Soils, Landforms, and Climate Flashcards
To get me prepared for my test
What are the components of soils? (5 components)
Living organisms
Organic matter
Water
Mineral matter
Air
Which type of soil can Canada be categorized as having the most of?
Wet climate soils
What is leaching?
The downward movent of water carrying dissolved substances through soil
What is calcification?
The upward movement of water carrying dissolved minerals through soil
Which type of climate would produce a rich humus?
Moderate temperature with enough rainfall
Which type of climate could become toxic for vegetation? How might this happen?
Dry climate because water moves upward and evaporates leaving a toxic layer of minerals behind
What is permafrost?
Soil that stays under 0°C for two years or more
What functions do soils have? (3 functions)
Support plant life
Store, supply, and purify water
Provide habitats for organisms
What does a soil profile show?
Horizons (layers) in soil
What is each horizon composed of? (3 compositions)
Different rock, minerals, and vegetation
What nutrients does mineral matter hold? (4 nutrients)
Potassium
Phosphorous
Nitrogen
Calcium
How is humus formed?
Bacteria decomposes dead plants and animals releasing nutrients forming humus
What does water do in soil?
Dissolves minerals which lets roots take them up
What do air pockets do in soil?
Breaks down organic materials
What do living organisms do in soil?
Insects mix organic and mineral matter together
What are Canada’s 4 major soil regions?
Tundra, complex, dry, wet
Where are the best soils found in Canada?
Southern prairies
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands
What happens in tundra soils?
Short and cool growing season limits plant growth and permafrost exists here
What can soil store from the atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide
Why is our agriculture problematic?
Chemicals sprayed killing micro-organisms that pull in carbon to plants
Tilling releases carbon
Chemicals get to drinking water
When soil is damaged, what happens?
Carbon goes back into the atmosphere
What are each of the soil horizons and what is in them?
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
Give an example for:
Wet climate soils
Dry climate soils
Tundra climate soils
Complex climate soils
Southern Ontario
Saskatchewan
Nunavut
British Columbia
What is a region?
An area of land with similar characteristics
What is a landform region?
Part of Earth with a unique set of physical features
What are the types of landform regions and their definitions? (3 regions)
- Shield: Large area of Precambrian rock forming the core of a continent
- Highlands: High elevation areas
- Lowlands: Low elevation areas
What are Canada’s 7 landform regions?
Shield:
Canadian Shield
Highlands:
Western Cordillera
Appalachian Mountains
Innuitian Mountains
Lowlands:
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands
Hudson Bay Arctic Lowlands
Interior Plains
Tell me about the Canadian Shield
Appearance: Largest and oldest landform region in Canada
Resources: Deposits of minerals because of igneous and metamorphic rock formations
Info: Thin soil
Tell me about the Appalachian Mountains
Appearance: Formed over 450 million years ago
Resources: Minerals, fish, agriculture
Info: Bays here make excellent harbours
Tell me about the Western Cordillera
Appearance: Three very tall mountain ranges
Resources: Minerals because of igneous and metamorphic rock, agriculture, forestry, fishing
Info: Recreation
Tell me about the Innuitian Mountains
Appearance: 50-70 million years old
Resources: Fishing, mining
Info: Generally uninhabited
Tell me about the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands
Appearance: Retreating glaciers about 14,000 years ago caused lakes
Resources: Sediments, agriculture
Info: Home to 70% of Canada’s manufacturing
Tell me about the Hudson Bay Arctic Lowlands
Appearance: Cold and swampy
Resources: Coal, oil, and natural gas (because of sedimentary rock)
Info: Tourism for polar bear watching
Tell me about the Interior Plains
Appearance: Flat and dry
Resources: Oil and natural gas from sedimentary rock, agriculture
What do you need to do the analyze a climate graph?
Average annual temperature
Temperature range
Shape of the temperature graph
Shape of precipitation graph
Total precipitation
Seasonal distribution of precipitation
Growing season
Snowfall
How to find the average annual temperature and what does it mean?
Add together the 12 temperature values and then divide it by 12
Indicates if a location has a warm or cool climate
How to find the temperature range and what does it mean?
Maximum temperature divided by lowest temperature
More than 25 degrees = Continental
Less than 25 degrees = Maritime
How to find the shape of the temperature graph and what does it mean?
Look at the elevation of the graph
Large mountain = Continental
Flat hill = Maritime
How to find the total precipitation and what does it mean?
Add up all 12 precipitation values
More than 1,000 mm = Continental
Less than 1,000 mm = Maritime
How to find the seasonal distribution of precipitation and what does it mean?
Add up April - September precipitations
Add up October - March precipitations
If April - September highest precipitation = Continental
If October - March precipitation highest = Maritime
How to find the shape of the precipitation graph and what does it mean?
Look at the visual elevation
Mountain shape = Continental
U shape = Maritime
Flat shape = Modified
What is a growing season?
Begins when temperature is 6° or more and stops when temperature is under 6°
How to find the amount of snowfall in a region?
Add up all precipitation values under 0°
Convection meaning
Warm air rises, cool air descends creating a cycle
Climate VS Weather
Climate: The expected average temperature and precipitation over time
Weather: The observed temperature and precipitation daily
What is a climate region?
A region with similar climate characteristics
What factors influence climate?
Latitude
Ocean currents
Wind
Elevation
Relief
Near water
How does latitude influence climate?
Earth’s curvature causes the sun’s energy to be less concentrated at the poles than near the equator
How do ocean currents influence climate?
Air temperature if affected by water temperature
What three ocean currents affect Canada?
North Pacific Current - warm
Labrador Current - cold
Gulf stream - warm
What happens when ocean currents meet?
A dense fog is created
How does wind influence climate?
Warm air has low pressure and holds more water
Cold air has high pressure and holds less water
What are Westerlies?
Winds that come from the west controlled by a jet stream
What is a jet stream?
A current of fast moving air high up in the atmosphere
How does elevation influence climate?
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
What is condensation?
When gas or vapor turns into a liquid
How does relief influence climate?
When air rises, it expands because of decreasing air pressure. When it expands, it cools releasing water
How does near water influence climate?
Closer to water:
Small temperature range
Lots of precipitation
Further from water:
Large temperature range
Low precipitation
