackwash
0iscordant coastline a coastline created when alternatin" hard and soft rocks occur at ri"ht
an"les to the coastC and are eroded at different rates
0o nothin"/ an approach to coastal #ana"e#ent that allows natural process to take their course
without any inter!ention
Erosion the wearin" away and re#o!al of #aterial -y a #o!in" forceC such as a wa!e -reakin"
4etch the distance of sea o!er which winds -low and wa!es #o!e towards the coastline
Geolo"ical structure the way in which rocks are arran"edC -oth !ertically and hori3ontally %ard
en"ineerin" usin" solid structure to resist forces of erosion
%ard rock coast a coastal re"ion co#posed of resistant #aterial e.". the sandstone cliffs at West
ay
%eadland a part of the coastline that protrudes into the sea
%olistic approach an approach to en!iron#ental #ana"e#ent that treats the whole area as an
inte"rated syste#
+'N> (+nte"rated 'oastal None >ana"e#ent) the syste# of di!idin" the )E coastline into 3ones
that can -e #ana"ed holistically
(on"shore drift the #o!e#ent of #aterial alon" a coast -y -reakin" wa!es
>ass #o!e#ent the down slope #o!e#entC -y "ra!ityC of soil andFor rock -y the processes of
slu#pin"C fallin"C slidin" and flowin"
8oft rock coast a coastal area #ade up of easily eroded #aterials e.". $t (y#e Re"is and
'har#outh
8pit #aterial deposited -y the sea which "rows across a -ay or the #outh of a ri!er 8tack a
detached colu#n of rock located =ust of the coast
8trate"ic reali"n#ent the reor"anisation of coastal defences that is often part of #ana"ed retreat
8tu#p a stack that has collapsedC lea!in" a s#all area of rock a-o!e sea le!el
8u-Daerial processes weatherin" and #ass #o!e#ent
8wash the forward #o!e#ent water up the -each after a wa!e has -roken
Weatherin" the -reakdown and decay of rock -y natural processesC without the in!ol!e#ent of
any #o!in" forces
opic 6: *ceans on the Ed"e
1. What is the "lo-al pattern of hu#an threats to #arine ecosyste#s?
%u#an threats to ecosyste#s are "reatest in coastal areasC especially around the )EC in parts of the
>editerraneanC off the coast of +ndia and in parts of southDeast $sia.
'oral reefs are an ecosyste# in dan"er and these are lar"ely located in tropical waters
>ain threats are shippin" and oil industriesC o!erfishin"C "lo-al war#in" and pollution.
&. %ow are coral reefs !alua-le and what hu#an acti!ities threaten their sur!i!al?
8upport a hu"e di!ersity of ani#als and plants
5ro!ide food for hu#ans
5rotect coastlines fro# 9suna#is
>ain threats are "lo-al war#in"C El 7inoC dyna#ite and cyanide fishin"C siltation etc.
9ouris# is a cause for concern
.. What are unsustaina-le uses of #arine ecosyste#s and how do they i#pact on its -iodi!ersity?
*!erfishin" causes certain species to decline and potentially -eco#e e;tinct
5ollution of water throu"h sewa"e pipes can upset food we-s
9oo #any nutrients fro# a"ricultural runDoff can cause al"al -loo#s
1. %ow will cli#ate chan"e add additional stress to threatened #arine ecosyste#s -oth directly and
indirectly?
0irect i#pacts include the results of cli#ate chan"e such as war#er oceansC #eltin" ice caps and "laciers
which will alter the delicate te#peratures and salt le!els in oceansC potentially chan"in" weather patterns
+ndirect i#pacts include sea le!el rise (#eltin" "laciers and ther#al e;pansion) D this #ay affect co##unities
li!in" in coastal locations such as the 7ile delta and in an"ladesh
6. What are the "rowin" pressures that cause hu#ans to use local #arine ecosyste#s unsustaina-ly?
)nsustaina-le use of #arine ecosyste#s has resulted fro# o!erpopulation and i#pro!e#ents in fishin"
technolo"ies
'$8E 89)0,: 8t (ucia 8oufriere and >ankote are locations where sustaina-le #ana"e#ent is lookin" after
#arine ecosyste#s -ut
still usin" the# to support hu#an acti!ity
+n these locations peoples/ !iews of ecosyste#s !ary O so#e -elie!e they are there to -e used no #atter what
the costB others feel
that they should -e used carefully
'onflicts -etween people can often #ean that the ecosyste# suffers the #ost as e!eryone scra#-les to clai#
their -it
?. Why do local #arine ecosyste#s need protectin" and how do local co##unities o!erco#e any conflicts
whilst #ana"in" their protection?
