Environment
Basic Environmental Stats
EcosystemNew Zealand is one of the most geographically isolated areas in the world. To the south of the country, there is only ocean, ice, and Antarctica, which causes the environment, especially in the south, to be very cold. Throughout the country, there is a variety of different and interesting flora and fauna, which creates a unique ecosystem throughout the country.
|
ResourcesNew Zealand's government is aiming for a more ecologically safe environment and a smaller use of renewable and non-renewable resources. The government is doing so in hopes of a higher economic growth and a smaller Carbon Footprint. Oil and gas are major resources in New Zealand. Also, the country is very rich in minerals and geothermal energy.
|
New Zealand and Plate Tectonics
The majority of New Zealand rests on top of the Australian and Pacific plate, creating a variety of mountain ranges and volcanic formations. Due to the location of New Zealand on top of where the Australian and Pacific plates collide, it has shaped New Zealand and given it its natural geological features. The collision of the plates has formed mountain ranges and volcanoes throughout the country, and has also been the cause of some major earthquakes in New Zealand. Landslides are also a common occurrence throughout the country because of the gravitational force that the rising mountains (due to the tectonic forces) are pushing against. The plate boundaries in New Zealand have also affected the climate of the country. (GNS Science)
|
The majority of the movement from the plates is coming from the Alpine Fault. Along this fault line, there is mostly sideways movement, causing major earthquakes throughout the country. There is also some upward movement between these two plates, and this is the cause of the extremely defined string of mountain ranges running through the middle of New Zealand and taking up about half of the country.
The plate boundaries in New Zealand also have majorly affected the migration patterns and the trade and transportation of products, especially in the early history of the country. The way that the mountain ranges have been formed throughout the country have affected the way people travel throughout New Zealand, thus affecting trade and transportation. The mountains have provided many natural resources for the country, including rocks and minerals, such as Greywacke (a type of rock found in the mountains throughout the country). Also, plate tectonics have affected the climate of New Zealand. Due to the various mountain formations throughout the country, they have allowed water to runoff into the oceans and other bodies of water surrounding the country. In addition to this, due to the mountain ranges formed by the colliding tectonic plates, there have been dry areas of land created because of the lack of water an area has gotten because of the mountains blocking off these areas and not allowing them to receive a steady source of water.
People have had to adjust to the formations created by the tectonic plates in New Zealand. Throughout the country, there are bridges and other manmade structures made to adjust to the area due to oceans, rivers, and mountain ranges. These structures have helped people move around the country, transport goods throughout the country, and have been helpful to connect people to other people and things throughout the country (making transportation easier). |
New Zealand and it's Climate
New Zealand's climate is impacted majorly because of the plate boundaries that run though it. It varies from warm subtropical temperatures in the north to cooler temperatures more in the south, with the average temperatures running through the middle of the country. This is mainly because of the mountain ranges that are spread out throughout New Zealand; due to the formation of mountain ranges, the climate varies throughout New Zealand. The country receives a moderate amount of rainfall, a lot of sunshine, and average temperatures because the majority of the country is the along the coast.
New Zealand has a climate of "temperate with sharp regional contrasts". (climatezone.com) Because New Zealand is in the temperate region, it has average/moderate temperatures throughout the year.
New Zealand's highest point from the ocean is at Aoraki-Mount Cook (3,754 m). This area differs from New Zealand's lowest point, the Pacific Ocean (0 m) not only in meters but in climate. These elevated areas, such as Aoraki-Mount, have different climates because the farther up you go off of the ground, the air cannot easily hold heat, because it is so thin. Because of this, the air in these areas tend to be cooler. Areas close to the ocean have a warmer climate not only because the air is more dense and able to hold heat, but also because the affect that ocean currents have on climate. Water from the ocean is constantly evaporating, which lets off humidity into the atmosphere. Due to the fact that New Zealand is surrounded by the ocean, the climate of the areas closer to the coastline, and even some areas throughout the country are affected by these ocean currents.
|
Climate's Effect on New Zealand
|
The weather and climate of New Zealand are extremely important to the people living in the country. As many people make their living using the land, having a healthy area to grow crops is vital. New Zealand has moderate temperatures, slightly above average amounts of rainfall, and a great deal of sunshine. These factors all contribute to the environment of New Zealand. They create the environment, and allow the environment to grow, as the country has very little pollution. The mountains and the ocean also contribute to the impact that these factors have on the environment. Because New Zealand is practically divided in two by the mountain ranges formed by the plate boundaries that run through the country, the mountains don't allow some areas of land to receive as much sunlight and rainfall. The ocean currents make the area along the coastline much more humid than the areas on top of the mountains, but the humidity from the ocean manages to spread to some areas throughout the country.
|
Climate majorly affects ecosystems, especially if there is a change in climate. For example, if there is a climate change from a warmer climate to a cooler climate, then specific types of species would be forced to migrate to a different area where the species would be supported in order to survive. Similarly, if saltwater, for example, is intorduced into a freshwater ecosystem, then the species in this ecosystem will either have to migrate to a different place where it supports there lifestyle, or they will die. This, in turn, affects the food chain inside of the ecosystem and other plants and animals. With these contributing factors, the ecosystem is shaped to what it is today in New Zealand.
