Chap 34

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GeoJournal

As you read this chapter, use your journal to


log the key economic activities of Australia,
Oceania, and Antarctica. Note interesting
details that illustrate the ways in which
human activities and the regions environ-
ment are interrelated.
Chapter Overview Visit the Glencoe World
Geography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.com
and click on Chapter OverviewsChapter 34 to
preview information about the region today.
Living in Australia,
Oceania, and
Antarctica
A Geographic View
Antarctic Diving
Theres something special about
peering beneath the bottom of the
world. When Antarcticas summer
diving season begins in September
the sun has been largely absent
for six months, and the water . . .
has become as clear as any in the
world. Visibility is measured
not in feet but in football fields.
. . . Only here can you orbit an
electric-blue iceberg while
being serenaded by the eerie
trills of Weddell seals.
Norbert Wu, Under Antarctic Ice, National
Geographic, February 1999
The wonders hidden under Antarctic ice are
among the many attractions of Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica.
Tourism is a growing part of the regions economies. In this section
you will learn how people in Australia and Oceania earn their livings
despite remote geographic locations and challenging environments.
Agriculture
Agriculture is by far the most important economic activity in the
South Pacific area. Australia and New Zealandthe regions major
developed countriesexport large quantities of farm products.
Australia is the worlds leading producer of wool, and New Zealand
is known for the quality of its dairy products, lamb, beef, and wool.
Guide to Reading
Consider What You Know
Environments in Australia, Oceania,
and Antarctica range from tropical
rain forests to icy wastelands. What
attractions or activities might draw
people to visit or live in a region
with such extreme differences
in the physical environment?
Read to Find Out
How do people in Australia, New
Zealand, and Oceania make their
livings?
What role does trade play in
the economies of South Pacific
countries?
What means of transportation
and communications are used in
the region?
Terms to Know
station
grazier
copra
Places to Locate
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Nauru
C h a p t e r 3 4 833
Skyline of Melbourne,
Australia, at night
View
from
under A
ntarctic ice
834 U n i t 1 1
Although only 5 percent of Australians work in
agriculture, much of their countrys vast land area
is devoted to raising livestockprimarily sheep
and cattle. Because of the generally dry climate,
ranchers must roam over large areas to find
enough vegetation to feed their herds. As a result,
some Australian ranches, called stations, are
giganticas large as 6,000 square miles (15,540 sq.
km), about the size of Connecticut or Hawaii.
In addition, because of Australias dry climate,
only about 10 percent of its land is suitable for
growing crops. Irrigation, fertilizers, and modern
technology help Australian farmers make the best
use of their limited croplands. Wheat, for example,
is grown in the dry Central Lowlands. By contrast,
sugarcane thrives in the wetter climate and fertile
soil of Australias northeastern coast.
About half of New Zealands land is used
for agriculture. New Zealand ranchers, known as
graziers, raise sheep, beef, dairy cattle, and red
deer. Surprisingly, the country has 25 times more
farm animals than people! New Zealands soil,
more fertile than that of Australia, allows farmers
to grow wheat, barley, potatoes, and fruits. One of
New Zealands most distinctive fruits is the
kiwifruit, a small, green-fleshed fruit named for its
resemblance to the kiwi, the flightless bird that is
the countrys national symbol.
Throughout Oceania, the lack of
arable soil limits commercial agricul-
ture. As a result, most island farmers
practice subsistence farming. They
grow starchy roots and tuberstaro,
