Transcript Year 7 Geography Readings

Year 7 Geography
Readings
Year 7 Geog – Investigating the World- Lesson 1 Reading Activity –. Intro to Year 7 Geography
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: location, place, human environmental interaction , movement, regions
6. How many themes of Geography are there? _________________________
7. What are the themes __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What would you like to learn about in Geography? ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Core themes of Geography
1. LOCATION
• the meaning of relative (WHERE is it in terms of other places) and absolute (exact) position on the earth's surface
• Sample terms: latitude and longitude, site and situation, direction, distance, scale
• Questions: Where is ____? Where is ____ relative to where I am?
2. PLACE
• The distinctive and distinguishing physical and human characteristics of a place
• Sample terms: Physical and cultural landscapes, sense of place, population, architecture, language, climate etc.
• Questions: What does ____ look like? Why? How is it different from ____?
3. HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION
•
The development and consequences of human-environment relationships
•
Sample terms: Ecosystems, natural resources, environmental pollution
•
Questions: How do people use their environment? How have they changed it? How have people responded to the change?
4. MOVEMENT
•
Patterns and change in human spatial interaction on the earth. As people, goods, and ideas move from place to place, they
can change a places characteristics.
•
Sample terms: Migration, diffusion, globalization
•
Questions: How has this spatial pattern developed? Will it continue to change? What does it mean for the places
involved?
5. REGIONS
• A set of places that have similar attributes, and how they form and change.
• Sample terms: Formal vs. functional regions
• Questions: How has this spatial pattern developed? Will it continue to change? What does it mean for the places
involved?
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 2 Reading Activity. Geographers Read and do the following activities.
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: citizenship, investigating, questions, tools
6. How do Geographers start? _________________________________________________________________
7. What are the two main parts of what makes a Geographer tick? __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What geographical tools and sources do they use? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
What makes a Geographer Tick?
KEY GEOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS
Geographers start by asking questions.
• What is it?
• Where is it?
• Why is it there?
When investigating issues they go on to ask
questions, such as:
• What are the effects of it being there?
• How is it changing?
• Should it be like this?
• Then they consider citizenship.
• What groups are involved?
• What do different groups think?
• What action is appropriate?
ANSWERING GEOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS
Geographers use geographical skills and tools to answer
geographical questions.
Geographical skills include:
• Locating, gathering and evaluating information from a
variety of sources. Including fieldwork, maps,
photographs, books, the media and the internet.
• Observing and analysing information.
• Choosing and applying geographical tools.
• Presenting and communicating information to others.
• Participating as informed active citizens.
Geographical tools include:
• Maps
• Fieldwork
• Graphs and statistics
• Photographs
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 3 Reading Activity. Elements of the Environment
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: abiotic, biotic, ecosystem, human, manmade, natural, physical, surroundings,
6. What two kinds does a geographer divide the environment into? _____________________________________
7. What is the physical environment? ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What is the human environment ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Elements of physical & human environments
In geography the word environment is used to describe our total surroundings. This includes the living and non-living features
of the earth’s surface as well as those features altered or created by people.
Geographers divide environments into two kinds:
Physical environments
Human environments
Physical environments are those dominated by natural features, such as landforms and vegetation. Physical environments,
which are sometimes referred to as natural environments, include the earth’s soil, water, air, sunlight and all living things.
Physical elements occur naturally and can be divided into:
• Biotic – living things, such as plants and animals.
• Abiotic – non-living things, such as water, rocks and soil.
The way in which all these interact in a particular environment is called an ecosystem.
Human environments are best defined as all the elements of the environments created by people. They include the social,
cultural, economic and political systems created by humans Human environments are sometimes referred to as Built
environments are all the human-altered landscapes. They include all those features normally associated with settlements,
industries and agriculture.
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 4 Reading Activity – The Four Spheres.
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: biophysical , dependent, environment, impacts, important, prefixes, resources, serious
6. What is the whole system sometimes referred to as ? __________________________________________________
7. What are the four spheres? _____________________________________________________________________
8. Why is it important to understand the four spheres? ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Four Spheres
There are four interlocking puzzle pieces that create our environment. The puzzle includes biological (living) pieces and
physical (non-living) pieces. These four pieces are dependent upon each other. As a whole, the system is sometimes referred
to as an ecosphere To make the study of the biological and physical elements of the Earth easier to understand, scientists
separate these biophysical elements into four spheres:
1.Atmosphere
2.Hydrosphere
3.Lithosphere
4.Biosphere
To better understand what these terms mean, it is important to understand that '-sphere' in this instance means 'to
surround or encompass'. The following prefixes help us understand the meaning of the four spheres:
•atmo - steam; vapour
•hydro - water
•litho - rock; mineral
•bio – life
•Knowing about the Physical Geography of the planet is important for every serious learner of the planet because the natural
processes of the earth (which is what the study of physical geography encompasses) affect the distribution of resources,
the conditions of human settlement, and have resulted in a plethora of varied impacts of human populations throughout the
millennia. Since the earth is the only home to humans, by studying our planet, we humans and residents of the planet earth
can be better informed to help take care of our only home.
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 5 Reading Activity – The Lithosphere
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: asthenosphere, continental, evolved, mantle, oceanic, tectonic
6. What are he two types of lithospheres? __________________________________________________________
7. Name the 3 types of rocks? ___________________________________________________________________
8. How do you think wind affects the lithosphere? ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The lithosphere
The lithosphere, which evolved about 4.6 billion years ago, is composed of an outermost layer of hard rock. This outer
rock layer is made up of the crust and the first hard layer of mantle. The lithosphere includes various landforms such as
mountains and valleys, as well as rocks, minerals and soil. The lithosphere is constantly being shaped by external forces
such as sun, wind, ice, water and chemical changes.
There are many different types of rocks that compose the outer crust. These rocks can be grouped into three basic
categories based on how they are formed.
1.Igneous rocks are formed by the cooling of hot molten rock (magma). When the hot, flowing magma cools, it begins to
harden. Once completely cooled it is then an igneous rock.
2.Sedimentary rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks. Rocks erode, mix with other dirt, clay and particles and settle
together. This mix creates a sedimentary rock.
3.Metamorphic rocks are formed by heat and/or pressure from pre-existing rocks.
