Transcript L2 Demonstrate a geographic understanding of a large natural

L2 Demonstrate a geographic understanding of
a large natural environment: Amazon Basin
1 Choose 2 natural characteristics (elements) that create
patterns in the environment from climate, soils, vegetation,
landforms.
a) Draw an annotated sketch map or diagram to show: the
patterns created by the 2 natural characteristics.
Note: annotate means more than just label. It could
include where the features are located and a reference to
the pattern created.
A sketch map still needs FACKTS and SPECIFIC DATA.
b) Fully explain the patterns created by each
characteristic.
Use altitude (which you know from your research affects all
climate features), steepness of slopes, closeness to the sea,
position relative to ITCZ, position relative to the equator and
hence convectional rainfall.
Example: Vegetation Patterns
5 Andes
tussock grass
to the West
at higher
Altitudes
Eg Cuzco
3600m
2 Evergreen
rainforest to
The West
In rain shadow
of Andes eg Puerto
Maldenado 180m
Scale
3 Savanna grassland to N and S of equato
on higher Plateaux (2,800m) where less ra
and cooler.
1 Selva-Seasonal rainforest
Central, and low lying
area with av 27’C and
2700mm rain pa.at Manaus.
Caused By ITCZ
4 Thorn forest peripher
And along the coast
Resistant to salt winds
N
Key
c) You may be asked how the interaction of the
2 characteristics varies from place to place ie is
different in different parts of the
environment.
Use the same factors to explain the interaction of vegetation with
landforms.
Vegetation interacts with
relief or landforms
Savanna and tussock grass grows only at higher altitudes
because ------Selva or tropical rainforest grows
at low altitudes
Because ----Evergreen rainforest grows in
rain shadow of Andes
Because --Thorn forest grows
along coastal strip
Because --
How the processes operating in the large natural
environment interact
Processes can be divided into processes below the earth,
land forming processes (convection currents, subduction,
folding and uplift of Andes fold mts) and above, land
modifying processes.
Above= weathering, (the break down of rocks due to
freeze thaw action in the Andes over 3,000m) mass wasting,
(movement downhill due to gravity eg landslides, rockfalls)
glaciation, (erosion of U shaped valleys by ice) river erosion,
transportation and deposition. The amazon is over 6,000km
long, with 15 tributaries over 1000km long eg Madre de Dios
which the Tambopata flows into, and disharges 15% of all
rivers in the world so does a huge amount of work,
transporting and depositing especially. Transports 1.2billion
tonnes of sediment pa. White water rivers from Andes, clear
water from Plateaux, black water from basin.
Choose 2 groups of people and state their perception of
the Amazon basin at 2 different times. Include
supporting evidence. Give reasons for change over time
1 Native Indians Enawene Nawe live in Mato grosso state. In
the Past saw the land and rivers as theirs as indigenous
people. Indigenous perspective. Then 11 dams planned on
Juruena R. Present, Enawene Nawe have become more
militant and willing to protest and to fight for their rivers and
land because they are more educated and more and
more dams are proposed as Brazils economy grows.
Environmental perspective.
16/8/2012 federal judge suspended work on massive Belo
Monte Dam, costing US $11billion as a result of activists who
say it will devastate wildlife and livelihoods of 40,000 people
who live in the area to be flooded. Interfere with fishing
(only source of protein) and Yakwa rituals.
Peruvian Amazon- Tambopata National Reserve,
Ese eja are indigenous people fishing, hunting and
gathering with some shifting cultivation.
Until law change in 1974, no indigenous communities
were legally recognised in Peru. This law has changed
their attitude as they can now legally own land.
Joined with private tourism company to build tourism
Lodges eg Refuge Amazonias.
They receive 70-80% of profits for personel use and rest
goes into community projects.