cassava, and sweet potatoesand raise
pigs and chickens. Fishing adds to the
diet of many South Pacific peoples.
Some South Pacific islands, how-
ever, have areas of rich soiloften
volcanicand ample rainfall. These
islands produce a variety of crops,
such as tropical fruits, sugarcane, cof-
fee, and coconut products, for export.
The major South Pacific cash crop, pro-
duced widely in the region, is copra
(KOHpruh), or dried coconut meat.
Among the island countries that
export are Fiji, a producer of sugar-
cane, copra, and ginger, and Papua
New Guinea, a supplier of coffee,
copra, and cacao.
Mining and Manufacturing
A variety of mineral deposits exist in some parts
of the South Pacific region. Australia is a leading
exporter of diamonds, gold, bauxite, opals, and iron
ore. Extracting these minerals, however, is ham-
pered by high transportation costs inside and out-
side the country. In addition, public debate about
Aboriginal land rights limits where mining can
occur. For example, Australia has the worlds largest
undeveloped supply of uranium ore, but much of it
lies within ancestral lands sacred to the Aborigines.
With some exceptions, few significant mineral
resources are found in other areas of the South
Pacific region. New Zealand has a large aluminum
smelting industry, and Papua New Guineas rich
deposits of gold and copper have only recently been
exploited. Kiribati and Nauru, once dependent on
phosphate mining, now face dwindling supplies.
They are now encouraging foreign investment and
seeking aid to develop new economic activities.
Government
Mining in Antarctica
Antarctica holds enormous untapped mineral
resources, including petroleum, gold, iron ore, and
coal. Scientists have used core samplingdrilling
cylindrical sections through the Antarctic ice capto
Cattle Station
A rancher rounds up cattle on a station in southern Australia.
Place Why are Australian ranches so large?
identify the presence of these and other key min-
erals. Although seven countries have made territo-
rial claims to Antarctica, the voluntary Protocol on
Environmental Protection, signed by 44 nations in
1991, prohibits mining on the continent.
Manufacturing
Australia and New Zealand are the South Pacific
regions major producers of manufactured goods.
Because agriculture is important in these two
countries, food processing is their most important
manufacturing activity. Relatively isolated geo-
graphically, Australia and New Zealand must
import costly machinery and raw materials in
order to set up major manufacturing industries
capable of producing exports. As a result, indus-
tries in the two countries generally manufacture
products for home consumption. Goods that cannot
be produced domestically are imported.
The rest of the South Pacific region is less indus-
trially developed than Australia and New
Zealand. Manufacturing in the islands of Oceania
is limited to small-scale enterprises, such as textile
production, clothing assembly, and mass produc-
tion of craft items.
Service Industries
Throughout Australia and Oceania, service indus-
tries have emerged as major contributors to national
economies. As in other developed countries, most
people in Australia and New Zealand make their
living in service industries. In Oceania few coun-
tries are large enough to support extensive service
industries other than tourism. Nauru, however,
has begun to attract international banking and
investment companies as a way of ending its
traditional dependence on phosphate mining.
Davis
(Australia)
Casey
(Australia)
Dumont d'Urville
(France)
Mirnyy
(Russia)
Progress
(Russia)
Vostok
(Russia)
Molodezhnaya
(Russia)
Novolazarevskaya
(Russia)
Amundsen-Scott
(U.S.)
Palmer
(U.S.)
Rothera
(U.K.)
Halley
(U.K.)
Mawson
(Australia)
Syowa
(Japan)
Maitri
(India) Sanae
(S. Africa)
Marambio
(Argentina)
San Martin
(Argentina)
Belgrano II
(Argentina)
Gen. Bernardo
O'Higgins (Chile)
atlantic
ocean
pacific
ocean
indian
ocean
120W
40W
20W
20E
60E
80E
120E
100E
40E
140E
180
160E 160W
140W
100W
80W
0
8
0