The lithosphere does not wrap perfectly around the Earth. It is in fact about 15 different pieces of crust that sit on top
of a softer layer called the asthenosphere. These tectonic plates drift around on top of the asthenosphere and are
moving, though too slowly for the human eye to notice. As a result of the plate movement, mountains become taller and
valleys grow wider. Scientists believe that the continents, which rest on the various plates, were at one point joined in a
single 'super continent' known as Pangaea
The Earth's surface is composed of the two types of lithospheres: the oceanic and the continental. The oceanic
lithosphere includes the uppermost layers of mantle topped with the thin but heavy oceanic crust. This is where the
oceans of the hydrosphere meet the lithosphere. The continental lithosphere includes the uppermost layers of mantle
topped with a thick, lighter continental crust. This is where the atmosphere, biosphere and the hydrosphere meet the
lithosphere.
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 6 Reading Activity – The Atmosphere
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: colder, ozone, temperature, solar energy, warmer, water vapour, weather
6. What is the bottom layer of the atmosphere? _____________________________________________________
7. What 3 layers separate the main layers of the troposphere, the stratosphere, mesosphere and the thermosphere?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What is outer space called? ___________________________________________________________________
The atmosphere
The bottom layer of the atmosphere is the troposphere. The troposphere is where weather happens. It is warmest near
the Earth because of the heat rising from the Earth's surface. It becomes colder with altitude. This layer is separated
from the next by the tropopause. The tropopause is the point where temperatures change and begin to increase with
altitude.
Above the tropopause is the stratosphere. There is a large concentration of ozone gas in the stratosphere. The ozone
gases absorb most radiant solar energy, protecting the Earth from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. The stratosphere
becomes warmer with increasing altitude, due to the high absorption of solar energy. Temperatures then start to
decrease around the imaginary line known as the stratopause and continue to decrease rapidly into the next layer.
The mesosphere is the coldest of the spheres. It is so cold that water vapours often freeze and create clouds made
purely of ice. The mesosphere is separated from the thermosphere by the mesopause. This is the point at which the
temperature changes again.
The topmost layer is the thermosphere. Within this layer, many satellites circle the Earth. Because of the thin air and
proximity to the sun, the temperatures in the thermosphere increase and decrease rapidly. Beyond the atmosphere, past
the thermosphere, the exosphere stretches out into the vast regions of space.
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 7 Reading Activity – The Hydrosphere
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: encompasses, gases, important, motion, organisms, survival,
6. What is life’s most important resource? __________________________________________________________
7. What forms of water are there on Earth? ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
8. How can we help to preserve the Hydrosphere? _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The hydrosphere
Water is life's most important resource. Plants and animals rely on water for survival. Many animals live in the water. The
hydrosphere encompasses all forms of water in the Earth's environment. This includes the oceans; all water found on the
Earth's surface such as lakes, rivers, snow and glaciers; water under the Earth's surface; and water vapour found in the
atmosphere.
Much like the gases in the atmosphere, the water in the hydrosphere is always in motion. We can see the flow of rivers
and streams and the waves at the beach. The middles of oceans and lakes also move due to wind and temperature changes,
which create currents.
The hydrosphere formed in conjunction with the atmosphere. About 3.6 to 4.3 billion years ago, there were many hot
molten rocks containing water and gases. When the rocks cooled down and released hydrogen and water vapours into the
air, the atmosphere was formed. The water vapours condensed to form clouds. Precipitation fell to the Earth and the
hydrosphere was also formed. Oxygen was produced as a by-product of small organisms and plant life.
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 8 Reading Activity – The Biosphere
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: biophysical, community, living, non-living, surroundings, various
6. What is biotic? ____________________________________________________________________________
7. What provides homes for all various forms of life? __________________________________________________
8. Describe an ecosystem in your backyard. _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The biosphere
The three previous spheres - the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the lithosphere - are the abiotic, or non-living, parts
of the biophysical environment. The fourth sphere, the biosphere, includes all biotic, or living, parts of the biophysical
environment. The biotic elements include all plants and animals.
All life exists in the biosphere. The biosphere cannot survive without elements from all the other spheres. Plants and
animals need water from the hydrosphere, minerals from the lithosphere and gases from the atmosphere. The air, water,
and land provide homes for all the various forms of life.
The environment contains all the factors that surround and influence the biotic and abiotic things within it. The
environment is our surroundings. Each living thing within the biosphere inhabits and interacts with the things that
surround them. This is their biophysical environment. It is in this environment that we find ecosystems. An ecosystem is a
smaller function within the environment. It is the unique interaction between the living and non-living elements. An
ecosystem is a community functioning together as one unit.
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 9 Reading Activity – Human Environments Big cities
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: activities, agriculture, extract, influences , interrelationship, natural resources, physical
6. What is the human environment? _______________________________________________________________
7. What are examples of the human environment? _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
8. How can the physical environment affect the human environment? ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The human environment
An interrelationship exists between people and the environment. The environment influences the way people live and
people change the environment according to their needs. Physical environment has been altered with the help of
technology. Technology here refers to the skills, knowledge and tools that people use to meet their needs
We need the physical environment to meet our needs. We obtain food from plants and animals, wood from trees and water
from rivers. Materials we use from the physical environment is called natural resources. When we extract and use these
natural resources we often change the physical environment.
We say that a human environment is formed when a physical environment is changed as a result of human activities.
Examples of human environments include cities, towns, farms and industrial centers. There are very few environments left
in the world that are completely natural. In most places humans have had some influence on the landscape. Land has been
cleared for agriculture, rivers dammed or to provide water and electricity. Industries have been developed to process raw
materials and people have created settlements in which to live.
Year 7 Geog - Investigating the World - Lesson 10 Reading Activity – Interaction of physical and human
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: alter, benefit, both, constantly, harm, influenced, isolation, survival
6. What are the two elements of the environment? ____________________________________________________
7. How do the physical and human elements of the environment interact with each other? ________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
8. How can the environment be altered that affects the survival of life on earth? ______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The interaction of the physical and human elements of the environment
Physical and human elements of the environment do not exist in isolation. They are constantly interacting with each other,
and each is influenced by the other.
Physical forces can alter human elements just as humans can alter physical features. This is important in the study of
geography as the actions of people -individually and in groups - play a major role in altering the environment.
Sometimes people benefit from these changes, but sometimes the actions of people may cause harm. Thus when people
talk about caring for the environment they are really talking about looking after both the physical and human aspects.