5articipatory plannin" in!ol!es local co##unities that can -e in!ol!ed in the process of lookin" after
resources in a sustaina-le way (this happens in 8t (ucia)
Groups of people or"anise how they can use a resource sustaina-ly in 8t (ucia this included: local
town councilC hotel owners and waterDta;i owners
Reachin" a"ree#ents that -enefit e!eryone #eans that the en!iron#ent is #ore likely to -e cared for
and it will last lon"er (-eco#in" sustaina-le)
A. %ow do hu#ans protect "lo-al #arine ecosyste#s fro# further de"radation?
>arine reser!es offer a potential "lo-al solution to #arine de"radation
0raw-ack of the #arine reser!e sche#e are that the areas are too s#all and often #iss the #ost endan"ered
areas
9he 7orth 8ea is an area that MGreenpeace/ D a conser!ation charity want to introduce #arine reser!es to
reduce o!erDfishin"
9his would pro!ide fish with sanctuaries where they could -reed and keep the ecosyste# healthy
9he 7orth 8ea o!erfishin" pro-le# is a place that #ay -enefit fro# a W%*(EDE'*8,89E> approach
J. %ow do hu#ans #aintain the health of #arine ecosyste#s throu"h "lo-al action?
9he (aw of the 8ea ensures that no sin"le nation can e;ploit ocean resources to the detri#ent of
other nations
9he treaty created 1 3ones of increasin" si3es to "i!e different le!els of protection and ownership:
9erritorial seasB conti"uous
3onesB e;clusi!e econo#ic 3onesB continental shel!es)
9hese 3ones encoura"e nations to protect and conser!e different parts of the oceans closest to the#
+t also encoura"es nations to coDoperate with each other and respect each others fishin" areasC
protectin" fish and #akin" the
resource #ore sustaina-le
Re#e#-erC there are still ?GP of oceans that ha!e no protection fro# particular countries what will
happen to the sustaina-ility of these?
!ey "ords
$2uaculture co##ercial fish far#in"C e.". rearin" fish prawns in ponds of su-#er"ed ca"es
iodi!ersity the nu#-er and !ariety of li!in" species found in a specific area
leachin" de"radations of coral reefs under conditions of increased acidity in seawater
'li#ate chan"e lon" ter# chan"es in te#perature and precipitation
'ontinental shelf the su-#er"ed ed"e of a continental land #ass
'oral reef a hard stony rid"eC =ust a-o!e or -elow the surface of the seaC for#ed -y the e;ternal
skeletons of #illions of tiny creatures called polyps.
Estuaries a ri!er #outh that is wide and e;periences tidal conditions Eutrophication the loss of
o;y"en in water after too #uch nutrient enrich#ent has taken place
E;tinction the per#anent loss of so#ethin"C "enerally used with reference to species of plants or
ani#alsC when there are no li!in" e;a#ples left
4ood we- an illustration of the of the "roupin" of ani#als and plants found in an ecosyste#C
showin" the sources of food for each or"anis#
%a-itat an ani#al or plant/s natural ho#e >an"ro!e swa#p a tidal swa#p do#inated -y
#an"ro!e trees and shru-s that can sur!i!e salty and #uddy
conditions found alon" tropical coastlines >arine ecosyste# the we- of or"anis#s that that li!e
in the ocean or a part of the ocean
7utrient cycle a set of process where-y or"anis#s e;tract #inerals necessary for "rowth fro#
soil or waterC -efore passin" the# on throu"h the food chain and ulti#ately -ack into the soil and
water.
*!erfishin" takin" too #any fish (or other or"anis#s) fro# the water -efore they ha!e had ti#e
to reproduce and replenish stocks for the ne;t "eneration
5ollution the presence of che#icalsC noiseC dirt or other su-stances which ha!e a har#ful or
poisonous effect on an en!iron#ent
RunDoff water that flows directly o!er land towards the sea or ri!ers after hea!y rainfall 8ea le!el
rise the increase in the le!el of the seaC relati!e to the land 8iltation the deposition of silts
(sedi#ents) in ri!ers and har-ours
8ustaina-ility the a-ility to keep so#ethin" "oin" at the sa#e rate or le!el. 4ro# this ste#s the
idea that the current "eneration of people should not da#a"e the en!iron#ent in ways that will
threaten future "enerations/ en!iron#ent.
)nsustaina-le una-le to -e kept "oin" at the sa#e rate or le!el