S
7
0

S
5
0

S
4
0

S
3
0

S
South
Pole
T
R
O
P
I
C
O
F
C
A
P
R
I
C
O
R
N
A
N
T
A
RCTIC CIR
C
L
E
Ross
Sea
Weddell Sea
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
1,000
1,000 0
0
mi.
km
Arctowski (Poland)
Artigas (Uruguay)
Bellingshausen (Russia)
Com. Ferraz (Brazil)
Great Wall (China)
Jubany (Argentina)
King Sejong (S. Korea)
Pres. Eduardo Frei (Chile)
KING GEORGE
ISLAND STATIONS
Orcadas
(Argentina)
Scott (N.Z.)
McMurdo (U.S.)
MAP STUDY
Antarctica: National Claims and Research Stations
2. Applying Geography Skills How does the
map show international cooperation in Antarctica?
Find NGS online map resources @ www.nationalgeographic.com/maps
Chile
Argentina
United Kingdom
Norway
Australia
France
New Zealand
Major research station
Antarctic Land Claims
1. Interpreting Maps What countries hold over-
lapping claims in Antarctica?
836 U n i t 1 1
Tourism
In recent decades the expansion of air travel
has boosted tourism in Australia and Oceania.
Each year thousands of tourists visit the region.
Among the South Pacific regions attractions are
its indigenous cultures, unique wildlife, and con-
trasting physical featuresrock formations,
tropical rain forests, geysers, mountain glaciers,
sandy beaches, and coral reefs.
History
World War II in the Pacific
Today several countries in Oceania are promot-
ing World War II battle sites on or near South
Pacific islands as tourist destinations. Just as his-
tory buffs in the United States visit Civil War bat-
tlefields, people from the countries involved are
now visiting World War II battle sites. For devel-
oping South Pacific countries, such as Vanuatu, the
Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, and the
Federated States of Micronesia, tourism provides a
much-needed source of income.
Global Trade Links
In recent decades, improved transportation and
communications links have increased trade between
the once remote South Pacific region and other parts
of the world. The South Pacifics agricultural and
mining products are its greatest sources of export
income. Countries in Oceania export copra, timber
and wood products, fish, vegetables, and handi-
crafts. The spices of the vast South Pacific region
are now found in kitchens around the world. For
example, the islands of Micronesia are a major
source of black pepper, and Tonga exports ginger
and the costly vanilla beans used to flavor ice
cream and baked goods. A number of South
Pacific countries, however, must import food to
supplement the subsistence crops.
During most of the 1900s, Australia and New
Zealand traded exclusively with the United
Kingdom and the United States. In recent years, how-
ever, these South Pacific countries have increased
trade with their neighboring Asian countries of
Japan, Taiwan, and China. In 1971 various island
countries of Oceania set up the South Pacific Forum,
an organization that promotes trade and economic
growth. Because of few natural resources, some
South Pacific islands are dependent to some degree
on outside investment or foreign aid.
Transportation and
Communications
Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica contain thou-
sands of miles of coastland, barren desert, and
solid ice. Physical barriers and long distances chal-
lenge travelers in the region.
Land Travel
Australia and New Zealand have the most
developed road and rail systems in the region. In
coastal areas of these countries, highways are well
maintained, and subways provide public trans-
portation in urban areas. Few roads, however, are
found in the isolated Australian outback.
In Oceania many island countries are too small,
too poor, or too rugged to have well-developed
road or rail systems. Some governments, however,
are improving the roads and bridges necessary
for economic growth. Antarctica lacks permanent
settlements and has no roads or rail systems.
Battle Site Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon
Islands, was the site of heavy fighting between the
United States and Japan during World War II.
Place How do World War II battle sites benefit Pacific
countries today?
Checking for Understanding
1. Define station, grazier, copra.
2. Main Ideas On a table like the
one below, fill in details about
the key agricultural and mining
products of countries in this
region. Then describe the role the
region plays in world trade.
Critical Thinking
3. Identifying Cause and Effect How
does importing more manufac-
tured goods than it exports affect
a countrys economy?
4. Predicting Consequences What
might be the consequences of
opening Antarctica to mining?
5. Drawing Conclusions Why are
Australia and Oceania trading
more with East Asia and South-
east Asia than with the West?
Analyzing Maps
6. Place Study the map on page 835.
Which Latin American countries
hold claims in Antarctica? Which
have research stations there?
Agricultural Mining
Country Products Products
7. Economic Activities Create
a table that shows major
economic activities for six
countries in the region. Then
explain why the economies
of some countries focus on
one major product.
Applying Geography
Air and Water Travel
Long distances, harsh climates, or obstacles to land
travel make air and water travel important to the
region. Cargo ships and planes move imports and
exports to and from far-flung Pacific territories. Com-
mercial airlines and cruise ships bring travelers.
Water and air also provide important means of
personal transportation. Pacific islanders began
using outrigger canoes thousands of years ago, and
many of Oceanias travelers continue to use boats
today. Sailboats and motorized boats are common,
and ferries link New Zealands two major islands.
Icebreakersships with reinforced bowscarry
people and supplies to Antarctica as do small
planes and helicopters, although winter blizzards
often make transportation of any kind impossible.
Severe winters isolate Antarctica:

Along about February the annual exo-


dus [from the research stations] begins
in earnest. Once the cold season takes
hold, planes stop making regular flights
to inland stations, and the ice layer
spreads out to sea, making access by ship
nearly impossible. Only a few hundred
residents stay through the winter.