When the environment is altered, we need to ask if this affects the survival of life on Earth and the quality of life of its
people.
Year 7 Geog: World Heritage Lesson 2 Reading Activity – World Heritage
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: classified, cultural, natural, significance, universal,
6. How many sites did Australia have in 2009? ________________________________________________________
7. What 4 values gives sites special significance? ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Explain why your house should be listed as a World Heritage site. _________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
World Heritage sites
There are some natural (physical) and cultural (human) parts of the world that have special significance because of their
unique natural beauty, their historical and cultural importance, or their religious value. Many of these geographical sites have
been classified as World Heritage sites. UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)
established the World Heritage List in 1972 under the World Heritage Convention. This convention states that the World
Heritage Committee ‘will establish, keep up to date and publish a list of natural and cultural properties, submitted by
countries and considered to be of outstanding universal value’. In 1972, twelve sites were recognised and by 1979 there were
forty-four. By early 2009 there were 878 such sites spread across 145 countries: 174 natural sites, 679 cultural sites and
25 sites of natural and cultural significance. Seventeen of these sites were in Australia. When a country nominates a
site it must agree to conserve it for future generations.
World Heritage listing
To be classified by the World Heritage Committee a site must have global significance as a natural and/or a cultural site.
There are 660 cultural sites and 166 natural sites with twenty-five sites considered as having both cultural and physical
significance. The World Heritage Committee lists new sites each year.
Natural sites are generally those that have:
✪ great natural beauty
✪ distinctive landform features
✪ natural habitats where there are endangered animals or plants of unique value
Cultural sites are generally those that have:
✪ outstanding beauty
✪ historical significance
✪ architectural significance or unique artistic merit
✪ cultural and/or religious value.
A site could have both natural and cultural significance, for example Kakadu National Park in northern Australia with its
wetland environment and Aboriginal rock art.
Year 7 Geog: World Heritage Lesson 3 Reading Activity–World Heritage Responsibility
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words: active, funding, future, informed, preserve, protect, responsibility, threats,
6. Which sites are relatively safe from danger? ________________________________________________________
7. Name 3 sites that are in danger. __________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What can you do to help the preservation of World Heritage sites? _________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Managing World Heritage sites
Some World Heritage sites are located in inaccessible areas and may be relatively safe from damage. However,
most sites face a variety of threats, particularly in today’s conditions. Examples of these threats are:
✪ climate change—the Tower of London in England and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia are among the sites at risk from
the effects of global warming
✪ wars and internal conflicts in countries—the old city of Dubrovnik in Croatia and the city of Jerusalem in Israel
✪ attacks on wildlife by hunters and poachers—the national parks in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Zaire
✪ attacks on the ecosystem from invasive species—the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador
✪ human action in altering the built environment—the Old Town Centre of Prague
✪ visits by large numbers of tourists—the Great Wall of China
It is the responsibility of each country to nominate its World Heritage sites and then to manage them. Under
the convention, each member country is required to do all it can to preserve and protect its sites for future generations to
enjoy. The World Heritage Committee provides additional help to those sites regarded as being on the ‘danger list’. For
example:
✪ The Garamba National Park in Zaire is the habitat of the endangered white rhinoceros. Poaching threatened to wipe out
the whole rhino population. The World Heritage Committee helped by funding jeeps and radios in the fight against poaching.
✪ Kathmandu Valley in Nepal has been severely affected by uncontrolled urban development. UNESCO is working with the
Nepalese authorities to help them develop a long-term management plan to conserve the remaining World Heritage values of
urban areas and to stop illegal building activities.
✪ The historic town of Zabid in Yemen was put onto the Danger List in 2000 as 40 per cent of its original houses had been
replaced by concrete buildings.
Year 7 Geog: World Heritage Lesson 4 Reading Activity – Sites in Danger
1. Write down the heading. ____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_________________________________________________
3. Is it descriptive, informative or persuasive?_____________________________________________________
4. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
5. Underline the following words : assistance, attention, benefits, community, endangered, protect
6. What is the main benefit of bring listed? ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Name 3 dangers to the sites? __________________________________________________________________
8. Explain in your own words what happened in the Everglades. ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
What does World Heritage listing achieve?
The main benefit of a World Heritage listing is the attention it focuses on the place. Listing it means that
people are aware of how special the place is. It puts pressure on governments to protect the site. When a problem arises
there is enough public interest to make it an issue for community debate and action. At certain times, particular sites are
endangered by war, pollution, poachers, lack of maintenance, the damming of rivers, illegal logging or similar activities.
These sites are often placed on a temporary endangered list and assistance is given to help protect the site. Examples of
places that have been listed in recent years are the Old City of Jerusalem because of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and
the Ngorongo Crater in Tanzania because of lack of controls on landuses. The crater was taken off the list when
management plans were put in place to protect it.
The Everglades National Park in Florida, United States, was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in
1993 after the park’s superintendent informed the committee of extensive damage to
the Everglades’ ecology. The Everglades has been called ‘a river of grass’ because it flows very slowly from the hinterland
into the sea. The exceptional variety of its water habitats has made it a sanctuary for a large number of birds and
reptiles, as well as for threatened species, such as the manatee. The Everglades’ ecology has been damaged by nearby
urban growth, pollution from fertilisers, mercury poisoning of fish and wildlife and a fall in water levels caused by flood
protection measures. Listing, however, does not always guarantee protection. Historic Dubrovnik in Croatia, for example,
was partially destroyed during the war in former Yugoslavia.
Year 7 Geog – Global Environments 1: Weather and Climate (15 mins) Read and do the following activities
1. Write down the heading. ________________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_______________________________________________________
3. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
4. Underline the following words: atmosphere, geographical, pattern, synoptic,
5. What is the main point of each paragraph?
i. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
ii. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
iii. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
iv. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
v. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
6. In summary what is the difference between weather and climate? __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the difference between weather and climate?
The words ‘weather’ and ‘climate’ do not mean the same thing. Weather is the day-to-day condition of the
atmosphere at a particular place. It includes all the daily changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, sunshine, humidity (the
amount of moisture in the air) and atmospheric pressure. Weather maps, or synoptic charts, use symbols to show the pattern
of these changes. Climate is the long-term weather pattern for a place or region. The climate of a place depends on its
latitude, the season, its aspect, how close it is to the sea, ocean currents and its height above sea level (elevation).
