Geography Term 4 PDF

SUB TOPIC - 1 Water The water cycle is continuous and has no exact starting point; it can be considered to start with oceans, where most of Earth's water exists. The sun drives the water cycle by heating water in oceans and other bodies of water, causing evaporation. Water also eva...

SUB TOPIC - 1 Water The water cycle is continuous and has no exact starting point; it can be considered to start with oceans, where most of Earth's water exists. The sun drives the water cycle by heating water in oceans and other bodies of water, causing evaporation. Water also evaporates from plants through transpiration, adding water vapor to the atmosphere. Water vapor rises, cools, and condenses to form clouds. Clouds hold water vapor until it becomes too heavy and falls back as precipitation, with rain being the most common form. Most precipitation returns to the oceans or lands, where gravity causes it to flow as surface runoff.  Some surface runoff flows into rivers and valleys, while most seeps into the Earth's surface and becomes groundwater. Runoff and groundwater accumulate as freshwater in lakes. A significant amount of runoff soaks into the ground, replenishing aquifers, which are subsurface rock formations storing large amounts of freshwater for long periods. Over time, water continues to move, eventually re-entering the ocean. Water is essential for all living things; humans can survive weeks without food but only a few days without water. Water is a valuable resource used for many purposes, but it is often wasted and polluted. Air Life on Earth depends on air; without it, there would be no life. Humans and other living organisms inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, both present in the air. Machines with engines also require oxygen. Soil Soil is the surface layer of land where plants grow. It consists of rock particles, decaying animals and plants, water, and air. Soil is a crucial natural resource; life on land depends on it. Plants grow in soil and provide food for animals through a food chain. Without soil, there would be no animal food.\ Forests A forest is an area with many trees and plants. Trees and plants in a forest grow in soil and require water and air. Wood from trees is used for building homes, making furniture, paper, and burning as firewood. Forests can grow naturally or be planted by people, known as plantations. Plantations are established to ensure a sufficient supply of wood. SUB TOPIC - 2 Abuse of resources Global population: nearly 8 billion people. People rely on natural resources for survival. Abuse of resources occurs when they are overused or used harmfully. Damaging usage is categorized as resource abuse. Conservation Conservation involves protecting and preserving natural resources. It focuses on finding a balance between resource use and protection. Sustainable use of resources is a key aspect of conservation. Conservation encourages management to prevent damage or depletion of resources. Management of Resources Conservation reduces environmental damage caused by people. It preserves the environment for future generations. Conservation promotes responsible resource use to prevent environmental harm. Conservation areas South Africa has many conservation areas across its nine provinces. Some areas are protected for their historical, cultural, and scientific significance. Example: Mapungubwe National Park in Limpopo holds important cultural and historical value. The largest conservation areas are national parks managed by South African National Parks (SANParks). South Africa has 19 national parks; Kruger National Park is the largest. National parks aim to conserve local flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Smaller conservation areas are managed by local municipalities, companies, and private individuals. World Heritage Sites are also crucial for conservation. The main goal of conservation areas is to control and manage human activities to protect the natural environment from damage, overuse, or abuse. Marine reserves South Africa protects about 17% of its coastline. Marine protected areas are a relatively new development compared to land conservation. Threats to marine areas include: ○ Overfishing ○ Pollution from ships ○ Coastal industries ○ Settlement growth ○ Expansion of the tourist industry The first protected marine area was Tsitsikamma near Knysna, established in 1964. Protecting fish in oceans is challenging; fishing is prohibited in many marine reserves. Human activities are monitored to safeguard the marine environment. International laws restrict fishing methods that harm fish or allow overfishing. Marine reserves: Protect and conserve marine life. Control fishing and harvesting of coastal marine species. Reduce conflict over coastal resources.  