Michael D. Lemonick, McMurdo


Station, Time, January 15, 1990
C h a p t e r 3 4 837
Planes also provide transportation between
islands in the South Pacific. In Australias outback
almost every station or farm has at least one plane.
Ranchers often use helicopters to herd cattle over
thousands of acres of rough terrain.
Communications
In the South Pacific area, the same geographic
obstacles that hinder land travel also make com-
munications difficult. The development of modern
technology, however, has helped increase contacts
within Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica and
with the rest of the world. In the Australian out-
back, some cattle stations are large enough to
maintain their own post offices and telephone
exchanges. Others use two-way radios to commu-
nicate. Emerging technologies, such as cellular, dig-
ital, and satellite communications and the Internet,
are becoming common in developed areas. A con-
tinuing challenge is to provide developing Pacific
countries with access to these technologies.
Student Web Activity Visit the Glencoe World
Geography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.com and
click on Student Web ActivitiesChapter 34 for an
activity about research in Antarctica.
Guide to Reading
Consider What You Know
Australias remarkable wildlife is
recognizable around the world.
What animals and plants unique
to Australia can you name?
Read to Find Out
Why do Australia, Oceania, and
Antarctica face many environ-
mental challenges?
What effects did nuclear testing
have on the region?
Why are the thinning of the ozone
layer and global warming special
challenges for this region?
Terms to Know
marsupial
introduced species
food web
ozone layer
El Nio-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO)
diatom
Places to Locate
Tasmania
Murray-Darling River Basin
Great Barrier Reef
838 U n i t 1 1
People and Their
Environment
A Geographic View
From Leafy Grove
to Salty Swamp
Behind us a forest of dead eucalyptus
trees stood in a salty swamp, a grave-
yard of skeletons with gray arms raised
in good-bye. . . . Once a leafy grove in
Western Australia, this salt lake rose
from the ground when nearby wood-
lands were cleared for farms. Thirsty
trees had absorbed rainwater and
kept the water table from rising, but
when they were cut, the water sur-
faced and brought salt with it. The
result: saline ponds and dead fields.
Michael Parfit, Australia: A Harsh Awakening,
National Geographic, July 2000
Beneath much of Australias land surface there
is a layer of salty subsoil or salty groundwater. Salts are carried to the
surface as the water slowly evaporates. Scientists believe that 40 per-
cent of Western Australias productive wheat belt could be lost to
salty swamps in the next two decades. Today Australia, like other
countries, is experiencing the environmental consequences of human
activity. In this section you will learn about environmental challenges
in Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica as well as the efforts under way
to remedy environmental damage.
Managing Resources
Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica hold some of the planets richest
and most diverse natural resources. Unfortunately, these resources
have not always been well managed, and today the region faces
many environmental issues. Conservation efforts, however, are
Salty sw
am
p, A
ustralia
C h a p t e r 3 4 839
Wildlife The kangaroo and the Tasmanian devil
(inset) are uniquely Australian mammals.
Place Why does Australia have such a variety
of unusual animal species?
Murray-Darling River Basin, one of the worlds
largest drainage basins, the use of water for agricul-
ture and growing city populations has dramatically
reduced the rivers flow.
Oceania also faces challenges in managing its
freshwater resources. Many small coral atolls and
volcanic islands hold only limited supplies of fresh-
water. Agricultural runoff and inadequate sanita-
tion cause pollution that further threatens these
supplies. The lack of clean drinking water keeps
the standard of living low and poses barriers to
economic growth in some countries of Oceania.
gaining recognition in the region. Environmental
issues concern voters and government leaders
alike in Australia, New Zealand, and other South
Pacific islands.
Australias Unusual Animals
The continent of Australia, separated for so long
from other landmasses, is home to many unique
animal species. Kangaroos, koalas, and wal-
labies are just some of Australias 144 species
of marsupialsmammals whose young must
mature in a pouch after they are born. The Aus-
tralian island of Tasmania gave its name to the
Tasmanian devil, a powerful meat-eating marsu-
pial about the size of a badger. Australias
strangest wildlife may be the duck-billed platypus
and the echidna, a spiny anteaterthe only mam-
mals in the world that lay eggs.
Australias unusual wildlife species, however,
have been seriously threatened by the human
introduction of various nonnative animals. These
introduced species include the hunting dogs called
dingoes brought from Asia by migrating Aborig-
ines. Sheep, cattle, foxes, cats, and rabbits were also
brought by European settlers. In the absence of nat-