Weather and climate affect the type of clothing we wear, our activities, the food we grow, the kinds of houses
we live in and the types of transport we use. It also affects the types of plants and animals living in an area. Weather and
climate are important indications of changes in the earth’s geographical processes. This is because a change in the atmosphere
can quickly change the weather. For example, a volcanic eruption can affect weather around the world in a matter of days.
How does the weather we experience happen?
To understand weather, we need to understand atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the
air pressing down on the earth’s surface. When air is heated by the energy of the sun, it rises. This forms areas of low
pressure. When air cools, it sinks towards the earth’s surface. This forms areas of high pressure. The location of highpressure and low pressure systems helps us predict the weather for a particular place.
High-pressure systems are usually associated with settled, or fine, weather. Low-pressure systems are generally
associated with unsettled weather. We can also use pressure systems to read and predict wind direction. Moving air, known as
wind, always moves from areas of high pressure (highs) to areas of low pressure (lows). In the Southern Hemisphere, the air
moves out from the centre of a high in an anticlockwise direction. It moves into the centre of a low in a clockwise direction.
Pressure systems are not the same as air masses. Air masses are large bodies of air with similar temperature
and moisture content. The line along which two air masses meet is known as a front. The passing of a warm front results in a
rise in temperature and more widespread rainfall. Warm fronts are very rare in Australia.
Precipitation is any moisture reaching the surface of the earth. Forms of precipitation include rain, sleet, snow,
hail, dew and frost.
Year 7 Geog – Global Environments 2: Factors affecting temperature (15 mins) Read and do the following activities
1. Write down the heading. ______________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?______________________________________________________
3. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
4. Underline the following words: Climate, determine, elevations, energy, seasonal,
5. What is the main point of each paragraph?
i. ______________________________________________________________
ii. ______________________________________________________________
iii. ______________________________________________________________
iv. ______________________________________________________________
v. ______________________________________________________________
6. In summary what are the factors affecting temperature? ____________________
__________________________________________________________________
Climate
Climate is the weather experienced by a place over many years. The factors that
contribute to this long-term pattern are discussed below.
Factors affecting temperature
Latitude Solar energy has twice the area to heat at 60˚ north and 60˚ south as it
does at the Equator. Therefore, average temperatures are lower at higher
latitudes.
Length of day and night Because the earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5˚,
there are seasonal differences in the number of daylight hours. The shorter the
day, the less opportunity there is for the earth and its atmosphere to absorb heat.
The differences in the length of day and night at different latitudes.
Seasonal differences The changing seasons not only determine the length of the
day but also the angle at which the sun’s rays reach the earth’s surface. From
November to January the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. From
May to July, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. This is why the
Northern Hemisphere has its summer in the middle of the year while Australia is
having its winter.
Elevation (height above sea level) Because of their height, mountain areas are
cooler than areas at lower elevations. Mt Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain.
At 5894
metres its top is permanently covered with snow, even though it is just south of the
Equator. On average, the temperature drops by approximately 6.5˚C for every 1000
metres of elevation.
Year 7 Geog – Global Environments 3: Factors affecting both temperature and rainfall (15 mins) Read and do the
following activities
1. Write down the heading. ______________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?____________________________________________________
3. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
4. Underline the following words: prevailing, temperature, vapour, windward,
5. What is the main point of each paragraph?
i. ______________________________________________________________
ii. ______________________________________________________________
iii. ______________________________________________________________
iv. ______________________________________________________________
v. ______________________________________________________________
6. In summary what are the factors affecting both temperature and rainfall? _______
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Factors affecting both temperature and rainfall
Mountain barriers Mountains also act as barriers to the movement of moisture-laden air. When warm, moist air is forced to rise, it cools
and the water vapour in the air turns into droplets of water. These water droplets fall on the mountain’s windward side (the side facing
directly into the wind) as either rain or snow. This is known as orographic rainfall. The air flowing over the mountain is much drier.
Deserts are often found on the leeward (sheltered) side of large mountain ranges. This is known as the rain-shadow effect.
Distance from the sea Distance from the sea influences both temperature and rainfall.
Temperature The sea gains and loses its heat much more slowly than the land—the sea maintains more even temperatures. Places near
the coast therefore have less variation in temperature than inland places. Places away from the coast can have higher temperatures
during the day and lower temperatures at night because of the speed at which land gains and loses heat.
Rainfall Winds blowing off the sea carry a lot of moisture. Because of this, places near the coast often receive higher rainfall than those
further inland. By the time the winds reach inland areas, they have lost most or all of their moisture.
Ocean currents The temperature of ocean currents influences both air temperature and rainfall.
Temperature Oceans absorb heat during the day and release it slowly during the night. This helps keep coastal areas much warmer than
inland areas.
Rainfall Water evaporates much more quickly from oceans affected by warm ocean currents. As a result, nearby coastal areas are likely
to have higher levels of rainfall. Areas affected by cold ocean currents have much lower evaporation rates. The world’s deserts are
located in areas affected by cold ocean currents.
Prevailing winds The prevailing wind is the direction from which the wind blows most often. The temperature of the prevailing wind is
affected by the area it blows from and over. When prevailing winds blow from over warm bodies of water they often bring rain.
Year 7 Geog - Deserts 1: Introduction to Deserts (15 mins) Read and do the following activities
1. Write down the heading. ________________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think this piece of writing is about?_______________________________________________________
3. Read the piece of writing and circle any words whose meaning you are not sure of.
4. Underline the following words: continent, developed, exporter, multicultural, support,
5. What are the four major geographical processes ?
i. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
ii. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
iii. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
iv. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
6. In summary students are to learn about _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
From the Syllabus
Student learn about
At least ONE global environment - Deserts
•
the spatial distribution of the selected global environment
•
the major geographical processes that operate within the chosen environment:
•
atmospheric processes
•
biotic processes
•
geomorphic processes
•
hydrologic processes
•
the way humans, including indigenous groups, interact with the environment
At
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
least ONE community (The Bedouins) and the way it interacts with the selected global environment
the way the environment influences the community
the way the relationship between the community and the environment is changing
explain how individuals, community organisations and government actions are contributing to the current management of
the environment
strategies and processes that individuals, groups and governments use to influence change
identify the responsibility of government to the community and its environment
the way the community is responding to these changes
describe current use of the environment and suggest strategies for future ecological sustainability
on the map represents:
on the map represents:
(C) The marking
(a) paths,
(h) classrooms,
(c) trees,
(d) steps.