Choose 2 groups of people and state their perception of
the Amazon basin at 2 different times. Include
supporting evidence. Give reasons for change over time
2 Soya Bean King, former govenor of Mato Grosso, Blair
Maggio, world's largestindividual soya producer Past
economic perspective-make money by cutting down forest
and growing soya beans. 2003 destruction of the Amazon
rose by 2/5ths. 2006 received “Golden Chainsaw Award”
from Greenpeace responsible for 48 percent of the total
forest loss in theBrazilian Amazon Aim to triple agricultural
production in 10yrs. Present defending the forests. Maybe a
political viewpoint- needs votes to remain mayor and
public opinion is defending the forests. He has created
Amazon Biome and Cerrado Biome, land that cannot be
cleared. Mr. Maggi also saw the emerging carbon market
as an opportunity to create positive economic value for
standing forests.
L2 Demonstrate geographic understanding
of differences in development
1 Choose 2 characteristics of development eg wealth,
(GDP per capita) health, (infant mortality rates, life
expectancy) education, (literacy rates, years at school)
political freedom (voting rights) social freedom (race,
gender discrimination) and explain how they
demonstrate differences in development between USA
and Afghanistan. Use specific detail.
What do they tell us about development?
That USA is wealthier, healthier, better educated than
Afghanistan.
GDP per capita
USA
$54,000 Afg $1000
Infant mort per 1000
USA
8
Afg 257
Literacy
USA
99%
Afg 24%
Explanation
USA is 2nd wealthiest in world according to GDP, people are healthy and therefore can
work efficiently and educated so that they can work productively. Lets look at effects on
agricultural and industrial production, overseas trade and international relations.
This means that they have money spare to invest in industries like oil (Exxon Mobll,
Texas 1st), Electronics (Hewlett Packard, California 29th), chemicals, cars (General
Motors, Detroit 20th largest), as well as agricultural production of wheat, cattle
etc. The products of these companies can be exported, enabling USA to earn
overseas currency and make more money. USA’s exports= $ 1.024trillion (no 3
=cars) To Canada (20%), Mexico (12%), China (6%)
This pays for many and varied imports that improve the USA’s standard of living (
no 3 medicines) Imports $2 .01 trillion, from China (17%) Canada (16%) Mexico
(10%). Money spent on health (16% of GDP) ensures continuing health of
population. Similarily money is invested in an educated population and 25% of
the population are educated to Batchellor degree standard.
As a result, USA has a varied economy with services (50%) contributing most to
GDP and over 80% of population live in urban areas where services are the main
employers. Internationally, USA is part of the UN and has embassies in most countries and
tourists visit the USA from most countries, adding to their income and providing 7.5m
jobs. War is a drain on the economy but also provides employment. The U.S. is highly
influential in the world. The global reach of the United States is backed by a $15 trillion
economy, approximately a quarter of global GDP, and a defense budget of $711
billion, which accounts for approximately 43% of global military spending. Illustration
Lorenz Curve
Explanation
Afghanistan is shown to be less developed. GDP $466 per head.
Afghanistan 177th in world according to GDP. people are not healthy and therefore
cannot work efficiently and uneducated so that they cannot work productively.
Lets look at effects on agricultural and industrial production, overseas trade and
international relations.
GDP is also low because Afghanistan is 49% mountainous so even though agriculture
is the main industry, it is mostly subsistence and contributes very little to
development. 78% of the people work in agriculture but it only contributes 31% to
GDP. Only 22% live in urban areas, where most industries are located and these
industries are restricted to carpet making and dried fruit production by
companies like Dole. As a result, Afghanistan has few Exports with a value of only
$576m. Exports to Pakistan 55% India 12% Iran 2% (fruit, nuts, carpets) Not enough
is earned to buy even necessities (food, oil, manufactured goods). As a result,
their standard of living is low. Imports value $2,513m and come from Pakistan 17%
China 15% Japan 12%. This uses money that could otherwise be spent on health,
education. Only 7.4% of GDP spent on health.
Many do not attend school making it hard for young people to get jobs even if
there were jobs available. Youth literacy rates M 49% F 18%.
