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Geography > Soils, Landforms, and Climate > Flashcards

Soils, Landforms, and Climate Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the components of soils? (5 components)

A

Living organisms
Organic matter
Water
Mineral matter
Air

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2
Q

Which type of soil can Canada be categorized as having the most of?

A

Wet climate soils

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3
Q

What is leaching?

A

The downward movent of water carrying dissolved substances through soil

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4
Q

What is calcification?

A

The upward movement of water carrying dissolved minerals through soil

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5
Q

Which type of climate would produce a rich humus?

A

Moderate temperature with enough rainfall

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6
Q

Which type of climate could become toxic for vegetation? How might this happen?

A

Dry climate because water moves upward and evaporates leaving a toxic layer of minerals behind

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7
Q

What is permafrost?

A

Soil that stays under 0°C for two years or more

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8
Q

What functions do soils have? (3 functions)

A

Support plant life
Store, supply, and purify water
Provide habitats for organisms

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9
Q

What does a soil profile show?

A

Horizons (layers) in soil

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10
Q

What is each horizon composed of? (3 compositions)

A

Different rock, minerals, and vegetation

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11
Q

What nutrients does mineral matter hold? (4 nutrients)

A

Potassium
Phosphorous
Nitrogen
Calcium

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12
Q

How is humus formed?

A

Bacteria decomposes dead plants and animals releasing nutrients forming humus

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13
Q

What does water do in soil?

A

Dissolves minerals which lets roots take them up

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14
Q

What do air pockets do in soil?

A

Breaks down organic materials

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15
Q

What do living organisms do in soil?

A

Insects mix organic and mineral matter together

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16
Q

What are Canada’s 4 major soil regions?

A

Tundra, complex, dry, wet

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17
Q

Where are the best soils found in Canada?

A

Southern prairies
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands

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18
Q

What happens in tundra soils?

A

Short and cool growing season limits plant growth and permafrost exists here

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19
Q

What can soil store from the atmosphere?

A

Carbon dioxide

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20
Q

Why is our agriculture problematic?

A

Chemicals sprayed killing micro-organisms that pull in carbon to plants
Tilling releases carbon
Chemicals get to drinking water

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21
Q

When soil is damaged, what happens?

A

Carbon goes back into the atmosphere

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22
Q

What are each of the soil horizons and what is in them?

A

O. Humus - Organic matter
A. Top soil - Organic and mineral matter
B. Sub soil - Sand, organic matter, silt, clay
C. Parent material - Parent rock
R. Bed rock - Unweathered parent material

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23
Q

Give an example for:
Wet climate soils
Dry climate soils
Tundra climate soils
Complex climate soils

A

Southern Ontario
Saskatchewan
Nunavut
British Columbia

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24
Q

What is a region?

A

An area of land with similar characteristics

25
Q

What is a landform region?

A

Part of Earth with a unique set of physical features

26
Q

What are the types of landform regions and their definitions? (3 regions)

A
  1. Shield: Large area of Precambrian rock forming the core of a continent
  2. Highlands: High elevation areas
  3. Lowlands: Low elevation areas
27
Q

What are Canada’s 7 landform regions?

A

Shield:
Canadian Shield

Highlands:
Western Cordillera
Appalachian Mountains
Innuitian Mountains

Lowlands:
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands
Hudson Bay Arctic Lowlands
Interior Plains

28
Q

Tell me about the Canadian Shield

A

Appearance: Largest and oldest landform region in Canada

Resources: Deposits of minerals because of igneous and metamorphic rock formations

Info: Thin soil

29
Q

Tell me about the Appalachian Mountains

A

Appearance: Formed over 450 million years ago

Resources: Minerals, fish, agriculture

Info: Bays here make excellent harbours

30
Q

Tell me about the Western Cordillera

A

Appearance: Three very tall mountain ranges

Resources: Minerals because of igneous and metamorphic rock, agriculture, forestry, fishing

Info: Recreation

31
Q

Tell me about the Innuitian Mountains

A

Appearance: 50-70 million years old

Resources: Fishing, mining

Info: Generally uninhabited

32
Q

Tell me about the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands

A

Appearance: Retreating glaciers about 14,000 years ago caused lakes

Resources: Sediments, agriculture

Info: Home to 70% of Canada’s manufacturing

33
Q

Tell me about the Hudson Bay Arctic Lowlands

A

Appearance: Cold and swampy

Resources: Coal, oil, and natural gas (because of sedimentary rock)

Info: Tourism for polar bear watching

34
Q

Tell me about the Interior Plains

A

Appearance: Flat and dry

Resources: Oil and natural gas from sedimentary rock, agriculture

35
Q

What do you need to do the analyze a climate graph?

A

Average annual temperature
Temperature range
Shape of the temperature graph
Shape of precipitation graph
Total precipitation
Seasonal distribution of precipitation
Growing season
Snowfall

36
Q

How to find the average annual temperature and what does it mean?

A

Add together the 12 temperature values and then divide it by 12

Indicates if a location has a warm or cool climate

37
Q

How to find the temperature range and what does it mean?

A

Maximum temperature divided by lowest temperature

More than 25 degrees = Continental
Less than 25 degrees = Maritime

38
Q

How to find the shape of the temperature graph and what does it mean?

A

Look at the elevation of the graph

Large mountain = Continental
Flat hill = Maritime

39
Q

How to find the total precipitation and what does it mean?

A

Add up all 12 precipitation values

More than 1,000 mm = Continental
Less than 1,000 mm = Maritime

40
Q

How to find the seasonal distribution of precipitation and what does it mean?

A

Add up April - September precipitations
Add up October - March precipitations

If April - September highest precipitation = Continental

If October - March precipitation highest = Maritime

41
Q

How to find the shape of the precipitation graph and what does it mean?

A

Look at the visual elevation

Mountain shape = Continental
U shape = Maritime
Flat shape = Modified

42
Q

What is a growing season?

A

Begins when temperature is 6° or more and stops when temperature is under 6°

43
Q

How to find the amount of snowfall in a region?

A

Add up all precipitation values under 0°

44
Q

Convection meaning

A

Warm air rises, cool air descends creating a cycle

45
Q

Climate VS Weather

A

Climate: The expected average temperature and precipitation over time

Weather: The observed temperature and precipitation daily

46
Q

What is a climate region?

A

A region with similar climate characteristics

47
Q

What factors influence climate?

A

Latitude
Ocean currents
Wind
Elevation
Relief
Near water

48
Q

How does latitude influence climate?

A

Earth’s curvature causes the sun’s energy to be less concentrated at the poles than near the equator

49
Q

How do ocean currents influence climate?

A

Air temperature if affected by water temperature

50
Q

What three ocean currents affect Canada?

A

North Pacific Current - warm
Labrador Current - cold
Gulf stream - warm

51
Q

What happens when ocean currents meet?

A

A dense fog is created

52
Q

How does wind influence climate?

A

Warm air has low pressure and holds more water
Cold air has high pressure and holds less water

53
Q

What are Westerlies?

A

Winds that come from the west controlled by a jet stream

54
Q

What is a jet stream?

A

A current of fast moving air high up in the atmosphere

55
Q

How does elevation influence climate?

A

Increasing elevation causes it to get colder with a 1° change every 100 meters. This is because air is further from the surface and cools

56
Q

What is condensation?

A

When gas or vapor turns into a liquid

57
Q

How does relief influence climate?

A

When air rises, it expands because of decreasing air pressure. When it expands, it cools releasing water

58
Q

How does near water influence climate?

A

Closer to water:
Small temperature range
Lots of precipitation

Further from water:
Large temperature range
Low precipitation

Geography (3 decks)

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