(D)The marking
(a)the assembly area,
(b)a tennis court,
(c)an oval,
(d)a car park.
(B)If you were to be looking for the Industrial
Arts Block to 'Block A', in which direction is
'BLOCK A' from the Industrial Arts Block?
(a)North,
(b)South,
(c)East,
(d) West.
(A) Correctly place the letters
N
(North)
S
(South)
E
(East)
W
(West)
on the direction indicator in the map given.
(H) Room 1 is in grid square:
(a)
A3,
(b)
D4,
(c)
C5,
(d)
B3.
(G) Room 4 is in grid square:
(a)
A3,
(b)
D4,
(c)
C5,
(d)
B3.
(F)The distance along the path from
the steps at the foot of Block A to
the footpath in Main Street is
about:
(a)75 metres,
(b)30 metres,
(c)100 metres,
(d)50 metres.
E)The distance across the assembly
area from room 2 is about:
(a) 30 metres,
(b) 25 metres,
(c) 70 metres,
(d) 95 metres.
Scale;
2cm = 50 metres
Year 7 Geog - Deserts 2 – Skills
No. 2
Use the School plan below to
answer Question 1A to 1H
Year 7 Geog – Deserts 3 -Skills No. 3
Did You Know? The hottest part of the desert is the surface of the sand! No wonder camels have thick leathery pads on
the bottom of their feet! The temperature of the surface of the sand can measure up to 167º Fahrenheit! The diagram to
the right shows how the temperature changes as you move away from the surface above ground and underground.
Directions: Use the information in the diagram to:
1. Make a graph showing different levels of heat in the desert.
2. Solve the problems below:
1. How much many degrees cooler is the temperature near a camel's head than near its feet? _____________________
2. How many degrees cooler would a gerbil be if it burrowed five feet down into the sand, than if it stood on the surface of
the sand?____________________________________________________________________
3. Which two levels of the desert have the same temperature?
___________________________________________________________________________
4.Why do the animals in the desert burrow underground during the day?
Use temperatures from the chart to help explain your answer.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
(F) How high is Mt. Egmont in New
Zealand?
a)
Atlas
b)
Street Directory
c)
Year Book
d)
Encyclopedia
e)
History Text
(D) How many migrants returned to
England from Australia Last Year?
a)
Atlas
b)
Street Directory
c>
Year Book
d)
Encyclopedia
e)
History Text
(C) What were the main achievements of
Sir John Monash?
a)
Atlas
b)
Street Directory
c)
Year Book
d)
Encyclopedia
e)
History Text
(B) In which range of Mountains is
Wilpena Pound situated?
a)
Atlas
b)
Street Directory
c>
Year Book
d)
Encyclopedia
e)
History Text
Year 7 Geog - Desrts 4 – Skills No. 4
Research Skills
2. Imagine you were asked to answer the
following questions using Library
reference books. Which of the following
books would you use for each question(A)
How do you get from Spencer Street
Station to V.F.L. Park?
a)
Atlas
h)
Street Directory
c)
Year Book
d)
Encyclopedia
e)
History Text
(E)
If there are any other books
on Indonesian History
a)
Bibliography
b)
Table of Contents
c)
Index
d)
Glossary
e)
List of Illustrations
(D) To see if there is a map of Indonesia
a)
Introduction
b)
Bibliography
c)
List of Illustrations
d)
Index
e)
Glossary
(C) To see if this book mentions Willen Van
Barten?
a)
Bibliography
b)
List of Illustrations
c)
Index
d)
Glossary
e)
Table of contents
(B) To find out what the word 'Sambal'
means?
a)
Bibliography
b)
List of Illustrations
c)
Index
d)
Glossary
e)
Table of Contents
3. Imagine you were asked to do an
assignment on Indonesia using the Library
reference book "A Short History of
Indonesia"
In which part of the book would you look
(A) To find out what page the chapter
about President Sukarno begins?
a)
Bibliography
b)
Table of Contents
c)
Index
d)
Glossary
e)
Introduction
Year 7 Geog – Deserts 5 – Skills No. 5
1.Follow the directions given to make a picture below. Work neatly with a sharp pencil and
rule all lines. Neatly cross off each numbered point as you plot it. Begin at point X.
1.S3,E2
2.E1
3.52
4.S2,E1
5.S3,E3
6.S2,E1
7.S3,E1
9.S4,W2
10.S1,W1
11.S1,W2
12.W1
13.N1
14.W1,S1
15.W1
17.N2,W2 18.N1
19.W1,S1
20.W1
21.N2,W2
22.S2,W6 23.S1,W2
25.N1,W1
26.E1,N1
27.W2,N4 28.N1
29.N1,W1
30.N2
31.N2,E2
33.N1
34.E1,N1
35.E1
36.E1,N2
37.E1,N1
38.E1
39.S1,E1
41.E2,N1
42.E3,S1
43.S2,W1 44.S1,E4
45.E1,N5
8.S2,W1
16.N1,W1
24.S1,W3
32.E3,N2
40.E1,N2
Year 7 Geog - Deserts 6 – Skills No.6
Compass Directions
Sometimes it is more important to discover what one cannot do than what one can do. Lin
Yutana (1895 19761
Find the hidden words – they run either vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Then place
them in their correct meaning in the passage below.
The four main or cardinal p _ _ _ _ _ of the c _ _ _ _ _ _ are n _ _ _ _, s _ _
_ _, e _ _ _,
w _ _ _ _. To find d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ you can use a c _ _ _ _ _ _, the s _ _ or
the s _ _ _ _. A compass n _ _ _ _ _ points to m _ _ _ _ _ _ _ north. Two
other types of north are g _ _ _ north and t _ _ _ north. Direction can be
given as a b _ _ _ _ _ _ in d _ _ _ _ _ _. When w _ _ _ direction is given, it is
the direction from which the wind comes f _ _ _.