ural predators, these animals have multiplied and
taken over the habitats of Australias native species.
Some of Australias native species have become
extinct, and at least 16 kinds of marsupials are now
endangered. Efforts to restore Australias ecological
balance include the use of electric fencing to keep
out nonnative animals, hunting and trapping pro-
grams, the introduction of natural predators, and
the creation of native wildlife reserves.
Forest, Soil, and Water
The protection of forest, soil, and freshwater
resources is a major concern throughout the South
Pacific region. In Australia many sparse woodlands
have been cleared for farms and grazing lands, leav-
ing little protection against wind erosion. As in other
parts of the world, soil conservation in the region is
closely linked to reducing deforestation. Countries
with valuable timber resources, such as New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu, are
developing plans to use forest resources without
damaging the environment.
Drought, salt, irrigation, and agricultural runoff
threaten Australias freshwater sources. In the fertile
840 U n i t 1 1
Improvement will come with better
management of runoff, construction
of additional sanitation facilities,
and development of less expensive
ways of removing salt from ocean water.
Agricultural runoff, chemical fertilizers, and
organic waste also threaten oceans in the South
Pacific region. Toxic waste in particular endangers
Australias Great Barrier Reef and other Pacific
coral reefs. Coral environments are increasingly
stressed by tourists, boaters, and divers as well as
oil-shale mining.
Pollution also affects all kinds of marine life,
including the tiny organisms that make up coral
reefs. Algaeon which these organisms thrive
and plankton are key parts of the oceans food
web, the interlinking chains of predators and their
food sources in an ecosystem. As these tiny living
things are destroyed, the larger plants and animals
that rely on them for food also die off.
History
The Nuclear Legacy
The testing of nuclear weapons has had major
effects on the regions environment. In the late 1940s
and 1950s, the United States and other countries
with nuclear capability carried out aboveground
testing of nuclear weapons in the South Pacific. The
dangers of such testing were gravely underestimated
at the time. In 1954 the United States exploded a
nuclear device on Bikini Atoll, in the Marshall
Islands. The people of Bikini Atoll had been moved
to safety, but those living on Rongelop Atoll, down-
wind of the explosion, were exposed to massive
doses of radiation that resulted in deaths, illnesses,
and genetic abnormalities.
Although the American testing was stopped, the
effects of radiation exposure and environmental
damage have continued through several genera-
tions. Today the atolls affected by the testing remain
off-limits to human settlement. Recent studies, how-
ever, offer hopeful signs of eventual environmental
recovery. In the 1990s the United States government
provided $90 million to help decontaminate Bikini
Atoll and set up a $45 million trust fund for blast
survivors and their offspring from Rongelop Atoll.
The nuclear legacy also has had political effects.
Antinuclear activism is a major factor in regional
politics. In 1986 New Zealand banned nuclear-
powered ships and those with nuclear weapons
from entering its waters. Because of this ban, the
United States withdrew from a defense agreement
with New Zealand. In the mid-1990s, French plans
to conduct nuclear tests on an atoll in French
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef (left) in Australia is home to hundreds of
species of coral-forming organisms (right).
Human-Environment Interaction What human activities
threaten the Great Barrier Reef?
Checking for Understanding
1. Define marsupial, introduced
species, food web, ozone layer,
El Nio-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO), diatom.
2. Main Ideas On a chart like the one
below, list resources and examples
of their mismanagement in the
region. Also list possible solutions.
Critical Thinking
3. Comparing and Contrasting
How are countries of the region
similar and different in the chal-
lenges they face concerning water
resources?
4. Decision Making Do you agree
or disagree with New Zealands
nuclear ban? Explain your reasons.
5. Problem Solving What steps would
you take to increase awareness
about the risks of global warming?
Explain.
Analyzing Maps
6. Location Study the physical-
political map on page 796. Which
countries are at the greatest risk
from rising ocean levels as a result
of continued global warming?
7. Effects of Mining Study the
map on page 787. Compare
a mineral-rich area shown
on the map to a mineral-
rich area in another region.
Explain the effects of min-
ing on both environments.
Applying Geography
Polynesia aroused antinuclear demonstrations. The
international outcry led to an early halt to the tests.
Atmosphere and Climate
Like other world regions, Australia, Oceania, and
Antarctica are threatened by global atmospheric
and climate changes. In the 1970s scientists found
a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica:

