Level 1 Geography (91010) 2020

91010R 1

Level 1 Geography 2020 91010 Apply concepts and basic geographic skills to demonstrate understanding of a given environment

2.00 p.m. Wednesday 18 November 2020 Credits: Four

RESOURCE BOOKLET

Refer to this booklet to answer the questions for Geography 91010.

Check that this booklet has pages 2–8 in the correct order and that none of these pages is blank.

YOU MAY KEEP THIS BOOKLET AT THE END OF THE EXAMINATION.

RESOURCE A: Introducing Ross Island, Antarctica Ross Island is located in Antarctica. The island has been formed by four volcanoes, and the largest of these, Mt Erebus, is the world’s southernmost active volcano. Ross Island is extremely important to New Zealand as it is home to Scott Base, New Zealand’s scientific research station in Antarctica. Scott Base was established at the island’s southern point – Hut Point Peninsula – by Edmund Hillary in 1957. Scott Base is run by Antarctica New Zealand, and its main function is to support scientists as they carry out their vital research on the continent over the summer months. New Zealand has a close relationship with the USA’s McMurdo Station, which is located nearby. During the winter months the island is in Research complete 24-hour darkness and temperatures can drop to –36 °C, which makes outside activities extremely dangerous. Ross Island played a significant part in the incredible exploration era of the early 1900s, when famous explorers such as Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton used the island as a base as they tried to be the first to reach the South Pole. The huts they lived in for months on end have been lovingly restored and can still be visited today. Ross Island is also home to abundant wildlife, including penguins, seals, whales, and sea birds.

Explorers’ hut

Scott Base (NZ) McMurdo Station (USA)

Adélie penguins Mt Erebus 3

RESOURCE B: Location of Hut Point Peninsula

Antarctica

Ross Dependency

70°S

Ross Island 0 30 km

Ross Sea

Mt Erebus

Ross Ice Shelf

Hut Point Peninsula 4

RESOURCE C: Hut Point Peninsula Topographic Map

17 N

85 86 87 88 89 90 Scale (km)

0 1 2 3 4 5

Cultural features Natural features 5

RESOURCE D: How Antarctica New Zealand powers Scott Base A small wind farm of three turbines helps to generate power for Scott Base. Wind turbines generate power when the wind speed is greater than 4.0 m s-1 (metres per second). Turbines will not operate below that wind speed. To help with this, wind turbines are best located on elevated and exposed areas, to ensure they receive wind that is not slowed down by obstacles such as buildings.

Monthly average wind speed for Scott Base in 2018

Month Monthly average wind speed (m s-1) January 3.9 February 4.5 March 6.3 April 4.3 May 4.5 June 6.0 July 4.5 August 4.5 September 8.2 October 6.8 November 4.5 December 3.8 6

RESOURCE E: Scott Base redevelopment at Hut Point Peninsula Scott Base is managed by Antarctica New Zealand, which prides itself on maintaining a sustainable environment at Hut Point Peninsula. In 2019, approval was granted to redevelop Scott Base. Initial details of this project included:

Most of the 12 existing buildings date back to the 1970s and 80s, Scott Base can currently and it is becoming harder and accommodate 86 people. The more expensive to maintain new base could accommodate up them. to 100 people at a time.

Current base

The new base will be a world-class facility and help to Wind has been known to reach maintain New Zealand’s up to nearly 180 kph. The curved long-term relationship with the shape of the new buildings will USA’s McMurdo Station. help wind flow around them. The two bases collaborate with each other and share resources such as logistics and helicopter transport to various research outpost sites. 7

Wastewater will be treated and returned to the sea. Solid waste will be returned to New Zealand for incineration.

The water needed to supply the base will be drawn from the sea. The base will be powered by A new water treatment plant three diesel generators and the will process this water to make it Meridian Energy wind farm suitable for everyday use. located nearby.

Proposed base

All building materials will be thoroughly checked before they The three new buildings will leave New Zealand, ensuring be elevated above the ground they do not contain any to allow the wind to pass unwanted ‘passengers’ – not underneath, reducing the amount even a spider or a blade of grass. of snow drift that currently can This will make sure no invasive build up around the base. species are introduced during the build. 8

Acknowledgements Material from the following sources has been adapted for use in this examination:

Resource A Scott base: https://architectureau.com/articles/an-antarctic-collaboration/ McMurdo station: https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/29904 Hut: https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/50758 Penguins: https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/31055 Mt Erebus: https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/28997 Research: https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/29328

Resource B Antarctica: https://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/scenic/views_of_antarctica.php Ross Dependency: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/new-zealands-interest-antarctica Ross Island: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Island. Public domain. Hut Point Peninsula: http://www.litech.org/~lutchana/downsouth/McMurdo-Location/McMurdo-Location.html

Resource C https://www.linz.govt.nz/land/maps/topographic-maps/antarctic-region-maps/antarctic-topo50-map-series. This work is based on/includes LINZ’s data which are licensed by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) for re-use under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Resource D Data: https://webmedia.antarcticanz.govt.nz/weather/sbweather.html Image: https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/29508

Resource E https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12244827 https://www.scottbaseredevelopment.govt.nz/ https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113591050/opportunities-loom-as-christchurchs-economic-growth-slows Icons from www.flaticon.com by fjstudio (electricity), Freepik (waste, wind, water, dormitory, flag), Eucalyp (snow), Kiranshastry (maintenance)