N
G
A
T
V
K
T
E
I
V
C
P
0
T
X
0
Q
F
R
0
M
Z
C
0
S
N
D
B
W
X
R
J
0
U
R
F
B
D
0
T
H
A
U
G
S
T
P
Y
E
0
A
I
U
U
C
I
N
0
R
T
H
W
E
S
T
R
T
L
0
S
G
D
E
G
R
E
E
S
C
E
H
S
M
0
R
J
R
K
Q
S
A
C
D
C
E
A
P
U
U
J
G
C
Y
U
J
S
P
T
A
Q
A
T
E
S
V
A
A
N
W
B
T
I
S
M
S
H
W
I
N
D
S
U
F
E
E
0
T
A
S
W
X
I
C
A
A
T
A
Y
S
N
H
G
U
E
U
E
A
S
T
Z
A
B
S
T
H
N
S
S
B
E
A
R
I
N
G
R
H
Y
E
E
0
T
L
A
L
R
Y
N
G
E
S
I
S
T
U
H
N
E
E
D
L
E
0
R
A
E
T
I
T
Q
F
P
D
L
I
D
V
R
I
R
H
C
H
M
A
C
T
E
B
G
Z
K
T
D
F
A
L
K
J
P
0
I
N
T
S
P
E
H
S
B
F
0
north
south
east
west
northeast
northwest
southeast
southwest
direction
true
magnetic
grid
compass
wind
needle
stars
sun
degrees
from
bearing
Points
from
The States of
New South Wales
Oueensland
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
New York: __________________________
Sydney: ____________________________
HongKong: __________________________
London: ____________________________
Hawaii: ____________________________
Bombay:____________________________
2. Using the map fig. 1 give the approximate
location in latitude and longitude (0°) of tile
following places:
3. Make a list of the people whose lives may sometimes
depend on being able to give their location accurately
especially in time of distress or emergency.
a) ______________________________________
b) ______________________________________
c) ______________________________________
d) ______________________________________
e) ______________________________________
f) ______________________________________
The Cities of
Canberra
Sydney
Darwin
Perth
Hobart
Year 7 Geog Deserts 7– Skills No.7
Latitue and Longitude
1. On the map of Australia mark
Year 7 Geog – Deserts 8 - Skills No.8
interpreting keys
In the able below. State True or False if a particular
mineral is found in that location
Study the map and write down TRUE or FALSE for
these statements. Some will just require you to look
carefully, while others will require a little more thought.
Towns
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
Mt Morgan
Savage River
Collie
Ravensthorpe
Cobar
Rum Jungle
Meekatharra
Bendigo
White Cliffs
Weipa
Mt Isa
Mt Lyell
States
Queensland
Tasmania
Western Australia
Western Australia
N.S.W.
Northern Territory
Western Australia
Victoria
N.S.W.
Queensland
Queensland
Tasmania
Minerals
True/False
Gold
True
Copper
False
Coal
Copper
Bauxite
Uranium
Uranium
Gold
Bauxite
Bauxite
Silver
Opals
(a)Mt Lyell (Tas.) has copper, gold and silver.
(b)Opals are found in two places in South Australia.
(c)Weipa (Qld) and Gove (N.T.) have the same mineral.
(d)Mt Tom Price (W.A.) and Mt Morgan (Old) have the
same mineral.
(e)The Northern Territory is the chief uranium mining
area.
(f)Gold is found only in W.A. and Victoria.
(g)Oil is found off the Victorian coast.
(h)Collie (W.A.), Leigh Creek (S.A.) and Mt Morgan (Old)
all have coal.
(i)Western Australia is the most important mining State.
(j)Gold is Victoria's main mineral.
(k)Queensland's south western region has no minerals.
(Careful!)
(I) Iron ore is quite often found in mountain ranges.
(m) Coal is usually found fairly close to the coast.
(n) Bauxite is found only in northern Australia.
(o) Opals are found in three States.
(p) Kalgoorlie (W.A.) is a uranium mining area.
(q) Minerals in Tasmania are found on the west coast.
(r) The mineral closest to Alice Springs is opals.
(s) Oil is found only in the sea.
(t) Iron ore and gold are Western Australia's main
minerals.
Year 7 Geog – Deserts 10 - Skills No. 9
Map Skills
1.What direction does the house face? ______
2.What is the depth of the house from front to
back? ___________metres( A B is the front part
)
3.What is the width of the house? ______ metres
4.How long is the longest part of the lounge room?
_____________ metres
5.What direction is the dining room from Bedroom
3? _______
6.Taking the scale into account, how many maps this
size would be needed to cover the floor of this
house? _________
7.Mark in the names of the rooms left blank
8.In the KEY table, use symbols or colours to make
up a suitable key for this map. This could refer to
furnishings, room use etc. __________
9.In the space below the map draw the front view
of the house. Follow these instructions:
Point A is 121 metres above sea level and point A is
at 121.5 metres.
Draw a light vertical line from A and B to the
rectangle below to help you place the ends
correctly.
The floor of the house is 0.5 metres above the
ground at point B.
The distance from floor to ceiling is 2.5 metres.
The distance from the ceiling to the peak of the
roof is 1.5 metres.
The windows are 0.5 metres above the floor and are
1.5 metres high.
The front door is 2.1 metres high.
Design your own roof style.
10.Add any features you think will improve the
house ( steps etc ), but make sure the major
outlines are clear.
Year 7 Geog – Deserts 10 - Skills No.10
In the able below. State True or False if a particular
mineral is found in that location
Study the map and write down TRUE or FALSE for
these statements. Some will just require you to look
carefully, while others will require a little more
thought.
Towns
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
Mt Morgan
Savage River
Collie
Ravensthorpe
Cobar
Rum Jungle
Meekatharra
Bendigo
White Cliffs
Weipa
Mt Isa
Mt Lyell
States
Queensland
Tasmania
Western Australia
Western Australia
N.S.W.
Northern Territory
Western Australia
Victoria
N.S.W.
Queensland
Queensland
Tasmania
Minerals
True/False
Gold
True
Copper
False
Coal
Copper
Bauxite
Uranium
Uranium
Gold
Bauxite
Bauxite
Silver
Opals
(a)Mt Lyell (Tas.) has copper, gold and silver.
(b)Opals are found in two places in South Australia.
(c)Weipa (Qld) and Gove (N.T.) have the same
mineral.
(d)Mt Tom Price (W.A.) and Mt Morgan (Old) have
the same mineral.
(e)The Northern Territory is the chief uranium
mining area.
(f)Gold is found only in W.A. and Victoria.
(g)Oil is found off the Victorian coast.