Isimangaliso Wetland Park is a large marine reserve designated as a World Heritage Site for its natural beauty. The park hosts diverse flora and various species of birds and animals. A habitat is a specific area where fauna and flora coexist, which this conservation area aims to protect. The marine habitat includes species such as humpback whales, which migrate north to the warm Mozambique coastline during summer. Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles return to Cape Vidal from November to December to lay eggs; these turtles are endangered and require protection. Visitors to iSimangaliso Wetland Park can: ○ Go on game drives ○ Participate in educational tours ○ Bird-watch ○ Fish in designated areas ○ Hike ○ Go boating. Community conservation projects There are two types of community conservation projects: 1. Projects that teach better ways to use natural resources (e.g., Rainman Landcare Foundation). 2. Projects that generate income for local communities through sustainable use of the natural environment (e.g., Mashushe Shongwe Game Reserve). 1. Rainman Landcare Foundation Location: KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Focus: Helping farmers care for their land to optimize soil and water use. Methods taught to farmers include: ○ Making Compost: Compost is made from animal manure, leaves, grass, and kitchen waste to restore soil nutrients. ○ Water Harvesting: Grass (swales) is planted between crop beds to retain water in the soil and reduce runoff. ○ Making Mulch: A layer of grass or leaves is spread on topsoil to prevent erosion, retain moisture, and combat weeds. 2. Mashushe Shongwe Game Reserve Established by the Mzinti community, Mpumalanga Parks Board, and a private company. The community designated land for a game reserve after realizing it couldn't be used for crop cultivation. Infrastructure developed includes roads and lodges, and game animals were introduced. Community benefits include: ○ Shared profits from the game reserve. ○ Job creation. Activities for visitors include hiking, bird-watching, hunting, game drives, and educational tours. SUB TOPIC - 3  Who uses South Africa’s water - Farmers primarily use water for: - Irrigation - Animal care - Cleaning animal sheds Less than 1% of all water - Washing machines on Earth is freshwater. - Homes use water for: - Washing - Cleaning - Sewage disposal - Mines and industries use water for various processes, such as: - Removing minerals from rocks - Trees need water to grow, leading commercial forests (plantations) to require large amounts of water. Availability of water and requirements in South Africa South Africa is a water-scarce country, with insufficient water to meet the needs - of its growing population. - Many regions experience prolonged dry spells, sometimes lasting for months. - Some areas receive most rainfall in a few months, often as heavy thunderstorms, leading to runoff and soil nutrient loss. - A complex system of rivers, dams, and pipes is used to store, clean, and distribute water nationwide. - Key factors contributing to water scarcity include: - Semi-arid desert climates in the western regions (e.g., Great Karoo, Namaqualand, Kalahari Desert) - Erratic rainfall patterns - Long sunlight days causing high evaporation - Large population growth - The eastern part of the country, including Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape, has more regular rainfall and fresh water availability. Semi-arid = less than 500 mm of rainfall per year Arid = less than 250 mm of rainfall per year  Lesotho highlands - The Lesotho Highlands project supplies water to South Africa from Lesotho through dams and rivers. - South Africa imports water from the Lesotho Highlands. - Johannesburg receives its water supply from the Orange River via the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. - In exchange for water, Lesotho receives electricity generated from hydroelectric power produced by the movement of water in the Orange River. - The Orange River originates in the Lesotho Highlands (Drakensberg Mountains) and flows approximately 2,000 km west into the Atlantic Ocean. - The Vaal River joins the Orange River about halfway through its length. - Johannesburg also sources water from the Vaal Dam. - South Africa loses nearly 40% of its water due to poorly maintained infrastructure and leaking pipes.  Storing water in - South Africa currently has enough water for approximately 60 million people. dams - The country's numerous dams and complex water cleaning and distribution systems ensure adequate water supply. - Without these systems, there would not be enough water for the population. The importance of dams and water cleaning and distributing- Several steps are required to get water to people: systems - Water must be stored in dams. - Water needs to be cleaned for safe drinking. - Clean water needs to be stored. - Water must be pumped through pipes to settlements. - Dams provide a regular water supply for: - Settlements - Farms - Industry - Dams also help: - Control river flow - Move water between dams - Generate hydroelectricity.  