Earth is moving

Have you ever felt the Earth move? Sometimes the Earth's crust can shift beneath us and cause hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Geomorphology is the study of these movements. It investigates how they form the physical features we see on the Earth's surface, such as mountains, ridges and valleys. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Landscape types

Our world is made up of many unique physical features. We can categorise these features into various landscapes such as coastal, mountain, desert and riverine by identifying landforms that are found in each. For example, a beach is a landform that is characteristic to a coastal landscape, and a valley is a characteristic landform found in a riverine landscape. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Coastal landscapes

Being an island, Australia is bordered by many unique coastal landscapes where the land meets the sea. When visiting a coastline, you may often comment on the weather, as you are more exposed to the force of the wind and waves, and the temperature and rainfall. Being exposed to these elements also has a significant impact on coastal landscapes. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles is an example of how dynamic our coastlines are. These stacks were originally part of mainland Australia, however, constant erosion from wind and waves created caves in the limestone cliffs. Over time these caves expanded into arches and eventually stacks, separated from the headlands. With two stacks crumbling earlier this century, only seven Apostles remain standing today. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Desert and semi arid landscapes

The most significant characteristic of a desert is its dry environment. In these arid locations, it barely rains. Did you know that 70 per cent of Australia is classified as arid or semi-arid? There are 10 named deserts in Australia. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

Uluru and Kata Tjuta are two prominent desert landforms in central Australia. Rising high above the land, they are constantly weathered and eroded, and they change over time. This occurs due to a variety of environmental processes such as temperature changes, which causes rock to crack, and rainwater run-off, which can shape the canyons and valleys in the rock. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Mountain landscapes

A mountain landform is defined as a place that rises at least 300 metres from the surrounding area. These prominent landforms are shaped by the force and movement of tectonic plates. When two plates collide, fold mountains may develop. Block mountains arise along fault lines in the Earth's crust, and volcanic mountains are formed when molten rock rises up and then hardens as it flows onto the Earth's surface. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Mount Kosciuszko

Within the Australian Alps region of the Great Dividing Range stands Australia's highest mainland mountain peak, Mount Kosciuszko. The landform has been shaped by faulting, folding and erosion caused by the past movement of glaciers over the mountain. Kosciuszko National Park now has bowl-shaped cirque lakes that were scraped out by glaciers as they moved over the rocky surface. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Human impacts on landscapes

Humans can alter and change landforms and landscapes by transforming them to suit their needs. For example, developing the land for housing, farms and mining disrupts natural systems and environments, but it is required to cater for our growing population. And in Australia, almost 90 per cent of the population lives in urban areas (towns and cities). Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Introducing fieldwork

A key part of studying geography is conducting fieldwork to investigate our environment. In preparation for fieldwork, it is important to develop a research question and choose a site that is local and has been shaped by humans or natural processes. Think about how you would classify your site in terms of its landscape. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Fieldwork activities

Preparing for fieldwork involves planning activities and actions that you may wish to conduct while onsite. Initially, it is helpful to research the site and collect some historical data from secondary sources . This information may guide the primary data you wish to collect and the tools or materials required to do so. Produced by ABC Education in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria.

Determining Density

The density test is one of the techniques used in identifying minerals. This video is part of a series which demonstrate how to undertake mineral identification tests.

Streak Test

The streak test is one of the techniques used in identifying minerals and looks at the colour of the powdered mineral. This video is part of a series which demonstrate how to undertake mineral identification tests.

Bathymetry of Australia

This video is a flythrough around the coast of Australia shows the major topographic features of the seafloor around the continent. Starting in the south west the viewer can see the continental shelf and slope of the southern coast followed by the seamount chains and the Great Barrier Reef to the east. Continuing around the north then west coast the eastern end of the Java Trench is shown before returning to Perth and pulling out to show the whole continent.

Exploring Australia's Seafloor

Our seafloor is vast, fascinating, but relatively unexplored. Learn how marine scientists make maps of the seafloor and what these maps are used for. This webinar also introduces some of the unique and mysterious creatures found in the deep ocean.

Introduction to fossils

Learn about fossils in this behind-the-scenes visit to the Commonwealth Palaeontological Collection. See different types of body and trace fossils; learn how organisms may become fossilised, and some reasons why scientists study fossil specimens.

Understanding the National Earthquake Alerts Centre

Learn about earthquake monitoring in Australia through a visit to the National Earthquake Alerts Centre where seismic data from a global network of seismometers is received. The checking and analysis process is shown along with the types of seismic waves.

Fossil shell stories

Fossil shells can tell us about past environments. This video presents examples of shell fossils that help us to understand where oceans were located in Australia millions of years ago. Brachiopods from Canberra and a large spiral shell from the Nullarbor Plain are showcased.

The Geology of Minecraft

How do some of the rocks in Minecraft form and behave in real life? This short video discusses bedrock, obsidian and redstone using real rock samples and references to the game.

Introduction to tectonic plates (primary)

This video introduces the concept of tectonic plates making use of a tectonic plates puzzle. Viewers are asked to predict the direction and speed of plate movement and consider where and why earthquakes happen on the Australian Plate.

Sugar shake: erosion experiment (primary)

This video introduces the concepts of weathering and erosion by investigating why river pebbles are often rounded. Viewers can undertake an activity which demonstrates the process of erosion using sugar cubes.

Earthquake monitoring

This video introduces the concepts of earthquake monitoring using seismometers and seismographs. It also features the National Earthquake Alert Centre. Viewers are asked to try making earthquakes at home using the accelerometers in their smartphones.

Rocks from volcanoes

This short video introduces rocks from volcanoes and their features using some of the samples in the Geoscience Australia Education Centre.

Positioning 101 – what is positioning

Learn the basics of positioning technology and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that help us pinpoint where we are and where we want to go.

Introduction to the Geography of Australia

Australia is a unique continent. This short video introduces the physical geography of Australia using a colourful topographic map. Viewers are shown the three major physical regions of the continent, the lack of large mountains and consider why relatively few people live in Australia given its size.

Liquefaction In Action

This short video explores how large earthquakes may cause solid ground to become ‘liquefied’.