Contours - How height and shape of the land can be shown on a map

Contours are brown lines on a map that join places with the same height.
Every point along a contour line is the same height as is stated.
Lines are drawn at common intervals (equal distance apart).
The closer the contours are together, the steeper the slope.
The contour interval is always constant (the same).

Yr12, Yr 13 Oil Exploration in NZ

Below are some of the video clips we have seen in class over the last week.

There is no tomorrow - documentary. (very depressing!)

The history of fossil fuels

Yr11 - What causes earthquakes?

The above video gives you the basic details on what causes earthquakes.

This video explains the processes behind earthquakes in more depth explaining the different types of seismic waves.

Some useful websites = 

USGS science page

Live Science explains what causes earthquakes

BBC page for schools on earthquakes

Yr11 - Plate Tectonics.

Below are links to the videos watched in class this week.

plus some other useful ones :)

Yr13 - Tourism Revision - Likely Questions and essay plans

One of the most difficult bits about completing the Tourism paper is making sure you understand what the question is asking you!

You only have to answer one of two questions - so make sure you can understand what you are being asked to do and that you know the case study well enough to answer one of the following questions!

Choose ONE of the questions below and answer it. Your answers must relate to a cultural process, and the environment(s) where this cultural process operates.
Identify your chosen question, cultural process, and the environment(s) where this cultural process operates below, then plan your response on page 3.

In your analysis:

• integrate detailed, specific information about your environment(s)
• draw relevant detailed map(s) and/or diagram(s) on page 4, and/or integrate them throughout your written answer as appropriate.

Question 1. Comprehensively analyse how the operation of your cultural process has shaped your named geographic environment(s).

When answering this question a rough essay plan may look like this;

• A description of the way in which Rotorua has been shaped by Tourism.
• Pink and white terraces/buried village = first tourists. Accommodation built for them. Tourism Rotorua encouraged more.
• Trout introduced to lake
• Development of roads, rail, airport encourage more - improved accessibility
• Most attractions facilities clustered in CBD. Give examples - redevelopment of CBD
• Accommodation located along roads (linear pattern).
• Dispersed fixed attractions - give examples.
• Clustered secondary attractions - give examples.
• New types of tourists = different attractions - give examples.

Question 2. Comprehensively analyse the extent to which the operation of your cultural process has impacted on people and the environment in your named geographic environment(s).

When answering this question a rough essay plan may look like this;

• Impacts on people of tourism - jobs (1in5) 3.2millio visitors, pop of Rotorua only 65'000.
• Jobs seasonal/poorly paid - huge impact on downstream industries (153 million) .City heavily reliant on Tourism = problems if no. of visitors drops.
• large number of people = problems sewage/water supply/congestion/environmental impact on vulnerable environments (lake had to be cleaned) /conflict with locals.
• Tourism pays for infrastructure and improvements.
• Protects and promotes Maori culture but also cheapens.

Question 3

a) Draw an annotated map or diagram of any ONE environment you have studied that illustrates the spatial patterns of features or characteristics resulting from the operation of your cultural process.

(b) Comprehensively analyse how the operation of your cultural process causes spatial variations in geographic environment(s) such as those you have drawn in (a).In your analysis:

• integrate comprehensive supporting case study evidence (other relevant map(s) and/or diagram(s) may be used)

• include an understanding of the links between the elements of the cultural process to draw conclusions.

When answering this question a rough essay plan may look like this;

• Clustering of attractions in CBD - give examples - due to accessibility/sharing facilities/comparison of prices/duel offers. 
• Linear patter of accommodation - give example - due to accessibility/main roads/easily seen/comparison of prices.
• Dispersed attractions - give examples - fixed attractions/based on natural features/need large areas of space/most people now have own transport and can reach
• Clustering attractions - give examples - share facilities/cheaper/offer combined entry fees/share parking/limited space by main roads.

Yr 11 - Extreme Natural Events - Likely Questions and some simple essay plans!