|
Climate impacts the lives of people in a major way. First of all, because New Zealand is in the temperate climate zone, it allows for fertile land, which makes farming and grazing (which is popular in New Zealand) much easier and more possible. In turn, because of the fertile land and grazing, people benefit from this agriculturally, meaning that they have a plentiful source of natural resources. Also, if people live in an area with a cooler climate, then they wouldn't be able to participate in outdoor sports, such as soccer, baseball, etc. On the other hand, if people lived in an area with a warmer climate, then they wouldn't be able to participate in winter sports (in their area), such as skiing, snowboarding, etc. So, in New Zealand, because it is located in the temperate climate zone, so its population can participate in a variety of sports throughout the country.
|
There are also a few challenges having to do with the climate in New Zealand. There has been a recent climate change, but the country is doing its best to tackle the situation. Lately, there have been records of higher temperatures in the country, elevated sea levels, frequent weather events, such as droughts and floods, and fluctuating rainfall patterns. This affects people because it might force a fraction of the population to migrate away to avoid these changes. For example, the rising temperatures in New Zealand has created a larger demand for air conditioning. Also, because of the fluctuating rainfall patterns, it allows for a higher increase in the production of agriculture, but it also creates a threat for drought. |
New Zealand and the Water Cycle
New Zealand is located in the south Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean provides an abundant amount of water to the country. Water is relatively plentiful in New Zealand. There are multiple desalination plants in the country, which creates an even larger supply of usable water. The water cycle in New Zealand is affected in many ways. Because the water cycle is so delicate, any outside factors will have an affect on it. The water cycle in New Zealand is majorly affected by plate boundaries. There are major tectonic plates that run throughout the country, creating mountain ranges that practically divide the country down the middle. As New Zealand is a fairly mountainous area, then the water that is precipitated back down to the earth will not be able to flow back into the ocean, causing the water cycle to be interrupted. When this happens, it can cause a lack of rain, dry land, and less groundwater movement/availability.
|
The water cycle in New Zealand is also majorly affected by climate in many ways. Most of New Zealand's precipitation is rain, and only about 30 percent of it evaporates back into the atmosphere. If the climate is hotter, then the water is heated up and evaporated more efficiently, whereas if the climate is cooler, then the water will not evaporate as often. Also, due to Global Warming, it melts the icecaps on the top of mountains, which runs off into the ocean, streams, and rivers. This causes these bodies of water to rise. Also, as people pollute the earth more and more, it overall pollutes the atmosphere, which will eventually get mixed into the evaporated water; the water will precipitate back down to the earth and runoff into the ocean, lakes, rivers, and absorb into the ground, causing the entire water cycle and the available water resources to become polluted as well.
New Zealand is quite unpolluted; the water quality, by standards, is clean and abundant. The various lakes and rivers throughout the country support a very healthy environment. |
The water cycle in New Zealand is majorly affected by natural resources throughout the country. The water could become polluted by the incorrect use of these natural resources, which would affect the water cycle. As the cycle proceeds, it would eventually pollute the groundwater (as well as the soil), the land, the ocean, and the water supply. People would also be affected by the polluted water cycle because they would get water from the water cycle for human use, and the people would be using polluted water. Also, how the people of New Zealand use their natural resources is affecting the water cycle in the country. The use of land for farming has been changed over many years; a rising increase in dairy farming has been a main cause of the water pollution. Due to the land clearance for these dairy farms, lakes and rivers have been affected by siltation.
|
Sediment from erosion of hills and river banks is also a source of pollution of waters. Due to the clearing of the land for grazing, loose sediment has appeared. As the sediment from the land is carried in water throughout the country, it eventually pollutes the water and lakes, rivers, and oceans, which, in turn, affects the whole water cycle in New Zealand.
Water in the country is mostly publicly owned, but in some areas it is privately owned.
Water Security Letter
Natural Resources vs. People
There are many available natural resources in New Zealand. A major natural resource used throughout the country is oil. Oil is a huge export, and it is a very important factor in the economy. New Zealand eventually plans on having a world-leading system for the management of oil and gas. More major natural resources in the country are minerals; minerals are found in a large variety throughout the region. New Zealand is mineral rich, and the management of them can be a major factor in the economy as well. Geothermal energy is yet another common natural resource in New Zealand. The energy is extracted from the heat beneath the earth's surface. New Zealand has a plentiful supply of geothermal energy; the country is rich in geothermal energy. There have been many uses for this resource.
|
New Zealand is a major exporting industry having to do with energy. It is not only used throughout the country, but because New Zealand is rich in geothermal energy and other forms of energy, they are able to export it, which, in turn, affects the economy in a financial way. There are no major issues having to do with natural resources in New Zealand.
Agriculture is a large contributing natural resource in New Zealand. About 40% of the arable land in the country is used for farming/grazing. Sheep and beef farming are the most major use of agriculture in the country, followed by dairy farming and cropping. Not only do these forms of agriculture contribute to the economy and benefit people and the country, but it also plays a role of the pollution in New Zealand.