earth science

Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia

Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia rather than just read about it. In short: The Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia (IMCRA), formerly the Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), is a biogeographic regionalisation of the oceanic waters of Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). As of 2008, the most recent version is IMCRA Version 4.0.

Key takeaways

Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia (IMCRA), formerly the Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), is a biogeographic regionalisation of the oceanic waters of Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). As of 2008, the most recent version is IMCRA Version 4.0. IMCRA actually defines two bioregionalisations: a benthic bioregionalisation, based on biogeography of fish together with geophysical data; and a pelagic bioregionalisation, base on oceanographic characteristics. The benthic bioregionalisation incorporates three separate regionalisations:

A regionalisation of the EEZ into provincial bioregions, based on the biogeography of bottom dwelling fishes. In IMCRA 4.0, 41 provincial bioregions, consisting of 24 provinces and 17 transitions. A regionalisation of the continental shelf into meso-scale regions based on biological and physical characters, and the distance from the coast. In IMCRA 4.0 there are 60 meso-scale regions. A regionalisation of the EEZ into 14 geomorphic units, formed by grouping the 1,134 geomorphic units defined by Geoscience Australia. The pelagic bioregionalisation divides the continental shelf into four provincial bioregions based on pelagic fish species biodiversity and richness. Offshore waters are divided into three-dimensional water masses, taking into account water properties, circulation patterns and energetics.

List of provincial bioregions This is a list of IMCRA 4.0 provincial bioregions:

List of Benthic meso-scale regions

Geomorphic units

There are 1,334 separate geomorphic units in Australia’s waters, in 14 categories. The regions represent distinct areas of geomorphic features that have similar characteristics (e.g. areas of the continental slope that contain canyons, or flat plains). Geomorphic features are determined by bathymetric models (depth analysis) of the ocean floor and provide an important predictor of species assemblages at a large scale. For example, different species will occur on low-gradient terraces compared to those on the steep-walled submarine canyons.

Categories Nomenclature of geomorphic features are based on definitions endorsed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO, 2001).

Apron:Gently dipping featureless surface, underlain primarily by sediment, at the base of any steeper slope. Bank, sandbank:Shallow water or submerged bank of sand in a sea or river that may be exposed at low tide Basin; terrace; plateau:Depression, characteristically in the deep sea floor, more or less equidimensional in plan and of variable extent;Relatively flat horizontal or gently inclined surface, sometimes long and narrow, which is bounded by a steeper ascending slope on one side and by a steeper descending slope on the opposite side;Flat or nearly flat area of considerable extent, dropping off abruptly on one or more sides. Canyon:A relatively narrow, deep depression with steep sides, the bottom of which generally has a continuous slope, developed characteristically on some continental slopes. Continental rise Deep; escarpment:Generally depths greater than 6,000 m; Elongated and comparatively steep slope separating or gently sloping areas. Knoll:Relatively small isolated elevation of a rounded shape. Pinnacle:High tower or spire-shaped pillar of rock or coral, alone or cresting a summit. It may extend above the surface of the water. It may or may not be a hazard to surface navigation Reef:Rock lying at or near the sea surface that may constitute a hazard to surface navigation Ridge; sill:(a) Long, narrow elevation with steep sides. (b) Long, narrow elevation often separating ocean basins. (c) Linked major mid-oceanic mountain systems of global extent;Sea floor barrier of relatively shallow depth restricting water movement between basins. Seamount:Large isolated elevation, greater than 1000 m in relief above the sea floor, characteristically of conical form. Shelf; abyssal plain:A gently sloping, flatter region adjacent to a continent (or around an island) or at abyssal depths. Slope:A sloped area seaward from the shelf edge to the upper edge of a continental rise or the point where there is a general reduction in slope. Trench; saddle:Long narrow, characteristically very deep and asymmetrical depression of the sea floor, with relatively steep sides;Broad pass, resembling in shape a riding saddle, in a ridge or between contiguous seamounts.

See also Coastline of Australia Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA)

References

External links Interactive Map, Commonwealth marine reserves

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia

In research: Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Biogeography of Australia, Coastline of Australia, Continental shelves, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia in simple terms?

Why does Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia.