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Australia’s
Physical
Geography
Australia – a stable continent
Australia is the lowest and flattest
of the seven continents.
This is because it is located almost centrally
on a crustal tectonic plate.
There is no major mountain-building activity,
which commonly occurs where plates join.
Australia – a stable continent
The ancient rocks on the Australian continent
have been subjected to gradational forces for
much longer than those on other continents.
Gradational forces affect Earth’s surface from above.
Tectonic forces affect Earth’s surface from below.
Gradational and tectonic forces
Gradational forces usually break down Earth’s surface,
or even level it out.
Volcanoes and earthquakes result from tectonic forces.
Tectonic forces usually force the surface upwards
or change its structure.
Gradational and tectonic forces
Landform features caused by gradational forces
are classified into three types:
• residual – landform features
that remain after gradation has
occurred, or that resist gradation
• erosional – landform features
created when material is removed
(e.g. by wind or water)
• depositional – landform features
consisting of material relocated
after erosion.
Gradational or tectonic forces?
Identify each of these seven processes as either
gradational or tectonic.
Gradational
Tectonic
Gradational or tectonic forces?
weathering
vulcanism
folding
faulting
landslide
Gradational
erosion
deposition
Tectonic
weathering, folding, faulting, erosion, vulcanism,
landslide, deposition
Gradational or tectonic forces?
folding
vulcanism
landslide
Gradational
weathering
weathering
faulting
erosion
deposition
Tectonic
Gradational or tectonic forces?
faulting
vulcanism
landslide
Gradational
weathering
folding
erosion
deposition
Tectonic
folding
Gradational or tectonic forces?
erosion
vulcanism
landslide
Gradational
weathering
deposition
Tectonic
folding
faulting
faulting
Gradational or tectonic forces?
vulcanism
landslide
Gradational
weathering
erosion
erosion
deposition
Tectonic
folding
faulting
Gradational or tectonic forces?
landslide
Gradational
weathering
erosion
deposition
Tectonic
folding
faulting
vulcanism
vulcanism
Gradational or tectonic forces?
deposition
Gradational
weathering
erosion
landslide
landslide
Tectonic
folding
faulting
vulcanism
Gradational or tectonic forces?
Gradational
weathering
erosion
landslide
deposition
deposition
Tectonic
folding
faulting
vulcanism
Processes shaping landforms in Australia
Identify places in Australia where there are landforms
created by these processes.
• weathering
• vulcanism
• folding
• landslide
• faulting
• deposition
• erosion
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
Match each description to a landform.
Then identify it as residual, erosional or depositional.
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
An area of lower land, usually
between hills or mountains.
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
erosional
An area of lower land, usually
between hills or mountains.
valley
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
An accumulation of material at a river-mouth
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
depositional
An accumulation of material at a river-mouth
delta
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
A deep, steep-sided valley
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
erosional
A deep, steep-sided valley
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
A stony surface where wind has
removed finer materials
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
A stony surface where wind has
removed finer materials
gibber plain
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
A large, flat, low-lying area
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
depositional
A large, flat, low-lying area
plain
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
Material that accumulates along a coastline
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
depositional
Material that accumulates along a coastline
beach
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
A very high, steeply sloped landform feature
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
A very high, steeply sloped landform feature
mountain
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
residual
erosional
depositional
An undulating pattern of windblown material
mountain
valley
beach
dune
gibber plain
plain
delta
canyon
Gradational forces – what type of landform feature?
depositional
An undulating pattern of windblown material
dune
Australia’s landform regions
Most of Australia’s landform
consists of hills and plateaus.
Compared with other continents,
Australia has few mountainous regions.
Australia’s landform regions
In a journey across Australia from west
to east, following the Tropic of
Capricorn, the main types of landform
you would cross (in order) are:
A. coastal plains, highlands,
interior lowlands, hills and plateaus, coastal plains.
B. coastal plains, interior lowlands,
hills and plateaus, highlands.
C. coastal plains, hills and plateaus, interior lowlands,
hills and plateaus, coastal plains.
D. coastal plains, interior lowlands, coastal plains.
Australia’s landform regions
Desert landforms, such as
sand dunes and canyons,
would most likely be
located in the:
A. highlands and interior lowlands.
B. interior lowlands and coastal plains.
C. interior lowlands and plateau.
D. western plateau and hignlands.
Australia’s landform regions
Australia has ancient, extinct volcanoes in the eastern
states. The volcanoes are oldest in QLD, of intermediate
age in NSW and youngest in VIC and SA. This most likely
provides evidence that Australia:
A. is drifting closer to New Zealand which has
active volcanoes.
B. has been drifting northward over a hotspot in
Earth’s crust.
C. has been drifting southward over a hotspot in Earth’s
crust.
D. is about to experience renewed volcanic eruptions.
Facts and figures about Australia
Match each landform example to the correct
landform feature.
Flinders Ranges
fold mountains
Kimberley
volcano
Mount Gambier
block mountains
Eastern Highlands
dissected plateau
Facts and figures about Australia
Match each landform example to the correct
landform feature.
fold mountains
Kimberley
volcano
Mount Gambier
Flinders Ranges
block mountains
Eastern Highlands
dissected plateau
Facts and figures about Australia
Match each landform example to the correct
landform feature.
fold mountains
volcano
Mount Gambier
Flinders Ranges
block mountains
Eastern Highlands
Kimberley
dissected plateau
Facts and figures about Australia
Match each landform example to the correct
landform feature.
fold mountains
Mount Gambier
volcano
Flinders Ranges
block mountains
Eastern Highlands
Kimberley
dissected plateau
Facts and figures about Australia
Match each landform example to the correct
landform feature.
Eastern Highlands
fold mountains
Mount Gambier
volcano
Flinders Ranges
block mountains
Kimberley
dissected plateau
Facts and figures about Australia
Complete the sentences.
largest
Australia is the world’s _______________
island,
with a land area of about 7 692 000 km2.
flattest
Australia is also the world’s _____________
continent, with its highest point measuring 2228 m.
driest
Australia is the second __________
continent
in the world, after Antarctica.
True or false?
Cape York Peninsula is north-west of Alice Springs.
False – Cape York Peninsula is north-east
of Alice Springs.
Cape
York
Peninsula
Alice Springs
True or false?
Melville Island is Australia’s second largest island
after Tasmania.
Melville Island
True or false?
The Flinders Ranges are located in
Western Australia.
False – The Flinders Ranges are located
in South Australia.
South
Australia
Flinders Ranges
True or false?
Mt Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest point.
Mt Kosciuszko
True or false?
Perth’s climate can be described as tropical and wet.
False – Perth’s climate has four seasons, and
can be described as Mediterranean.
Western
Australia
Perth
Which place am I?
• I am a 260-metre long reef.
• I am the largest fringing coral reef in Australia.
• I contain over 500 species of fish and
200 species of coral.
Which place am I?
Ningaloo Reef,
Western Australia
• I am a 260-metre long reef.
• I am the largest fringing coral reef in Australia.
• I contain over 500 species of fish and
200 species of coral.
Which place am I?
• I am located 110 km south-west of Adelaide.
• I am Australia’s third largest island.
• My natural attractions make me very popular
with tourists.
Which place am I?
Kangaroo Island,
South Australia
• I am located 110 km south-west of Adelaide.
• I am Australia’s third largest island.
• My natural attractions make me very popular
with tourists.
Which place am l?
• I am the world’s largest sand island.
• I am 125 km long and over 160 000 hectares in area.
• I was formed during the Ice Age, when wind
transported vast quantities of sand from NSW
and deposited it along the Queensland coast.
Which place am I?
Fraser Island,
Queensland
• I am the world’s largest sand island.
• I am 125 km long and over 160 000 hectares in area.
• I was formed during the Ice Age, when wind
transported vast quantities of sand from NSW
and deposited it along the Queensland coast.
Which place am I?
• I run 300 km east and west of Alice Springs.
• I am the second longest and second highest
mountain range in Australia.
• I have red sandstone gorges and waterholes
lined with red river gums and ghost gums.
Which place am I?
Macdonnell Ranges
Northern Territory
• I run 300 km east and west of Alice Springs.
• I am the second longest and second highest
mountain range in Australia.
• I have red sandstone gorges and waterholes
lined with red river gums and ghost gums.
Which place am I?
• Scientists believe I formed 2700 million years ago.
• I am 14 metres high and 110 metres long.
• I look like I am just about to break.
Which place am I?
Wave Rock
West Australia
• Scientists believe I formed 2700 million years ago.
• I am 14 metres high and 110 metres long.
• I look like I am just about to break.
Which place am I?
• I am located 987 km west of Sydney.
• I am one of 17 dry lakes which constitute the
Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area.
• I dried up 14 000 years ago and am now
a rich source of fossils.
Which place am I?
Lake Mungo
Lake Mungo
New South Wales
• I am located 987 km west of Sydney.
• I am one of 17 dry lakes which constitute the
Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area.
• I dried up 14 000 years ago and am now
a rich source of fossils.
Which place am I?
• I am a rainforest located in tropical
Far North Queensland.
• I am 135 million years old.
• I was placed on the World Heritage List in 1988.
Which place am I?
Daintree Rainforest
Queensland
• I am a rainforest located in tropical
Far North Queensland.
• I am 135 million years old.
• I was placed on the World Heritage List in 1988.
Which place am I?
• I am 1545 metres tall.
• I am one of the
most popular tourist
destinations in Tasmania.
Which place am I?
Cradle Mountain
Tasmania
• I am 1545 metres tall.
• I am one of the
most popular tourist
destinations in Tasmania.
Australia’s climate
Australia is affected by different types of air masses.
These air masses
affect the atmospheric
conditions in different
parts of the continent.
They are moved about
by winds.