(h)Collie (W.A.), Leigh Creek (S.A.) and Mt Morgan
(Old) all have coal.
(i)Western Australia is the most important mining
State.
(j)Gold is Victoria's main mineral.
(k)Queensland's south western region has no
minerals. (Careful!)
(I) Iron ore is quite often found in mountain ranges.
(m) Coal is usually found fairly close to the coast.
(n) Bauxite is found only in northern Australia.
(o) Opals are found in three States.
(p) Kalgoorlie (W.A.) is a uranium mining area.
(q) Minerals in Tasmania are found on the west
coast.
(r) The mineral closest to Alice Springs is opals.
(s) Oil is found only in the sea.
(t) Iron ore and gold are Western Australia's main
minerals.
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 1
Skills No.11
Location skills
1. Use the map of the imaginary
continent to answer the questions
(A)Where is the point 20°S and
95°E located?
(a)
In the ocean
(b)
On a peninsula
(c)
On an island
(d)
In a mountain range
(B)Which city is 20° farther north
than Castle?
(a)
Hume
(c) Duval
(b)
Beecher
(d) Egan
3. On the map of the world mark
CONTINENTS of
THECOUNTRIES
North America
England
Europe
Japan
Asia
New Zealand
Africa
Italy
Australia
India
2. A school and a library are marked on the map
below. Write direct ions for someone who wants to
drive from within the school grounds to the library.
______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 2 Skills No. 12
Latitude and longitude
Geographers use lines of latitude and longitude to help locate
places (see figure 1). Aeroplanes and ships use and longitude
to find their way around the world. Lines of latitude are
called 'parallels', lines of longitude are called 'meridians'.
Latitude is measured in Degrees________
Or_____________
of the equator (which is at 0°). All
places in Australia are_______
of
the
equator. The major lines of latitude In the world are the
equator (0°), the Tropic of______________(23½° north),
the Tropic of______________(23½° south), the
_____________Circle (66½° north) and the
____________________Circle (66½° south)
Longitude is, measured in 'degrees (E) or
west (W) of the line (meridian) which runs through the town
of_____________ in England (0°). This starting point for
measuring longitude is known as
the_______________________.
All places in_____________ are east of the Greenwich
meridian. The world's other major line of longitude is the
International Date Line (180°). One degree of latitude or
longitude can be broken Into sixty smaller parts known as
minutes (shown by the symbol '). So 24°30'
is____________
between 24° and_____. Sydney's
latitude is 33°53' south and Its longitude is 151°10' east.
Latitude Is always given first, and north, south, east or west
is always written after the minutes to show whether the
place is north or south of the equator or east or
___________of the Greenwich meridian.
Arctic , west , Greenwich, latitude, halfway, North, cancer,
equator, Greenwich meridian, south, south, Australia,
Capricorn, Antarctic.
Quarry
Marsh
6030 _____________________
2667 _____________________
5020 _____________________
1838 _____________________
5523. _____________________
5524 _____________________
5525 _____________________
5757 _____________________
Which objects are situated at these points ?:
b. The school _____________________
c. The island _____________________
d. The railway bridges ______________
a. The signal box __________________
2. Map References
Notice that the straight lines on the map,
called the grid, are numbered for reference.
The end of the jetty has the reference 4/1 as
the bottom number should be read first. To be
more accurate we can imagine the space
between the lines to be divided into tenths.
The house marked 'Ho' will then have a map
reference 2.5/1.5 or, as it is more usually
given 2515. The quarry at the top is 6775
(6.7/7.5) and the railway station is 5040.
Write the map references of the following:
Ferry Terminus
Railway Embankment
Lighthouse
School
Pond.
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 3 Skills No 13.
Reading Maps
First complete this key with the symbols used
in this map:
Churches
Signal Box
4. Direction
Measurements for direction are in a
straight line, not along roads. What are the
following buildings?:
a. One km East of the farm 2030
b. 2. Half a km North of the lighthouse.
3. Distance
To measure distance fairly accurately use a
pair of compasses and set them at 250m,
using tie scale on the map, then walk them
along the road counting every step as 250m.
What are the following distances by road or
track ?:
a. From the railway station to the quarry
..................................................................................
.........
b. From the railway station to the village
(5560)
............................................................................
..........
c. From the school to the house 'Ho'
d. using the ferry
__________________________
e. going by road
____________________________
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 4 Skills
No. 14
Directions
The Lennaville Endurance Horse Race has
to go around a group of lakes and a pit, so
jockeys are given a map before the day of
the big race.
Unfortunately, the race organisers ran out
of ink before they could finish the maps
and only marked in the lakes, the pit and
the start.
On the map below, using the instructions
given to the jockeys, mark in the race
course. The map's scale is 1 cm represents
1 km and you are required to draw a linear
representation of this on your map. Make
sure to include a suitable heading to your
map too.
Instructions to the jockeys
1 Go 3 km south
2 Then 1 km south east
3 Then 3 km south
4 Then 2.5 km south west
5 Then 6 km due west
6 Then 2.5 km north west
7 Then 6 km north
8 Then 6 km east
9Then 4 km due north
10Then 4.5 km north east
11Then 3.5 km south east
12Then 4.5 km south
13Then 2 km south west
14Then 1 km west
15 Then 3 km north
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 5 Skills No.
15.
WHAT ARE SYNOPTIC CHARTS?
These are the weather maps that you see on television
and in the newspaper.
WHAT ARE ISOBARS?
Isobars are the lines on weather maps. They join areas of
equal air pressure. Numbers higher than 1013
hectopascals on an isobar indicate high air pressure.
Numbers lower than 1013 hectopascals indicate low air
pressure.
WHAT ARE LOWS AND HIGHS?
Low Air Pressure System - Hot moist air rises. This
leaves an area underneath the rising air where there is
less air. This area has low air pressure. Low pressure
systems indicate cloudy or rainy periods.
High Air Pressure System – On the other hand, cool dry
air sinks. This forms an area where is more air with high
air pressure. High pressure systems indicate fine cool dry
weather.
HOW DO ISOBARS INDICATE WIND?
If the isobars are quite close together on the weather
map, wind will blow from the higher pressure area to the
lower pressure area.
The closer the isobars, the faster will be the wind. The
further apart the isobars, the gentler will be the wind.
www.qldscienceteachers.com
WHAT SYMBOLS INDICATE CLOUDS OR RAIN?