The mysterious stuff called ozone,


which until then was known to the pub-
lic chiefly as an . . . element of smog in
overcrowded cities, was being destroyed
in the stratosphere by chemicals made
and released in the 20th century by
humans. . . . The hole was real; the
ozone had dropped by 50 percent. . . .

Samuel W. Matthews, Is Our


World Warming? National
Geographic, October 1990
The ozone layers protective gases prevent harm-
ful solar rays from reaching the earths surface. The
ozone hole over Antarctica grew dramatically
between 1975 and 1993, when it covered more than
9 million square miles (23 million sq. km). In 1989 a
similar ozone hole developed over the Arctic.
The loss of protective ozone may be behind the
global rise in the rates of skin cancer and cataracts,
conditions caused by overexposure to the suns
ultraviolet rays. Increased solar radiation that
reaches the earth through ozone holes may also
contribute to global warming, the gradual rise in
Earths temperatures over the last century.
Climate and weather in the South Pacific region are
highly sensitive to changes in the El Nio weather
pattern called El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
This seasonal weather event can cause droughts in
Australia and powerful cyclonic storms in the South
Pacific. These ENSO-related weather patterns are
believed to be increasing in frequency and severity
and may also be linked to global warming.
Some scientists claim that continued rises in
Earths temperatures could be devastating. If polar
ice caps were to melt and thermal expansion of
ocean waters occurred, many of Oceanias islands
would be flooded by rising ocean levels. Rising
ocean temperatures also affect certain types of
plankton and algae that grow in warm waters,
causing overgrowth and the choking out of other
life-forms. Diatomsplankton that flourish in cold
ocean waterswould die if temperatures rose,
affecting life-forms that feed on them. Scientists in
the region, especially in Antarctica, are studying
global warming and are hoping to discover causes,
predict consequences, and provide solutions.
C h a p t e r 3 4 841
Example of Possible
Resource Mismanagement Solution
Is Global
Warming
at Fault ?
Viewpoint
During the last century, Earths
average surface temperature
crept steadily highera
phenomenon called global
warming. In the past few
decades, vast expanses of
Antarctic ice have started
breaking up and large chunks
have floated out to sea.
Researchers speculate that if
the huge West Antarctic ice
sheet collapses and melts, sea
levels could rise dramatically,
causing flooding in coastal
regions around the world. Is
global warming responsible for
Antarcticas melting ice?
CASE STUDYon the Environment
ANTARCTI CA
WEST
ANTARCTICA
Ross Ice Shelf
Ice shelf
Antarcticas Melting Ice:
Antarcticas Melting Ice:
Is Global
Warming
at Fault ?
842 U n i t 1 1
As global
temperatures
rise, ocean waters
warm and then
expand, and ice in
places such as
Antarctica begins to
melt. The seas start
creeping higher onto
the edges of the con-
tinents. Sea levels in some
parts of the world are already
almost a foot (30 cm) higher
than they were a century ago.
However, this increase is trivial
compared with the rise that
could occur if the vast West
Antarctic ice sheet melts. If this
happens, sea levels could rise
by 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 m).
Coastal communities world-
wide would be flooded. Low-
lying islands, such as Tuvalu
and Kiribati in the Pacific,
would disappear underwater.
Recent studies, however,
indicate that the West Antarctic
ice sheet has been receding for
almost 8,000 years. Scientists
have also uncovered evidence
that the ice sheet may have
collapsed about 400,000 years
ago, before the last ice age.
These findings have sparked
a controversy.
Some scientists think that
changes taking place in
Cars spew carbon
dioxide into the air,
contributing to global
warming.
Tavaerua Island (below) could
disappear if sea level rises. Scientists
(right) study Antarctic ice cores for
clues to a changing climate.
M
Whats Your Point of View?
Experts predict it will take 500 to
700 years for the West Antarctic
ice sheet to melt completely, no
matter what the cause. Should
people today care about this
issue? Why or why not?
M
I
n March 2000 an iceberg
twice the size of Delaware
broke free from Antarcticas
Ross Ice Shelf, part of the
West Antarctic ice sheet. On
the other side of the conti-
nent, an entire ice shelf disinte-
grated in 1995. Why is this
happening? Antarctica is
the coldest place on Earth.
Nevertheless, the continent is
a little warmer than it used to
be. The average temperature
in parts of West Antarctica has
increased by almost 5F (3C)
in the last 50 years. During the
1900s, the average temperature
worldwide rose by 1F (.5C).
Most scientists believe that
rising global temperatures are
partly due to an increased
amount of carbon dioxide
(CO
2
) in the atmosphere.
Much of the carbon dioxide
is caused by human activities
such as burning gasoline, coal,
and other fossil fuels. In the
atmosphere, carbon dioxide is
a powerful heat absorber, trap-
ping heat that radiates from
the sun-warmed ground. The
trapped heat leads to global
warming.
Antarctic ice are part of a natu-
ral cycle that has nothing to do
with recent global warming.
They point out that the West
Antarctic ice sheet began
shrinking before people started
burning large amounts of fossil
fuels and adding carbon diox-
ide to the atmosphere.
Other scientists think that
recent changes in Antarctic ice
sheets are a direct result of
human-caused global warming.
While these scientists admit
there might be a natural cycle
at work in Antarctica, they
argue that global warming is
speeding up that cycle.
Learning the Skill
Whether a problem is simple
or complex, local or global, the
same problem-solving steps can
be applied. You can practice
these steps in your everyday life,
just as governments and organi-
zations do when addressing
major conflicts.
Here are the steps involved in
problem solving:
Identify the problem. State
clearly the issue at hand and
the reasons the problem must
be solved.
Brainstorm possible solutions
to the problem. Be open-
minded and creative. Take
notes on all the possibilities
suggested.
Evaluate the proposed solu-
tions. Evaluate each proposed
solution by listing its advan-
tages and disadvantages
and anticipating its possible
consequences.