Building dams - South Africa is expected to double its water needs by 2030. - Some believe that building more dams is the only solution to meet future water needs. - However, building more dams has several disadvantages, including: - High costs - Negative impacts on land, river systems, and local ecosystems - Alternatives to building dams include: - Using available water more efficiently and reducing waste - Recycling wastewater for reuse - Improving irrigation methods to use less water on farms - Repairing existing water supply systems by fixing leaking pipes - Effectively and sustainably utilizing underground water - Managing water resources sustainably for future generations.  River health and care of catchment areas - A river catchment is the area drained by one main river and its smaller tributaries. - Human activities in a catchment area impact the water quality of the rivers. Ways to care for catchment areas: - Farmers should use natural fertilizers and pesticides instead of strong chemicals to reduce chemical pollution in rivers. - Preserve as much natural vegetation as possible near rivers, as removal leads to soil erosion that can block rivers and dams. - Implement laws to prevent dumping in rivers, as some settlements use rivers as natural drains or sewers, which severely affects water quality. - Wetlands are part of river catchment areas and are often water-covered. - They are important because they: - Act as natural filters that clean river water. - Absorb excess water, helping to prevent flooding. Ways wetlands are damaged: - Farmers drain wetlands to create fields. - Farmers use wetland water to fill their dams. - Removing vegetation and trees reduces a wetland's water-holding capacity. - Alien plants compete with native vegetation for water, consuming more water and reducing wetland levels. - Waste from settlements, industries, and farms pollutes wetlands, harming plants. - Wetlands must be protected because certain plants and animals, such as ducks, ibises, bulrushes, herons, and fish, can only survive there. - A diverse plant and animal population indicates a healthy wetland and river. - Since 2000, the organization Working for Wetlands has rehabilitated over 95 wetlands across South Africa's nine provinces. - Wetlands can be found inland or near the ocean: - Inland wetlands have freshwater. - Coastal wetlands contain salty water (e.g., iSimangaliso). - Seekoeivlei in the Free State is an example of a freshwater wetland that was drained for agriculture but is now managed and protected. - Alien vegetation and drainage systems have been removed at Seekoeivlei, allowing indigenous plants and wildlife to thrive, attracting many tourists. Responsible water resources - agricultural, industrial, and domestic users Using Water Responsibly in Agriculture Subsistence Farmers’ Impact on the Environment: - Minimal impact on land due to traditional farming methods. - Do not use chemical fertilizers that pollute water sources. - Avoid land alterations such as drainage or wetland removal. - Water crops by hand. - Plant a variety of crops to maintain soil nutrients. Commercial Farmers’ Impact on the Environment: - Often have a negative impact on land and water resources. - Use nearly two-thirds of South Africa's available fresh water, primarily for irrigation. - Poor irrigation practices lead to significant water waste. - Apply large quantities of artificial chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers, which contribute to river pollution. - Large-scale irrigation systems consume millions of liters of water. Ways Farmers Can Use Water More Responsibly: - Choose irrigation methods that effectively reach each plant's root system. - Irrigate during cooler parts of the day to minimize evaporation. - Water only when necessary, avoiding irrigation during rain. - Ensure good soil drainage for efficient water absorption. - Plant drought-resistant crops that require less water. Using Water Responsibly in Industry - Factories, mines, and power stations use about 8% of South Africa’s water. - Poisonous chemicals from these industries may be dumped directly into rivers, leading to serious pollution. - South Africa spends billions to make polluted water safe to drink. - Acid mine water forms underground when old mine shaft tunnels fill with water. - This water mixes with minerals in the rock, becoming highly acidic. - The acidic water eventually flows out into the environment, a process known as acid mine drainage. DONE