Geographers use the key concept of space when investigating the way that things are arranged on the Earth's surface. They also investigate the ways people use and change the spaces in which they live.
Place
part of the Earth's surface that is identified and given meaning by people.
Interconnection
All environments and every living and non-living thing are connected. Geographers use this concept of interconnection to better understand the links between places and people, and how these interconnections affect the environment and the way we live.
Change
The concept of change is important in geography because it helps us to understand what is happening around us and to see the world as a dynamic place.
Environment (SPICESS)
the living and non-living components and elements that make up an area, and the ways they are organised into a system.
Sustainability
relates to the ongoing capacity of the Earth to maintain all life.
Scale
used to guide geographical inquiries.
Geographers study things that take place on many different spatial levels
Environment
all the living and non-living components within and surrounding a place.
Habitat
area of an environment in which an organism lives
Atmosphere
the mixture of gases that surround the Earth
Lithosphere
the mixture of rocks that make up the Earth's mass, including the solid land mass on the Earth's surface, the molten rocks beneath the crust and the mantle and the liquid rocks near the Earth's core
Hydrosphere
the water on the Earth's surface, including water in gaseous, liquid and solid form
Biosphere
all living things on the Earth which rely on the other three spheres (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere) for survival
Ecosystem
a community of living organisms that interact with the non living components within an environment
Fossil Fuels
resources such as coal and gas that were formed from the buried and decaying remains of organisms
Degradation
reduction in the quality and health of a natural environment due to natural processes or human activities
Types of Environments
Land, Deserts, Forests, Inland water environments, Coastal environments, Marine environments and Urban environments.
Zones of Coastal Environments
Backshore, foreshore, nearshore and offshore
Backshore
This area extends inland from the high-tide mark all the way to the highest point that water will reach during a storm.This region often contains dunes that are formed by sand transported and deposited by wind.
Foreshore
Also known as the intertidal zone.This area extends from the low-tide to the high-tide mark. It contains landforms such as berms, running parallel to the coastline.
Nearshore
This is the area of the coast that is always underwater, extending from the shoreline to just beyond the point where waves break in the surf zone.This area contains ridges of sand known as sandbars.
Offshore
This is the area beyond the nearshore zone, containing deeper water that stretches all the way to the edge of the continental shelf.
Urbanisation
movement of people from rural areas to urban areas, causing the size of the urban area to grow.
Urban sprawl
growth of cities outwards into surrounding rural and bushland areas
Infill development
development of an area of vacant urban land within an already existing city
Urban renewal
redevelopment of an area within a large city that was previously run-down and underutilised
Types of environmental worldviews
Human centred, Life centred and Earth centred
Environmental worldview
an opinion, belief, idea or way of thinking about the value of the environment
Anthropocentrism
a belief in humans and their existence as the most important and central fact in the universe
Ecocentrism
a belief that humans are a part of nature and should act to care for its health
Biocentrism
a belief that ethical treatment should be given to all living things
Human centred worldview
People who exhibit a human-centred worldview believe humans are the most important species on Earth and the pursuit of economic growth is imperative.
Life centred worldview
A life-centred worldview promotes humans to act as stewards for the environment.
Belief that humans should pursue economic growth but manage their impact on the environment with sustainable choices.
Earth centred worldview
They argue that nature exists to support all life, not just humans.
State of equilibrium
a balance between all of the components within an ecosystem
Human-induced
changes caused by human activities (in contrast to natural changes)
Greenhouse effect
an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere, that is believed to be the cause of a gradual warming of the surface of the Earth.
Anthropogenic
caused by human activity
Factors that influence environmental change
Social, historical, economic, environmental/physical, political and technological. (SHEEPT)