Low Pressure Area ( L ) – Lows indicate clouds or rain.
Troughs ( - - - - - - ) – Troughs are elongated areas of low
pressure where clouds or rain will probably occur.
Cold Front ( ) – A cold front is an area where a mass of
cold air moves very quickly underneath a mass of warm
moist air. This causes the warm moist air to suddenly drop
its rain. The result is a very sudden thunderstorm.
Warm Front ( ) - A warm front occurs when a mass of
warm moist air moves slowly over the top of a mass of
cold air. The result is drizzling rain that may last a few
days.
Tropical Cyclone ( T.C. ) – In summer in tropical areas near
the coast, a lot of hot moist air rises rapidly. This can
cause an extremely low pressure system (less than 970
hectopascals) which can begin to spiral upwards. This
‘sucks’ up even more hot moist air to make rain clouds and
QUESTIONS
1. In the table describe or
draw symbols on weather
maps that indicate a
particular weather type:
2. Look at the two weather
maps below. For each map,
write the type of weather
expected in each city in the
table below.
Cairns
Brisbane
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Perth
Cairns
Brisbane
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Fine dry weather
Windy weather
Cloudy weather
Rainy weather
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 6 Skills No. 16
1.Suggest names for the three dotted lines,
1, ________________________________
2 ________________________________
3. ________________________________
By giving both the latitude and longitude of your
position you are able to give your exact location on
the globe. Notice that it is usual to give the latitude
first followed by the longitude.
2.Give the locations of the following places on fig. 1.
A.Lat ____________
Long. ____________
B.Lat ____________
Long. ____________
C.Lat ____________
Long. ____________
D.Lat ____________
Long. ____________
E.Lat ____________
Long. ____________
FLat ____________
Long ____________
3. Drawing isobars
Connect the dots to show the pressure system
Some Rules to follow when reading Weather Maps.
1.Lines joining places of equal air pressure are called isobars. All
isobars are numbered and they show areas of high or low pressure
(cells). The unit of measurement is the hectopascal (hPa)
2.High pressure is shown by high hPa numbers (say more than 1010 ),
while low pressure Is shown by low hPa numbers (say below 1000 ).
3.Winds blow clockwise around a low pressure cell and anti clockwise
around a high pressure cell.
4.Many dose isobars mean strong winds, few widely spaced
isobars mean light winds.
5.Winds tend to blow in the same direction as the isobars.
6.Pressure cells in Australia tend to move in an east to south easterly
direction. They usually move about 500 to 700 kms a day.
7.An advancing mass of cold air is called a cold front.
8.Air from the sea brings moisture. Air from inland is usually hot and
dry.
9.Mountain barriers cause air to rise and if it is moist then rain
results.
10.Mountain barriers stop moist winds from reaching inland.
11.Northern areas are generally hotter than southern areas because
of the effect of latitude. Inland areas have greater extremes of
temperature.
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 7 Skills No. 17
Weather maps
Read te rules and answer the questions.
1. Label all the isobars on the Map, e.g. "1008 ".
2. On the Map, mark
(a)a high pressure cell (H)
(b)a low pressure cell (L).
3.What was the wind speed and direction at
(a) Kalgoorlie?
(b) Townsville?
(c) Darwin?
(d) Perth?
4.What is about to happen at Perth?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
5.What effect will this have on the wind direction there?
________________________________________________
____________________________________________
6. Name two centres which are experiencing calm conditions
(a) _____________________________________________
(b)______________________________________________
7. Which town would have the hottest day and why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
8.Which area of Australia is most likely to have rain?
______________________________________________
9.Would it be cloudy or nor at
(a) Alice Springs?
(b) Townsville?
10. If the pressure cells continued to move in the normal way,
what weather could Adelaide expect to have in the next two
days?
________________________________________________
Why?____________________________________________
________________________________________________
Specialised term
Defining
verb
Class of thing
Characteristics
is
water
falling to earth.
is
water vapour
held in the atmosphere.
is
a measurement
of heat.
is
water vapour
that can be seen in the atmosphere.
are
lines
which are imaginary and run
around the earth parallel with the
equator.
is
a prediction
of the weather over the next few
days.
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 8 Skills
No. 18
Weather
1. Choose from the terms below to
complete the definitions in the table.
A weather forecast
A cloud
lines of latitude
Humidity
Precipitation
Temperature
The Bureau of Meteorology
2. Find the words
is
a place
where weather patterns are
studied.
visibility
cloudy
humid
rain
sleet
cloudy
cyclone
southerly buster
showers
snow
cold front
drizzle
long range
rainfall
squalls
barometer
easterlies
low pressure
widespread
sunshine
beaufort scale
heatwave
mercury
satellite
overcast
charts
high pressure
meteorology
localised
Year 7 Geog – Desert People 9 Skills 19
Reading weather maps
Weather maps (synoptic charts) show isobars which are lines joining
places with the same atmospheric pressure. Winds flow around these
isobars, clockwise in the case of LOWS and anticlockwise in the case
of HIGHS. Just as contour lines show areas of higher or lower
landforms, isobars form areas of higher or lower pressure, called
cells. The closer the isobars are together, the stronger are the winds,
just as contours indicate relative steepness.
Mark in the cells of high and low pressure on both maps.
MAP A:
1. Find the atmospheric pressure at :¬Melbourne __________ hPa Alice Springs_________hPa
Port Hedland ________ hPa Townsvile ___________hPa
2.Name the two features in the bottom comers of the map.
____________________________________________
3.Which centre is experiencing the strongest winds?
centre________________strength ______________ kph
4. Give the wind direction and strength at the following
centres :¬
Perth direction________________ strength _______kph
Hobart direction________________ strength _______kph
Canberra direction______________strength _______kph
5.Which centres have experienced rain during the past 24
hours? _______________________________________
MAP B:
1. Find the atmospheric pressure at :¬
Sydney__________hPa Port Hedland ___________hPa
Perth __________ hPa Darwin ______________ hPa
2.Name the feature in the bottom left comer of the map.
3.Which centre is experiencing the strongest winds?
Centre _________________strength ________ kph
4.Give the wind direction and strength at the following
centres :¬
Perth direction _________ strength _________ kph
Sydneydirection _________ strength_________ kph
Canberra direction _________ strength_______ kph
5.Which centres have experienced rain during the past 24
hours? _______________________________________