Australia’s climate
Air masses:
• Sm – Southern maritime
• Pc – Polar continental
• E – Equatorial
• Pm – Polar maritime
• Tc – Tropical continental
• Tm – Tropical maritime
Australia’s climate
Features:
• Sm – cool and humid
• Pc – cold and dry
• E – hot and humid
• Pm – cold and humid
• Tc – warm and dry
• Tm – warm and humid
What types of air masses
affect the weather in
your area?
Climatic regions
Match the numbers with the climatic regions.
__ Tropical East Coast
__ Tropical Wet–Dry,
Monsoon
__ Tropical Desert
__ Warm Temperate
East Coast
__ Warm Temperate
West Coast
(Mediterranean)
__ Mid Latitude
Continental
__ Cool Temperate
West Coast
Zeehan
Climatic regions
Match the numbers with the climatic regions.
2 Tropical East Coast
__
__
1 Tropical Wet–Dry,
Monsoon
3 Tropical Desert
__
__
6 Warm Temperate
East Coast
5 Warm Temperate
__
West Coast
(Mediterranean)
__
4 Mid Latitude
Continental
__
7 Cool Temperate
West Coast
Zeehan
Climatic regions
Which climatic region does this
climate graph come from?
Daly Waters
Tropical Wet–Dry, Monsoon
Climatic regions
Which climatic region does this
climate graph come from?
Zeehan
Cool Temperate West Coast
Climatic regions
Which climatic region does this
climate graph come from?
Adelaide
Warm Temperate West
Coast (Mediterranean)
Climatic regions
Which climatic region does this
climate graph come from?
Cairns
Tropical East Coast
Climatic regions
What do you think the climate graph looks like for:
Charlotte Waters?
Charlotte Waters
Tropical Desert
Climatic regions
What do you think the climate graph looks like for:
Condobolin?
Condobolin
Mid Latitude Continental
Climatic regions
What do you think the climate graph looks like for:
Port Macquarie?
Port Macquarie
Warm Temperate
East Coast
Weather patterns – typical winter conditions
What are the features of this synoptic chart?
Describe the typical
weather conditions
across the continent
during winter.
Weather patterns – typical winter conditions
The air pressure
in Brisbane is
closest to:
A
B
C
D
1014 hPa.
1013 hPa.
1012 hPa.
1014 isobars.
Weather patterns – typical winter conditions
In the last 24 hours,
Sydney
experienced:
A a change of wind
direction.
B a fall in
temperature.
C the onset of
rainfall.
D all of the above.
Weather patterns – typical summer conditions
What are the features of this synoptic chart?
Describe the typical
weather conditions
across the continent
during summer.
Weather patterns – typical summer conditions
The synoptic feature that
best indicates this is a
summer chart is:
A the cold front in
the south east.
B the pressure
systems in
the north.
C the pressure
systems in
the south.
D the absence
of rain.
Weather patterns – typical summer conditions
One state capital
being influenced
by a Sm (Southern
maritime) air mass
is:
A
B
C
D
Brisbane.
Sydney.
Adelaide.
Hobart.
Case study – Uluru
We know Uluru as a huge rock.
But in fact it is part of an
alluvial fan, formed by
the erosion of the
Petermann Ranges.
Alice Springs
Uluru
Case study – Uluru
Around 550 million years ago, the Petermann Ranges
were bigger than they are now.
Over time, rain eroded rock and sand and deposited
it in alluvial fans. Fifty million years later, the area
was covered in sea. Sand and mud covered the
alluvial fans, which turned into rock.
Case study – Uluru
About 100 million years later, the sea was gone
and central Australia was subjected to massive
tectonic forces.
These forces caused part of the alluvial fan to move
nearly 90o, so it was standing on its end.
Case study – Uluru
Over the past 300 million
years, the softer rocky
material eroded away.
This left Uluru (part
of the old alluvial fan)
exposed.
The area was covered
with windblown sand
plains and dunes
30 000 years ago.
Case study – Uluru
Kata Tjuta, once known as The Olgas, was formed
in the same way. But it is made of different types
of rock.
Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta are the tips of huge slabs
of rock, which extend up to 6 km underground.
Case study – Uluru
Use these words to complete the sentences:
driest deposition sand rock water
pressure exposed alluvial tectonic
Today, Uluru is located in one of the _____________
driest
parts
of Australia.
But it was formed 550 million years ago by the action of
water
___________.
Erosion of sand and rock by rain from nearby mountains
resulted in _________________
deposition
of the material into large
_______________
fans.
alluvial
Case study – Uluru
Use these words to complete the sentences:
driest deposition sand rock water
pressure exposed alluvial tectonic
_______________
from the sea, mud and sand that
Pressure
rock
settled on these fans caused them to become _________.
tectonic
After upheaval caused by _______________
forces,
Uluru shifted about 90o degrees.
Erosion of the softer rock has left the hard rocky surface
of Uluru ______________
and the surrounding area is
exposed
covered in ___________________.
sand
Research task – Uluru
This explanation of Uluru’s formation is based on
modern geological knowledge.
Indigenous people explain it very differently – find
out about their story of how Uluru came to be.