Geography Unit 2 - Weather & Climate

Question 1

What is weather and give examples.

Answer 1

Daily conditions of temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity & cloud in the atmosphere.

ex. thunderstorm, heat wave, snow blizzard, sunny, cloudy, humid

Question 2

What it climate and give examples.

Answer 2

Weather conditions of a place averaged over a long period of time.

ex. warm climate in Florida, cold climate in Nunavut

Question 3

give 4 reasons why Canada’s climate varies so much.

Answer 3

1. Canada is a very large country; it extends for a great distance from north to south and from east to west
2. Different elevation produce different climate conditions
3. Costal regions have different climates from inland regions
4. Wind and pressure systems move weather conditions from one part of the country to another

Question 4

When does transpiration occur?

Answer 4

it occurs when plants and trees loose water through their leaves.

Question 5

What are the 3 types of precipitation?

Answer 5

relief (orographic) precipitation, convectional precipitation, cyclonic precipitation

Question 6

what are the stages of relief (orographic) precipitation? (4)

Answer 6

1: warm, moist air is forced to rise over high land (mountains)
2: as air rises it cools and condenses causing clouds formation and precipitation on the windward side
3: the drier air descends and warms the leeward side
4: any moisture left in the air evaporates

Question 7

what are the stages of convectional precipitation? (4)

Answer 7

1: the sun heats the ground and warm air will rise
2: as the air rises it cools and condenses causing cloud formation
3: as condensation level is reached, large, dark clouds form
4: heavy storms occur - usually include thunder & lightning due to the electrical charge created by unstable conditions
(common in prairie provinces and Ontario & Quebec)

Question 8

what are the stages of cyclonic (frontal) precipitation? (4)

Answer 8

1: warm front meets a cold front (front = air mass)
2: warm air mass is forced over the cold air mass
3: where the fronts meet, warm air is cooled and water vapour condenses.
4: clouds form precipitation occurs.
(mostly occurs in prairies, ontario, quebec, and atlantic cabada. ex. ice storm 1998)

Question 9

what does LOWERN stand for?

Answer 9

latitude
ocean currents
winds & air masses
relief
nearness to water

Question 10

how does latitude affect climate?

Answer 10

-as latitude increases, temperature decreases
-hotter the closer you are to the equator
-earths round surface makes the suns energy less concentrated at the poles than near the equator

Question 11

how does ocean currents affect climate? give an example. what are the affects of warm ocean currents and cold ocean currents?

Answer 11

-water travels in paths called ocean currents
-the temperature of an ocean current affects the temperature of the air that passes over it
-ex. the north pacific current heats the cool, moist air that passes over it, giving the coastal regions of BC a milder climate than might be expected at this latitude
-warm ocean currents: raise temperature of air that passes over it, raising temperature of nearby land
-cold ocean currents: lower the temperature of air that passes over it, lowering temperature of nearby land

Question 12

prevailing winds
-air moves along the earths surface from __-pressure areas towards __-pressure areas causing __
-high and low pressure __ around the earth have created a well established pattern of __ winds.
-prevailing winds: the global __ of winds caused by moving __ __
-canada’s prevailing winds blow from __to __, called __
-warm or cold and wet or moist that air mass decides what weather __ it brings (ex. air mass that forms over a cold area, carries __ and __ weather)
-the wight of the air is called __ - (differences are created as earth is heated at different temperatures)
-the higher you go the __ the air pressure
-a __ will tell you how much the air weighs (kPa)
-low pressure system= __ weather day (ex. __, __, __)
-high pressure system= __ weather day (ex. __, __, __)

Answer 12

-air moves along the earths surface from high-pressure areas towards low pressure areas causing winds
-high and low pressure belts around the earth have created a well established pattern of prevailing winds.
-prevailing winds: the global pattern of winds caused by moving air masses
-canada’s prevailing winds blow from west to east, called westerlies
-warm or cold and wet or moist that air mass decides what weather conditions it brings (ex. air mass that forms over a cold area, carries cold and dry weather)
-the wight of the air is called air pressure - differences are created as earth is heated at different temperatures
-the higher you go the lower the air pressure
-a barometer will tell you how much the air weighs (kPa)
-low pressure system= bad weather day (ex. foggy, stormy, ugly days)
-high pressure system= a good weather day (ex. clear, dry, sunny)

Question 13

What types of air masses affect canada?

