Earth Science 7- Austrailia, New Zealand, Antarctica 4

ANTARCTICA

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Latitude:

90 degrees north

Longitude:

0 degrees east

Population:

0 permanent, >1,000 nomadic

Antarctica has zero countries!

Regions:

Queen Maud Land, Graham Land, Wilkes Land, Marie Byrd Land, and Victoria Land

Elevation:

7,000-8,000 Ft.

[[Image:http://www.google.com/imgres?q=map+of+antarctic+rock+types&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1179&bih=607&tbm=isch&tbnid=8coBOCLJ9Y8mtM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15735625&docid=an7ey18HqV9D7M&imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/sci_environment/11/antartic_toggle/img/antarctic624x420.jpg%253Fcachebuster%253Dcb00000002&w=624&h=420&ei=vDdJT7rUAsTWtgfvtdTvAg&zoom=1]]

Highest Point:

Vinson Massif at 16,066 ft. above sea level

Lowest Point:

Lake Eyre at 52 ft. below sea level

Largest bodies of water:

The Ross Sea, The Weddell Sea, The Amundsen Sea, and the Southern (south of the Atlantic) Ocean

Major Topographic Features:

Ross Ice Shelf, Transatlantic Mountain, Prince Charles Mountains, Ellsworth Mountains

Bordering Oceans:

The Southern Ocean, also known as (the South part of) the Atlantic.

Climate:

Antarctica is the coldest and windiest place on earth. The lowest temperature ever recorded was recorded in Antarctica: -129.3ºF. The average winter temperatures range from -40º to -94ºF. The average summer temperature is 20ºF. The warmest temperature that was ever recorded in Antarctica was 59ºF! Winds are commonly measured at up to 200 miles per hour.

Climate Zones:

Dwc- Subarctic, severe, dry winter, cool summer. Dwd- Subarctic, severe, very cold and dry winter, cool summer. ET- Tundra, polar tundra, no true summer. EF- Ice Cap, perennial ice

Latitude is Affected By

Antarctica's latitude affects the temperature because the closer to the poles you get, the colder it is, and Antarctica surrounds the South pole. The interior has a very high altitude which adds to the very cold temperatures. The water surrounding Antarctica gives no warming effect to the land. The Antarctic current is a cool current, which makes the water colder near the coast of Antarctica. The cold climate of Antarctica does not allow for vegetation at all, so flora and fauna do not affect the climate.

Geology

File:Http://bprc.osu.edu/education/rr/webex/Images WebEx/TAMMap.jpg

Rock Types

East Antarctica is a very old plate shield, consisting of metamorphic rocks. West Antarctica is younger, built in the last 500 million years by microplate collisions, consisting of all types of rock: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.

Rocks

East Antarctica: gneiss, schist, granites, and sediments (from oceans)

West Antarctica: many different rocks, including slate, granite, dolerite, coal, and limestone.

Antarctic Resources

Coal: Coal deposits are found along the coast of Antarctica, especially throughout the Transantarctic Mountains. These were formed about 40 million years ago, during the time that Antarctica was covered by ancient swamps.

Ice: Antarctica's ice accounts for 90% of the fresh water in the world. Today, the costs of aquiring/shipping the water make make the industry unprofitable. Another possible use of the ice is as a long term deep freeze storage site for foods such as meat or grains. Unfortunately, again, the costs of shipping and handling make this impossible.

Petroleum: There are no petroleum resources known in Antarctica. There has still been no exploration or discovery attempted. The speculation about petroleum in Antarctica comes from finding petroleum on continents that were once connected to Antarctica. Yet again, the ice and hostile climate keep us from gathering these resources.

Minerals: Iron; Cobalt; Chromium; Nickel; Copper; Platinum; Manganese; Uranium; and Lead.

Fossils: In the Transantarctic Mountains, plant fossils (-Permian Age), and reptiles and amphibians (-Triassic) have been found. In the Antarctic Peninsula, ancient marsupial fossils have been discovered. More common Antarctic fossils are ammonites and petrified wood.

File:Http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica fact file/science/ derived/threats mining oil.htm txt mining.gif

Plate Tectonics

File:Http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/GeolColBk/SmCol/AntarcticPlateSmColLabel.gif

The continent Antarctica is entirely located on the Antarctic plate. Plates surrounding the Antarctic plate include the South American plate, the African plate, the Austrailian plate, the Pacific plate, the Nazca plate and the Scotia plate. It forms a divergent boundary with the Pacific Plate, known as the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.

All the surrounding plates broke off from 120-50 million years ago (varying), so Antarctica is almost entirely surrounded by divergent plate boundaries. As the Americas and Antarctica move away from Africa, they also pulled away from each other. The gaps were filled by oceanic crust that formed the Caribbean and Scotia Plates.