Choose and implement the
best solution. Choose the
best possibility, understand-
ing that it may have some
drawbacks. Put your solution
into practice.
At a later time, review the
success of the solution. If
implementing your solution
has not improved the situa-
tion or has resulted in further
problems, begin the process
again.
Problem Solving
I
ndividuals and groups often face problems that require critical
thinking to solve. Identifying problems and evaluating possible
solutions are important skills used by individual citizens, local
and national governments, and world organizations.
844 U n i t 1 1
Work in a small group to find an
environmental issue facing your
community. As a group, apply the
steps for problem solving to the
issue you have chosen. Prepare a
written report of your results. If
possible, share your proposed solu-
tion with community authorities.
The Glencoe Skillbuilder
Interactive Workbook,
Level 2 provides instruction and
practice in key social studies skills.
Environmentalists say the Great Barrier Reef will be under threat if the
Australian government allows oil explorations in the area. After years of
controversy, the government has started testing ways of tapping oil reserves
around one of the worlds most spectacular sites. Experts say there is more
oil to be tapped in the reef s coastal rock next to the coral than has ever been
found on the entire American continent.
Environmentalists say the processes involved could destroy the delicate
coral. . . . To do that [extract the oil] requires a lot of energy and the oil you get
is very carbon intensive, making the whole process a very dirty kind of mining.
More than one million people visit the reef each year but oil pollution
has the potential to ruin the tourist industry. . . . [The government] says the
country cannot afford to ignore the reef s precious resources. . . . [S]uch is the
sensitivity of the issue, the authorities have only given the go-ahead for one
pilot area to be exploited for oil.
World: Asia-Pacific Oil Threat to Great Barrier Reef,
BBC News (online), September 25, 1998
Practicing the Skill
Read the excerpt above. Then
use what you know about prob-
lem solving to answer these
questions.
1. What is the problem?
2. What are the positions of
environmental groups and
the Australian government
regarding the problem?
3. What are some possible solu-
tions to the problem?
4. How has Australia tried to
solve the problem?
5. How can the success of the
solution be evaluated?
C h a p t e r 3 4 845
SUMMARY & STUDY GUIDE
Key Points
Agriculture is the most important economic
activity in the region, although mining is done
in Australia and some island countries.
Manufacturing in Australia and New Zealand
centers on food processing, and the rest of
the region engages in small-scale production
of clothing and crafts.
The importance of service industries, particu-
larly tourism, is increasing in the economies of
the region.
Transportation and communications technolo-
gies, such as air travel, satellite communica-
tions, and the Internet, are helping people in
the region to overcome geographic obstacles.
Organizing Your Notes
Create an outline using the for-
mat below to help you organize
your notes for this section.
Terms to Know
station
grazier
copra
SECTI ON 1
Livi ng i n Austral i a, Oceani a,
and Antarcti ca ( pp. 833837)
Terms to Know
marsupial
introduced species
food web
ozone layer
El Nio-Southern
Oscillation (ENSO)
diatom
Key Points
Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica have many
natural resources, but the regions environment
is threatened by human activity.
Governments and individuals in the region are
focusing on balanced management of water
resources, forest, land, and wildlife.
Nuclear testing conducted in Oceania during
the 1940s and 1950s has had a lasting impact
on people and the environment.
Scientists are studying global warming and the
thinning ozone layer to prevent potential risks.
Organizing Your Notes
Create a web diagram like
the one below to help organize
the notes you took for this sec-
tion. Add other key ideas to the
web, and draw lines to show
connections between ideas.
SECTI ON 2 Peopl e and Thei r Envi ronment ( pp. 838841)
Environmental Concerns
ENSO ozone hole
climate change deforestation
I. Agriculture
II. Mining and Manufacturing
A. Mining in Antarctica
1.
2.
Living in the South Pacific
C h a p t e r 3 4 845
Thermal spring, Rotorua,
New Zealand
Critical Thinking
1. Finding and Summarizing the Main
Idea What are three critical challenges to
agriculture in Australia?
2. Identifying Cause and Effect In what
ways could mining operations in Antarctica
interfere with scientific research programs
there?
3. Problem Solving Use a graphic organizer
like the one below to describe three steps
that countries in Oceania might take to
reduce the impact of tourism on coral reefs.
Reviewing Key Terms
Write the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences. Refer to the Terms to Know in
the Summary & Study Guide on page 845.
1. Ranchers on an Australian __________ will
sometimes build fences to keep out ________.
2. The kangaroo, one type of __________, is
native to Australia.
3. __________ are part of the __________ of larger
life-forms.
4. Disruptions to weather patterns in the South
Pacific caused by __________ may be increasing.
5. A New Zealand __________ makes
a living by raising sheep, beef cat-
tle, and dairy cattle.
6. Many countries in Oceania export
__________.
7. Scientists discovered a reduction
in the __________ in the 1970s.
Reviewing Facts
SECTION 1
1. How does the importance of agri-
culture, mining, and manufactur-
ing vary among South Pacific
countries?
2. What service industries are devel-
oping in Australia and Oceania?
3. How have changes in trans-
portation and communications
affected the location and pat-
terns of economic activities in
the South Pacific region?
SECTION 2
4. What are the major threats to the
regions wildlife, forests, soil, and
water?
5. What have been the effects of
nuclear testing in Oceania?
6. What effects in the South Pacific
have occurred because of atmos-
pheric and climatic changes?
Locating Places
Antarctica: Physical Geography
Match the letters on the map with the physical features of Antarctica.
Write your answers on a sheet of paper.
1. Weddell Sea
2. Antarctic Circle
3. South Pole
4. Ross Sea
5. Antarctic
Peninsula
6. Transantarctic
Mountains
6
0

