Chapter 3 Test Flashcards
Natural Vegetation
Plants that grow without any human interference
Maritime Climate
climate of areas near an ocean. The annual temprature range is small and precipitation is high.
Annual temprature range
the difference between the average temperatures of the hottest and coldest months in a year
Continental Climate
climate of areas far from an ocean. The annual temperature range is large and precipitation is low .
Climate graph
a chart that shows the average yearly temperature and precipitation for a specific location.
Soil profile
the three different layers that exist in the soil beneath the surface of the ground
Wet climate soils
soils that develop where leaching is the dominant soil-forming process
Dry climate soils
soils that develop where calcification is the dominant soil forming process
Which of the following is not typical of maritime climates?
Convectional precipitation
Which of the following wind belts/pressure systems is likely to have the greatest impact on most of Canada?
westerlies
Which of the following is not a climate region of Canada?
southeastern boreal
Soil develops from a thick layer of
parent material
Tundra soils drain poorly and are waterlogged because
the permafrost does not allow the water to drain downward
The most northerly vegetation region of Canada
Tundra
The vegetation region that is considered a transition zone between boreal and deciduous forest.
mixed forest
The smallest vegetation region in Canada.
Deciduous Forest
Only a small part of Canada’s deciduous forest remains because
it has been cleared for farming and urban growth
The type of vegetation found in a warm, dry climate.
grasses
The wettest vegetation region in Canada.
West coast forest
An air mass originating over an ocean contains a considerable amount of
moisture
Air moving along the surface of the Earth
wind
The wettest side of a mountain barrier
windward
Soil at the top of a soil profile that is rich in organic materials
Topsoil/A Horizon
Plants that grow without any human interference
Natural vegetaion
In this vegetation region, small shrubs, mosses, and lichens grow close to the surface where they soak up as much heat as possible in a short growing season
Tundra
The largest vegetation region in Canada
Boreal & Taiga Forest
A characteristic that allows coniferous trees to grow in harsh conditions
Sticky sap that acts as an antifrezze that prevents the needles from freezing
Sugar maple, beech, hickory, and poplar trees are
Deciduous/Hardwood
The forest that is found only in southwestern Ontario
Deciduous Forest
A region with a mix of trees and grasslands
Parkland
Heavy rainfall on the west coast produces
Temprate Rainforest
Decomposition of organic material beneath the surface of the ground results in the release of
Methane
Distance from the _________________ is a key (but not the only) factor in determining whether a region has a hot or cold climate.
equator
The temperature of an ___________________ affects the temperature of the air that passes over it.
ocean current
An ____________________ is a large volume of air that takes on the climate conditions of the area where it is formed.
air mass
_____________________ is the name given to the prevailing wind belt that affects Canada north of 60°N.
Polar Easterlies
As air rises, it expands because of the lower ____________________.
air pressure
In southern Canada, the __________________ side of mountains or large ranges of hills is where rain shadow conditions are most likely to develop.
leeward
__________________ precipitation is most responsible for the large amount of precipitation received on the coast of British Columbia.
Relief
You can identify a leached soil by its greyish, often thin, ____________________ horizon.
A
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are ____________________ needed by plants for growth.
nutrients
____________________ vegetation refers to those plants that grow without any human interference.
Natural
The ____________________ separates the tundra from the boreal forest.
tree line
Permanently frozen soil is called ____________________.
Permafrost
____________________ trees have characteristics that make them well-suited to areas with poor-quality soils and cold temperatures.
Coniferous
What simple phrase helps you to remember the factors that affect climate?
LOWER Near Water
What does that simple phrase mean
Latitude
Ocean currents
Winds and air masses
Elevation
Relief
Near water
How does Latitude affect climate
The farther you are from the equator, the less direct the sunlight you receive and the colder it is. This is beacuse if earths is a sphere. At the equator the solar radiation is hitting the ground at almost a 90 degree angle. Near the poles the radiation is hitting the ground at ~23.5 degrees. Because of this the radiation is more dispersed acorss the land , and since its less concentrated the heating power is significatnly reduced. Thats why the farther away you are from the equator the colder it tends to get.
How does Elevation affect climate
Higher elevations are generally cooler than lower elevations. This is because there’s less air above you at higher elevations, which causes the air pressure to decrease. As the air pressure drops, the air molecules spread out and the temperature decreases. On average, the temperature drops by about 0.6°C for every 100 meters increase in elevation.
How does Near water affect climate.
Water’s high heat capacity means it warms and cools more slowly than the atmosphere. This results in more moderate temperatures near water, with fewer extreme highs and lows. For example, coastal areas have “maritime” climates(a small annual tempratue range), while inland areas have “continental” climates(a big annual temprature range).
Evaporation from the ocean creates rain clouds, which are then carried by trade winds to land. The tropics are particularly rainy because of the high amount of heat absorption and evaporation in that region. An example is the rainy and wet maritime climates and the dry continental climates.
What is a name for Coniferous trees
softwood
Coniferous tree examples
white spruce, black spruce, red pine, white pine
How are Boreal Forest Soils
Acidic
Decidous forest soils
fertile
Mixed forest soils
rich in the south