Boundary Types:

Between the Antarctic and Scotia plates is a transform boundary, causing most of the motion between the states to be strike-slip.

The Antarctic plate is nearly static, as all surrounding plates are moving away from it. If someone would hold the Antarctic plate in place, people could see that the Australian plate is moving 11.3 mm per year North and 41.8 mm per year East. The Pacific plate is moving 65.9 mm/yr South and 101.5 mm/yr East. The Scotia plate is moving 76.9 mm/yr South and 73.4 mm/yr West, and the South American plate is moving 87.9 mm/yr South and 5.7 mm/yr West. The Nazca plate is moving 35.7 mm/yr North and 96.5 mm/yr West. This movement away causes almost all of the boundaries of the Antarctic plate to be divergent.

Continental Margins:

Antarctica's continental margin (the boundary between oceanic crust and continental crust)are about 15,900 km long. About 13,900 km are rifted divergent type and about 1600 km was changed to a passive margin from a subduction type after ridge-trench collision along the Eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. About 400 km are active convergent type.

Earthquakes:

    There appears to be very few Antarctic earthquakes, but that may be because there are not many seismograph stations.

Almost all earthquakes on the Antarctic plate and plate boundaries are fairly shallow. These shallow earthquakes occur along spreading ridges, and are anywhere from 0-33 km in depth.

In this picture, the green/aqua areas are areas of shallow seismic activity.

File:Https://wiki.carleton.edu/download/attachments/12228605/EQ.gif?version=1&modificationDate=1320533375000

    Icequakes, movement of ice sheets occurring in glaciers and the incredibly thick ice of Antarctica instead of in the land below, are much more common than earthquakes in Antarctica.

On March 25, 1998, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake occurred in the Balleny Islands, recorded at a depth of 10 km.

File:Https://wiki.carleton.edu/download/attachments/12228605/EQ.gif?version=1&modificationDate=1320533375000

Volcanoes:

Most volcanic activity in Antarctica occurs in the Marie Byrd Land, along the West Antarctic rift system An area of active volcanoes, Marie Byrd Land is along the Northwestern edge of the Antarctic continent. Most of the volcanoes in the Marie Byrd land are composite (Andesitic magma) or shield volcanoes (Basaltic magma) which appear to be on land but are probably in the ocean, seeing how multiple other shield volcanoes can be found just off the coast. The further inland, the more viscous the volcanoes of Antarctica become (Rhyolitic magma).

There is also some volcanic activity along the divergent boundaries with the Pacific, African, and Australian plates. These volcanoes are a result of magma rising at the spreading ridges.

Mount Erebus is the most active volcano on in the southern part of the world. At 3,794 meters, its deep crater is suspected of bing a hot spot.

Antarctica has 2 volcanic island arcs: the South Sandwich and South Shetland chains.

    Deception Island is the most well-known volcanic island in the South Shetland chain. It remains active now, and has erupted multiple times out of multiple vents.
    The volcanic islands in the South Sandwich Arc are unknown, and are such to the point of inhabitance that many eruptions on the arc were only discovered by scientists studying the post-eruptions. 
    The volcanic island arcs have basaltic magma, because they are shield volcanoes.

File:Https://wiki.carleton.edu/download/attachments/12228605/Screen+shot+2011-10-09+at+3.20.36+PM.png?version=1&modificationDate=1318196018000

References:

Plate Tectonics: www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/GeolColBk/AntarcticPlate.HTM Boundary Types: [[1]] Earthquakes and Volcanoes: [[2]] Continental Margins: [[3]]

[[4]

[[5]] [[6]]

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AUSTRALIA

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Countries in it

Australia

Latitude and Longitude

27° 0' 0" S / 133° 0' 0" E

Elevation Range

2243 meters (7349 feet)

Highest Point

Mount Kosciuszko 2,228 meters (7,310 feet)

Lowest Point

Lake Eyre 15m (39 feet) below sea level

large bodies of water

lakes:Lake Eyre (9500km2)

Lake Torrens (5900km2) and Lake Gairdner (4300km2)

Large rivers

Murray, Darling, and Goulburn[[[7]]]

Major Topographic Features

beaches, plains, plateus, and low flat lands.