W
4
0

W
0

W
2
0
4
0

E
80E
6
0

E
80W
100W
1
2
0

W
1
6
0

W
1
4
0

W
1
4
0

E
1
6
0

E
1
2
0

E
100E
1
8
0

7
0

S
6
0

S
8
0

S
A
D
F
E
B
C
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
1,000
1,000 0 mi.
0 km
ASSESSMENT & ACTIVITIES
846 U n i t 1 1
Reduce tourist impact
C h a p t e r X 847
Look for the best answer choice for
the question. The best answer choice
is the one that offers the most correct
information in response to the question.
Self-Check Quiz Visit the Glencoe World
Geography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.com
and click on Self-Check QuizzesChapter 34 to
prepare for the Chapter Test.
Using the Regional Atlas
Refer to the Regional Atlas on pages 784787.
1. Location Where are most of the zinc
deposits in the region?
2. Human-Environment Interaction Which
physical features in the region are vulnera-
ble to environmental damage from mining
activities?
Thinking Like a Geographer
Using what you know about the physical geogra-
phy of Oceanias islands, write a paragraph sug-
gesting three ways these islands might address
their lack of clean freshwater.
Problem-Solving Activity
Group Research Project With a small group
of classmates, research one of the introduced
species in Australia. Investigate the origins of
the problem it has created, its effects on the
environment, and suggested solutions. Brain-
storm additional solutions, and evaluate each
proposal. Prepare a report to the class on the
solution you think is best.
GeoJournal
Descriptive Writing Using your GeoJournal
data, select a human activity from each of the fol-
lowing areas: Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica.
Then write a descriptive paragraph that com-
pares how each of these activities has modified
the physical environment.
Technology Activity
Using the Internet for Research Use
the Internet to find information about global
warming. List the sources you find on the Internet,
and compare the different viewpoints on the issue
of global warming. Then choose one solution that
you support, and write an argument for adopting
that solution.
C h a p t e r 3 4 847
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Read the selection below. Then choose the best
answer for the following multiple-choice
question. If you have trouble answering the
question, use the process of elimination to
narrow your choices.
Rabbits are one of the more destructive
wild animals that have been introduced into
Australia. They damage the environment and
reduce agricultural production. They compete
with native wildlife for food and shelter,
which reduces the populations of many
native plants and animals. Because rabbits
eat seedlings, there are fewer young plants to
replace those that die naturally. Rabbits also
compete with livestock for the same plants,
eating them to below ground level. This loss
of plant cover results in soil erosion.
1. Based on the information in the paragraph,
how do rabbits reduce agricultural
production?
A They live in wheat-growing regions and
eat the wheat seedlings.
B They compete with native wildlife for food.
C Dead plants are not replaced by enough
new plants to prevent soil erosion.
D They eat the plants that provide food
for livestock and cause soil erosion by
eliminating plant cover.

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