Question 14

polar front jet stream
-the polar front jet stream does what?
-the __ of the jet stream at any particular time has a major impact on the ___.
-the polar front is the __ between the cool, dry polar air and warm, wet tropical air
-__ in the atmosphere above the polar front is a __ of __-moving air called the polar-front jet stream
-north of the jet stream is __ air
-south of the jet stream is __ air

Answer 14

-the polar front jet stream separates cold, dry air from warm, moist air. the position of the jet stream at any particular time has a major impact on the weather.
-the polar front is the boundary between the cool, dry polar air and warm, wet tropical air
-high in the atmosphere above the polar front is a current of fast-moving air called the polar-front jet stream
-north of the jet stream is colder air
-south of the jet stream is warmer air

Question 15

elevation
-elevation is the __ above the earths surface
-when elevation increases, temperature __/ higher you go the __ it gets
-dry air: temperature decreases at a rate of __ degrees for every 100m of altitude
-moist air: temperature decreases at a rate of __ degrees for every 100m of altitude

Answer 15

-elevation is the height above the earths surface
-when elevation increases, temperature decreases/ higher you go the colder it gets
-dry air: temperature decreases at a rate of 1 degrees for every 100m of altitude
-moist air: temperature decreases at a rate of 0.6 degrees for every 100m of altitude

Question 16

relief precipitation
-__ create relief precipitation
-moist air __ (becomes liquid) as it __ up the side of a mountain, causing relief precipitation
-the rain shadow on the __ side (away from the wind) receives __ rain while the windward side (facing the wind) receives a lot of __

Answer 16

-mountain barriers create relief precipitation
-moist air condenses (becomes liquid) as it rises up the side of a mountain, causing relief precipitation
-the rain shadow on the leeward side (away from the wind) receives little rain while the windward side (facing the wind) receives a lot of winds

Question 17

what are bodies of water sources of? what is the moderating affect? what is the difference between continental and maritime climate?

Answer 17

-water bodies are a source of moisture
-winds carry the moisture over land - the moisture in the air makes a region’s climate more moist than an area not close to a body of water

-the moderating affect is the effect of water bodies on nearby land areas
-large water bodies make winter temperatures somewhat warmer and summer temperature somewhat cooler than areas located further from large water bodies
-helps prevent extreme temperatures like 40* and -40*

continental climate:
-areas located inland & further from water bodies
-large temperature range because there is no moderating affect
-lower amounts of precipitation

maritime climate:
-located on coastline & close to large water body
-small temperature range due to moderating affect
-higher amounts of precipitation

Question 18

what are the 4 parts of soil?

Answer 18

1. minerals
   -become part of the soil when rock is broken down
   -provide nutrients to plants (ex. calcium, potassium)
2. bacteria & organic materials
   -organic materials (plants and animals) that die, are decomposed by bacteria in the soil
   -as bacteria breaks down the organic materials, humus is formed, providing nutrients and moisture for plants
3. air
   -plants need air around their roots
   -humus decays materials allowing for air pockets to produce air in the soil
4. moisture
   -dissolves nutrients in the soil to be taken up by plants through their roots
   -is necessary for chemical and physicals processes that weather rock & decay organic materials

Question 19

label the soil profile and name what is in each layer. (top to bottom) htsp

Answer 19

humus - dead leaves, needles, grasses, organic materials
topsoil - dark and rich humus
subsoil - rich in minerals from the topsoil
parent material - weathered rock, fragments & particles + solid bedrock

Question 20

2 __

what are the two soil processes?
#1__
-occurs where there is a great deal of __
-is the continual __ movement of water through the soil
-downward movement of water removes __ that plants need
-excessive __ can cause nutrients to travel too deep that is difficult for plants and roots to absorb __
-you can identify leach soil by its __, often __, __layer

-occurs in areas of __ climates
-__ action is when topsoil water __ and water from below is draw up to __ it
-as water reaches the surface it __ leaving behind __ that were dissolved in it
-__ is when water reaches the surface and evaporates, the minerals are left behind and this results in __ that is rich in __ that were dissolved in it
-__ is the main mineral that is left after evaporation (which is why its called calcification)
-excessive __ can cause the soil to be __ and __ to plant life