Bordering Oceans

Indian and Pacific

Average monthly temperature high and low

84 degrees F- 56 degrees F (in Sydney, Australia)

Average monthly rainfall

can range from 71 inches to 10 inches because the raifall has a lot of variation over the course of the year(in Sydney, Australia)

Average monthly precipitation

4.3 inches (over all of australia)

Climate zone

dry arid low latittudes, marine mild winter, humid subtropical, mid latittude dry, and dry arid mid-latittudes

In the cities there are many things that effect the climate. Latitude effects it by where the city is located in the latitudes it will cause the temperature to change like if it is in higher latitudes the temperature of the region will be warmer but if it is in lower lattitude the temperature will be higher, Australia is in a wide range of latitudes so the temperature varies a lot. The elevation also causes the temperature and the pressure to change. The pressure will change causing the temperature to change. The pressure changes by when you get in to higher elevation the pressure will be lower because there will be less of the atmosphere pushing down on you. The pressure can also effect the wind because of what kind of pressure system it is the air will flow in and out of it differently. The topography effects the winds, temperature, humidity, and many other climate changes. It effects the wind, like for example the wind will be stronger around a moutain or plateau because the wind will not blow through it. The proximity to water effects the humidity. When the humidity is effefcted it also effects the rainfall because if it is more humid there is more water in the air and when there is more water in the air it makeks it more likely to rain. The prevailing winds have an effect on the all around local weather of the region. Because these winds can change the ocean currents and many other things that will ultimatley effect almost every aspect of the weather in that region and if it is extreme maybe the whole world. The vegetation will effect the fauna in the region and it will effect the amount of clean air. This means if all of the vegetaion drastcly changed an indiginous animal, like a kangaroo, may have a problem living there because there might not be the same vegetaion that is crutioal to its diet. The high and low pressure zones will effect the local winds. The local winds, as i mentioned earlier with the prevailing winds, can affect all aspects of the regions weather. The ocean currents effect the temperature of the region. The western australia current is a cool current which would cause western ausrtalia's coast to have a cool climate. Although, the eastern australia current is warm so that would cause the coast fo eastern australia to have a warmer climate. There are many factors that cause weather in the city to vary.

Geology

Rock Types: Igneous: From near volcanoes, mostly along the western coast. (Because igneous rocks are formed when lava cools.) Metamorphic: Form in mountain building regions, mountains in Australia are in the inland and on the southeastern coast. Because metamorphic rocks form from heat and pressure and when mountains move it causes pressure. Sedimentary: From in rivers. Rivers in Australia are mostly inland because the sediments build up over time and make rocks.

Minerals: Major minerals in Australia: Gold, Iron ore, nickel, bauxite/aluminum, copper, silver, uranium, diamond, opal, zinc, coal, oil shale, petroleum, natural gas, rare earth.

Mining: All of the minerals listed above are mined in Australia.

references

text book www.theweatherchannel.com (only used sydney australia) [[8]]

Volcanoes Newer Volcanics Prov: sheild volcano with basaltic lava, Latitude: 37.77°S, Longitude: 142.50°E, in south eat Australia. Several vents were active during the Holocene; another vent (Mount Tower) is now considered to be of late-Pleistocene age.

Earthquakes Australia has a lot of earthquakes and they are not just on the plate boundaries they are all over Australia. Although there are earthquakes everywhere the most occur on the southern side of Australia. The most recent earthquakes have not been very strong they have just been small ones that people can sleep through. there have been about three significant earthquakes but they have not been where many people are.

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NEW ZEALAND

Region:

New Zealand

Country:

New Zealand

Latitude and Longitude:

41 degrees South and 174 degrees East

Elevation range:

Lowest- Pacific Ocean (0 m), Highest- Mont Panie (1,628 m)

Large Bodies of water:

Lakes: Lake Taupo, Lake Wakatipu, Lake Te Anau, Lake Ellesmere, Lake Wanaka

20 Longest Rivers: Waikato, Clutha, Wanganui, Taieri, Rangitkei, Mataura, Waiau, Waitaki, Clarence, Oreti, Rangitaki, Manawatu, Buller, Thames, Mohaka, Wairau, Waiau, Waimakariri, Whangaehu, Ngaruroro

All rivers: [[9]]

Bordering Oceans:

Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean

Major Topographical Features:

Volcanoes: Mount Egmont, Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe, Mount Tongariro

Mountains:(group) The Southern Alps

Topographic map: [[10]]

Tectonic Plate location

New Zealand is located on top of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, balanced between them.

Climate:

Climate Zone: Cfa, meaning New Zealand is humid subtropical, mild with no dry season, and hot summers. The average temperature of the warmest months are over 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius), and the average temperature of the coldest months are lower than 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). There is year around rainfall but it is highly variable.[11]

Maps of average temperature and rainfall: [12]

Average Rainfall (in one year): Between 640mm and 1500m

Averages of the monthly rainfall, temperature, wind run, and sunshine in every area of New Zealand: [[13]]

Average monthly temperatures (Celsius): January:18.9, February:18.8, March:16.8, April:14.2, May:11.0, June:8.5, July:7.9, August:9.1, September:10.9, October:13.3, November:15.4, December:17.5

Average Monthly Rainfall (mm): January:65, February:64, March:63, April:70, May:86, June:82, July:90, August:77, September:54, October:56, November:51, December:55

Monthly rainfall and temperature will vary some.

