Physical Geography Flashcards
Continental drift
Theory by Alfred Wegener, a German scientist, stating that 300 million years ago there was a collision of all of Earth’s land masses, that formed Pangaea, a supercontinent. 200 million years ago, Pangaea broke up and the land masses drifted to the positions they are in now; gradual movement of continents.
Pangaea
Supercontinent that included all Earth’s land masses. It existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic era, from about 300 million to about 200 million years ago
Plate tectonics
Theory that states that Earth’s outer shell consists of plates that move causing earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and the formation of new crust
Convection currents
Circular movement in a fluid caused by uneven heating
Erosion
Weathering where Earth’s surface is worn away by wind, precipitation or other natural agents followed by the movement to other locations of materials that have worn away
Geologic time
History of Earth from its formation to the present, divided into four eras: Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian
Eras
Time periods into which geologic time was divided
Sediments
Matter that has been eroded by wind or precipitation and has settled to the bottom of a liquid
Glaciation
State of being covered by glaciers or ice sheets
Canadian Shield
Large area of exposed Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock
Geoscience
Any science associated with the Earth
Glaciers
Slow-moving masses of ice
Landform
Naturally-formed feature on Earth’s surface
Drainage
Process of draining water from a large area by flowing out of depressions in the land
Meltwater
Water that comes from melting ice or snow
Topography
Both the natural and human-made features of an area
Highlands
Area of high elevation
Lowlands
Area of low elevation
Bedrock
Solid rock beneath the soil
Impervious
Incapable of being penetrated by fluids
Differential erosion
Process through which softer rocks erode more quickly than harder rocks, allowing for different levels of elevation
Escarpment
Steep cliff formed by erosion or faulting
Rift Valley
Valley created by faulting. It is formed when a section of land in between two faults drops downwards
Lignite
Soft coal between peat and bituminous coal often used in thermo-electric power plants
Plateau
Elevated flat area
Weather
Daily conditions of the atmosphere (temperature, moisture, wind, pressure, etc.)
Climate
Weather patterns over a long period of time - influenced by latitude, ocean currents, winds and air masses, elevation, relief and other precipitation, and proximity to water
Air mass
A large body of air that has constant characteristics throughout - it adopts the temperature and moisture characteristics of the area above which it was formed
Prevailing winds
The most common wind in a specific area - Canada’s prevailing winds are the westerlies which blow from west to east
Polar front
Area where cool, dry air and hot, moist air meet
Jet stream
A current of fast-moving air above the Polar Front - it can reach speeds of up to 400 km/h
Condensation
The process through which a gas becomes a liquid
Relief precipitation
The behaviour of a moist air mass when it meets a barrier of high relief - the air mass rises, cools, condenses, and precipitates. On the other side of the mountain, as it sinks, there is more evaporation than condensation
Conventional precipitation
A type of precipitation, usually occurring on hot summer days - the heated land heats the air mass above it, which cools, condenses, and precipitates
Continental climate
A dry climate with a late temperature range - cold winters, hot summers
Maritime climate
A wet climate with a small temperature range
Moderating effect
The effect a large body of water has on the climate of the area around it - milder, wet climate
Tsunami
A long, high sea wave caused by underwater earthquakes, landslide or other disturbance
Soil
Upper layer of Earth where plants grow, consisting of organic material
Humus
Dark, upper part of soil, mainly consisting of decayed plant matter
Soil profile
Different layers in the soil and bedrock
Leaching
Removal of minerals by water as it passes through - leaching is common in areas with a wet climate
Calcification
The movement of water and minerals to the upper part of the soil by capillary action, creating mineral-rich humus. This humus can be poisonous to plants. Calcification is common in areas with a dry climate.
Capillary action
Upward movement of water through small spaces
Tundra
Northernmost vegetation region - vast, cold, ground permanently frozen, treeless
Transition zones
Area where the characteristics of one region blend into another - the mixed forest vegetation zone is a transition zone, from boreal and taiga to deciduous, but it is large enough to be considered it’s own region
Permafrost
Permanently frozen soil that does not thaw
Boreal and taiga forest
Vegetation region of coniferous trees stretching from east to west across Canada - between tundra and mixed forest
Coniferous
Needle- and cone-bearing trees that are evergreen
Deciduous trees
Leaf-bearing trees that lose them seasonally
Mixed forest
Forest containing both coniferous and deciduous trees
Short-Grass prairie
Region of grassland vegetation region in which the low levels of precipitation cause grasses to be shorter
Long-grass prairie
Region of vegetation in the grasslands vegetation region in which the high levels of precipitation cause grasses to be longer
Parkland
Transition zone between grasslands and boreal forest
Ecotone
Distinct ecological region defined by physical, human, and biological factors
Gross Domestic Product
Total value of all goods and services produced in a country in one year