In this assessment it is possible to predict the type of questions you are likely to get. They tend to always ask the following;

• What processes cause your chosen Extreme Natural Event (what causes earthquakes)?
• What impacts does your chosen Extreme Natural Event have on the natural or the cultural environment? (How do earthquakes affect people and cities or the natural landscape?)
• How did people respond to your Extreme Natural Event in the short or long term? (How did people react immediately after the earthquake and how did they respond in the days weeks or months after the event?)

Below are example of some of the questions you are likely to get along with brief essay plans. These are short sentences or bullet points with a summary of what you will write about in each paragraph. In the assessment you will need to write in full sentences and in essay style. These are just rough plans of what you could include in an answer.

Question 1

Fully explain the natural processes that operate to produce your named extreme natural event within the environment of your named case study. Also specifically asks you to include reference to the concepts of Process and Environment.

Paragraph 1 - An earthquake is caused by the movement of the earth’s crust and can cause a lot of damage and devastation. Process = Plate tectonics. The earths structure – crust, mantle, inner and outer core. Split into plates. (diagram of earth’s structure)

Paragraph 2 – What causes plates to move (convection currents). Plate boundaries – conservative/constructive/convergent(destructive or subductive).Destructive beneath NZ – Pacific + Australian plate. Build up of stress energy, release = earthquake. (possible diagram of plate boundaries)

Paragraph 3 – Plates beneath NZ Environment = causes of Christchurch EQ – previously unknown fault. Magnitude 6.3. Epicentre 10km to SE of CC centre. Followed 6 months after 7.1 magnitude quake.

Question 2

Fully explain how your named extreme natural event has affected the cultural environment.You may use diagrams, and include some of the ideas from the table below, to support your answer.

Cultural Environment = Created by man – so cities/towns/buildings/roads

Paragraph 1 – Intro – Caused wide spread devastation…many buildings/infrastructure destroyed. Details of EQ – struck at 12.51pm on 22^nd Feb 2011. 185 people killed. Fire + falling building causing many deaths (CTV building). Cost of rebuilding $20-30 billion. Tents set up in central park for people who’s homes had been damaged.

Paragraph 2 – Liquefaction – to eastern suburbs – damaging roads/homes. Roads/bridges/airport damaged causing problems for rescue efforts.

Paragraph 3 – Electricity/Power lost to many (on day of quake 80% of city without power) – took 5 days to get 82% reconnected.  Many lost water supply took a week to reconnect 70% of the city. Sewage and water pipes burst. 2000 portaloos had to be bought in and 5000 chemical toilets.

Paragraph 4 – loss of businesses/jobs due to damaged buildings and inability to access CBD. Depression and people leaving the area to live elsewhere – (CC no longer 2^nd biggest city in NZ). Loss of communities…..

Question 3

In the space below, describe the human response both during and after your chosen extreme natural event. You may answer in paragraph form or use a combination of diagrams and notes. Specific references to a named case study (or studies) must be included in your answer.

Paragraph 1 - Initial response.

•  Ordinary people helped to rescue those who were trapped
• Urban Search and Rescue was there within a couple of hours of the event.
• Emergency government cabinet meeting held at 3pm
• The Canterbury Art Gallery, which was earthquake proof, was turned into an emergency response centre.
• 300 Australian police were flown in
• The police provided security cordons, organised evacuations, supported search and rescue teams, missing persons and family liaison, and organised media briefings and tours of the affected areas.
• Chemical toilets were provided for 30,000 residents
• Areas were zoned (green, orange, white, red) to classify damage/cost of repairs
• International aid was provided in the form of money (around $6-7 million) and aid workers
• The Earthquake commission assessed all buildings to ensure they were safe.

Paragraph 2 - Long term response.

•  The Red Cross provided grants to families with children under 5years of age who were living in significantly damaged homes caused by the September or February earthquakes, with their electricity bills.
• The police coordinated forensic analysis and evidence gathering of fatalities working closely with pathologists, forensic dentists and scientists.
• Paid $898 million in building claims
• Provided temporary housing and ensured all damaged housing was kept water tight
• Water and sewerage was restored for all residents by August
• Roads and houses were cleared of silt from liquefaction by August and 80% of roads/50% of footpaths were repaired

Yr11 - Contours and cross sections

The video below shows you how to use contours to create a cross section graph. This is what we tried to do earlier in the week in class :)