Variables affecting climate: There are lots of variables that affect the climate of New Zealand. One variable is the ocean currents. They bring warm water down from the equator, warming the island. Also, the prevailing winds known as the Westerlies bring warmer air from the equator as it travels south, and the topography affects the climate as well, for if you are higher up, the air will cool and not be able to hold as much water. The same will happen with higher elevation. As New Zealand is an island and surrounded by water, there is more humidity in the air, causing precipitation and changes in temperature. There are also sea breezes, which cool the land. All the vegetation in New Zealand cause changes in temperature, air pressure, and the amount of oxygen in the air. The latitude causes temperature change, one reason because different latitudes get different amounts of sunlight. The high or low pressure zones determine the winds, changing temperature and pressure. Many variables cause the climate and weather to change, as these are only a few examples.

Geology

Rock Types: There are all three types of rocks in New Zealand: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. The sedimentary rocks are present all over the land, as well as in the mountains, and some examples are sandstone and limestone. The ocean is very close, (New Zealand is an island) and moves sediments around. Then they compact and cement, becoming sedimentary rocks. There are also metamorphic rocks, for example, schist and gneiss, which are there because of all the mountains. The mountains create pressure and heat on the rocks below, which become metamorphic rocks. Then there is uplift, bringing the metamorphic rocks to the surface to form either part of the mountain or just land. And lastly, there is igneous rocks on New Zealand. There are volcanoes on New Zealand, and when they erupt, the lava cools and hardens, becoming igneous rocks. [http://data.gns.cri.nz/geoatlas/text.jsp

Minerals: Aggregate and Gold account for 80% of the total value of the mineral resources. There is also iron sand, silver, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, and steel.

Mining Resources: Aggregate and Gold together account for 80% of the total value of New Zealand's mineral resources. Gold, iron sand, and silver were major metallic commodities that made a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economy. [14]

Fun Fact: There is sandstone and mudstone in some of the mountains, and together they are known as "greywacke."

Geological map of New Zealand: [15]

Plate Tectonics

The Northern island of New Zealand sits on the Australian plate, while the Southern island is split between the Australian plate and the Pacific plate.

Boundary Types

The boundary running through New Zealand is a convergent boundary.

Margin Types

The margins of New Zealand are not active, as the boundary runs through New Zealand and not on the edge.

Volcanoes

All info in this section from: [16]

Presense of Volcanoes: There are many volcanoes on New Zealand, but are only active on the Northern Island and offshore.

Names and types of volcanoes: Above Sea-level and on Northern Island Kaikohe-Bay of Islands (Volcanic Field, some basaltic and some rhyolitic volcanoes), Whangarei (Cinder Cone, basaltic magma), Aukland Field (Volcanic Field, basaltic volcanoes), Mayor Island (Shield Volcanoe, basaltic magma), Taranaki-Egmont (Stratovolcano, andesitic magma), White Island (Stratovolcanoes, two overlapping andesitic volcanoes, one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes), Whale Island (andesitic complex volcano), Rotorua (caldera), Okataina (Lava Domes, rhyolitic), Reporoa (caldera, rhyolitic), Maroa (caldera, rhyolitic), Taupo (caldera, rhyolitic), Tongariro (Stratovolcano, andesitic, composed of more than a dozen composite cones), Ruapehu (stratovolcano, andesitic).

Submarine Volcanoes: Clark (basaltic), Tangaroa (andesitic), Rumble II-V (all andesitic), Healy (rhyolitic), and Brothers (basaltic).

Most recent erupion: White Island, 2001

Earthquakes

Presence: As New Zealand sits right on the boundary between two plates there is lots of earthquake activity.

     Map of earthquakes in the last ten years: [17]

Locations of earthquakes: The earthquakes are all along New Zealand.

3 most recent earthquakes: New Zealand time: 7:28 AM April 22, 2012 (magnitude of 3.3), 1:41 AM April 22, 2012 (magnitude of 4.3), and 8:56 AM April 21, 2012 (magnitude of 2.5)[18]

Significant earthquakes: There are many significant earthquakes in New Zealand because there are so many earthquakes there, the highest having a magnitude of 8.2. For more information about major earthquakes: [19]

Types of Rock and the Relationship to Tectonic Activity

There are all types of rocks in New Zealand, (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) and this is partly because of the two plate boundaries bordering New Zealand. The two plate boundaries cause instability on the island, causing earthquakes and volcanoes.

== References: == ; [[20]]; [[21]]; [[http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nzealand/rivers.html ]]; [[22]] [[23]]; [[24]] [[25]]