Answer 20

leaching
-occurs where there is a great deal of precipitation
-is the continual downward movement of water through the soil
-downward movement of water removes nutrients that plants need
-excessive leaching can cause nutrients to travel too deep that is difficult for plants and roots to absorb nutrients
-you can identify leach soil by its poor, often thin, topsoil layer

calcification
-occurs in areas of drier climates
-capillary action is when topsoil water evaporates and water from below is draw up to replace it
-as water reaches the surface it evaporates leaving behind minerals that were dissolved in it
-calcification is when water reaches the surface and evaporates, the minerals are left behind and this results in topsoil that is rich in minerals that were dissolved in it
-calcium is the main mineral that is left after evaporation (which is why its called calcification)
-excessive calcification can cause the soil to be toxic and harmful to plant life

Question 21

what does natural vegetation mean?

Answer 21

refers to those plants that grow without any human interference.

Question 22

what are the 3 natural vegetation types in canada? what covers most of canada? what are transition zones?

Answer 22

-tundra, forest, grassland
-forest covers most of canada
-transition zones are the lines that separate the vegetation regions. they are zones where the characteristics of one region gradually change into those of the next

Question 23

what is the difference between coniferous and deciduous trees? give examples

Answer 23

coniferous trees
-“needle-leaved” trees
-ex. pine & spruce
-lose some needles but are never bare

deciduous trees
-“broad-leaved” trees
-ex. maple, birch, oak

Question 24

why do coniferous trees survive harsh climates? (5)

Answer 24

-ability to extract nutrients from the poor soil because of their long roots
-sticky sap acts as an anti freeze which prevents the needles from freezing
-waxy needles and thick bark prevent the loss of moisture in time of drought
-needles and flexible branches easily shed snow to prevent damage
-needles are able to conduct photosynthesis on warm days beyond the normal growing season.

Question 25

why do trees thrive in warmer, moist parts? (3)

Answer 25

-lose their leaves in autumn (no branches to break due to leaves)
-the warmth cause sap to flow the buds causing new leaves to grow
-need a minimum of 5 months that have average temperatures above 10 degrees

Question 26

grassland - what are the 3 types of grass?

Answer 26

1. short grass - found in warm, very dry locations
2. tall grass - found in warm dry locations (increased precipitation, allows for growth of larger grass areas)
3. parkland - long grass with coniferous in northern portion, long grass with deciduous southern portion

Question 27

tundra
-small ___, ___, ___
-most ___
-___
-grows close to the ___ and remain ___ (soak up as much heat as possible from the earth)
-low plants are protected from cold harsh __
-tundra bloom and mature very quickly to produce their ___ before the cold whether returns
-some stunned trees are able to grow in ___ valleys in the southern part of this region.
-limited ___ of ___ and ___ of each species

Answer 27

-small shrubs, mosses, lichens
-most northerly
-permafrost
-grows close to the grown and remain small (soak up as much heat as possible from the earth)
-low plants are protected from cold harsh winds
-tundra bloom and mature very quickly to produce their seeds before the cold whether returns
-same stunned trees are able to grow in sheltered valleys in the southern part of this region.
-limited variety of wildlife and population of each species

Question 28

what is wet climate soils

Answer 28

soil where leaching is the most dominant forming process

Question 29

what is dry soils

Answer 29

soil where calcification is the most dominant forming process

Question 30

what is annual temperature range?

Answer 30

temperature of the warmest month minus the temperature of the coldest month.

Question 31

what is the northern most vegetation region, found in areas too cold for trees to grow?

Answer 31

tundra

Question 32

what is the surface layer of the earth, composed of mineral and organic materials, air and water

Answer 32

soil

Question 33

area where characteristics or one region gradually changes to another

Answer 33

transition zones

Question 34

dark, upper layer of soil made up of partially decayed paint material

Answer 34

humus

Question 35

TF convectional precipitation occurss in southern ontario in the summer

Answer 35

true

Question 36

the most important line of latitude is the tropic of capricorn.

Answer 36

false

Question 37

the 2 ocean currents that affect st. johns newfoundland is the alaska and gulf stream currents

Answer 37

false

Question 38

frontol precipitation occurs when warm air and cold air meet

Answer 38

true

Question 39

minerals in soil come from parent material

Answer 39

true

Question 40

mountain is 2100 m high. temp at sea level is 13 degrees. condensation starts at 700.

Answer 40

-2.4 degrees