Health also restricts their productivity as only 37% in rural areas have improved
drinking water, meaning they are more susceptible to diseases and not as
productive. Also, 35% of people are unemployed and so contribute nothing to
GDP.
GDP is low BECAUSE— although Afghanistan has minerals (iron copper gold silver in
NE and emerald in SE) it has no money to develop them, war prevents foreign
investment and they are not accessible. $57b AID money has been pledged by
other countries since 2002 but too much conflict for development.
International relations are becoming more and more strained as overseas troops are
killed by Taliban and tourist numbers are about 3,00 pa compared with 120,000 in
3 Choose 2 Strategies and explain HOW they might be implemente
and HOW they might make a significant reduction in differences i
development, by Govt or non-Govt organisations.
Strategy 1Govt. Political stability. May only be implemented if there is No
more war. Govt needs to encourage overseas aid and investment in
Afghanistan. Today Islamic democracy under Hamid Karzai but still
corrupt and busy fighting Taliban with US, Aust, UK troops, destroying any
hope of growth. Politically unstable since 1700’s.
One program is the Kabul International Ag Fair. The fair – a project
assisted by USAID – ran yearly from 2007-2009, attracting 40,000 to 60,000
visitors through two days. According to the Ag Fair’s website, the
festival’s even attracted an American sponsor – the Afghan affiliate of
U.S. based Coca-Cola.
Marriott Hotels invested $80 million to build a hotel and expand
operations into Afghanistan. Construction is expected to be completed
by the end of 2010, encouraging tourists to visit Afghanistan.
David Murdock, chairman of Dole Foods Company, visited Afghanistan
in 2007 to discuss a potential Afghan presence for the company.
This can reduce disparities between Afghanistan and USA shown by
progress is in the urban and stable areas of the North of Afghanistan,
where people are better off, better educated and healthier. Urban
areas 54% literacy, rural areas 18%. These peoples standard of living are
more like their counterparts in the smaller urban areas of the USA,
although still a long way behind wealthy Americans.
Strategy 2 Govt. Economic growth and increased incomes, so that
people don't spend most of their time desperately trying to keep their
families alive.
Govt.Policymakers zero in on two areas to grow Afghanistan's
$11.4 billion economy: agriculture and mining.
Mining is currently a $52 million a year industry – less than 1
percent of the economy. But a few big-name projects highlight
its potential. In a deal with the Chinese in 2007, the Aynak
copper mine will bring in $1 billion of annual revenue for Kabul.
And bids were due Feb. 15 to exploit Hajigak, a massive iron ore
deposit. "That's estimated to bring in up to $3 billion a year in
government revenues for centuries," says Craig Steffensen,
Afghanistan country director for the Asian Development Bank.
"I think the mining sector is this magic bullet that everyone is
looking for to sustain things without [foreign donors] having to
cover costs.“ To be implemented, overseas investors like the
Chinese are needed and Western investors have to be
confident that Afghanistan’s uncertain regulatory environment,
corruption, lack of transparency, and lack of security have all
been sorted by the Govt.
Afghanistan’s economy saw record real GDP growth in 2009/10
at 22.5 percent. This will reduce differences with USA.
Agriculture will always show great volatility because of its
weather dependency, but recovery from the severe drought of
2008/09 resulted in agriculture output growth of 36 percent
Even with an uncertain and deteriorating security situation,
strong output (non-agricultural component of 14 percent) was
driven by increased donor spending – a 24 percent increase in
donor grants and about US$ 4 billion in off-budget donor
funding.
However there are a number of economic indicators suggesting
that Afghanistan is on an unsustainable growth path and will
continue to lag behind USA. Little is produced for export
purposes while the country depends heavily on imports for
reconstruction and food. Another major concern is the fact that
gross revenues from opium trade are estimated to be equivalent
to as much as third of measured GDP (opium is not reflected in
the official GDP numbers). Afghanistan is the source of 93
percent of the world’s opium production and the area under
cultivation more than doubled from 2003 to 2007.
2 There is another possible question on HOW natural
and cultural factors contribute to differing levels of
development.