Unit 1 Test Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are the 5 types of spatial patterns?
- Dispersed: spread out evenly
- Concentrated: all located in close proximity
- Nucleated: multiple areas of small clusters
- Linear: occurring along a curved or straight path
- Absent: an area without a record or observation
Understanding these spatial patterns is essential for analyzing geographical data and resource distribution.
What is the difference between a pattern and a trend?
- Patterns: characteristics that are similar and that repeat themselves in a natural or human environment
- Trends: traits that exhibit a consistent tendency in a particular setting over a period of time
Patterns reflect static characteristics, while trends indicate changes over time.
Define long-term trend.
Trends that persist or change slowly over a long period of time
Example: Changes in the Earth’s axis occur on a regular schedule.
What is a static trend?
Trends that remain unchanged over time
Example: Before human-induced climate change, yearly rainfall and temperature averages remained consistent.
What is a short-term trend?
Trends that occur or change rapidly over a short period of time
Example: Many equatorial locations receive daily precipitation, usually in the early afternoon.
What is an irregular trend?
Trends that occur without a predictable or consistent pattern
Example: The timing of major earthquakes on the West Coast of Canada is entirely unknown.
Define decreasing trend.
Trends where the phenomenon is shrinking or becoming less frequent
Example: Since the 1960s, the size of the Aral Sea has shrunk to 75%.
What is a predictable trend?
Trends that follow a consistent, expected pattern over time
Example: Farmers in India wait for the monsoon rains which happen every year.
Define increasing trend.
Trends where the phenomenon is growing or becoming more frequent
Example: Climate change is causing the overall average temperature of the Earth to rise year over year.
What is a seasonal trend?
Trends that vary regularly in a pattern corresponding to different seasons
Example: The Nile River experiences yearly flooding from June-September.
Describe the boom-bust concept.
Boom-bust cycle: alternating phases of economic growth and decline typically found in capitalist economies
Example: Nauru’s economy experienced a boom due to phosphate extraction but later faced a bust.
Explain an example of the boom-bust concept using the lessons
- Nauru: tiny island in the South Pacific Ocean
- Deep history of resource exploitation, greatly the natural environment and the people
- Boom-Bust pattern: there was a “boom” in their economy (due to the extraction of the phosphate) but later saw the “bust” when the extraction process was no longer viable
- Created a dependency on something but didn’t plan for the consequences when it ran out
What are the oil sands?
Natural mixture of sand, water and bitumen (oil that is too heavy or thick to flow on its own)
Oil sands extraction poses unique challenges due to the nature of the materials.
How is oil extracted from oil sands?
- Surface mining: used when the oil sands are close to the surface
- In-Situ (In-place) Extraction: used when the oil sands are deep underground
Each method has its own challenges and environmental impacts.
Why is oil extraction from oil sands harder and more expensive?
- Thick oil
- Lots of energy required
- Environmental rules
- Transporting oil challenges
- Big operations needed
The extraction process is complex and costly due to the nature of oil sands.
What is Trudeau’s perspective on oil extraction?
Wants to ensure climate change goals are respected while allowing the oil sector to develop
Balancing environmental concerns with economic development is a key challenge.
What is Alberta’s government’s perspective on oil sands?
The responsible development of oil sands is a key driver of Alberta’s and Canada’s economy
It creates jobs and tax revenue for the government.
What is the oil industry’s perspective on extraction?
Acknowledges carbon challenges but is working with the government to implement climate policies
The industry recognizes the need for sustainable practices.
What is the First Nations perspective on oil sands extraction?
- Huge impact on wildlife
- Health issues linked to environmental toxins
- Diverse views among Indigenous groups
The extraction has significant ecological and health implications for local communities.
Compare the safety of transporting oil via pipelines vs train transport.
- Train transport: higher accident rates
- Pipeline transport: fewer accidents and constant monitoring
Studies indicate pipelines are generally safer than train transport.
What is an EEZ?
Exclusive Economic Zone: a sea zone over which a sovereign state has special rights regarding exploration and use of marine resources, extending 200 nautical miles from the coastline
EEZs are crucial for resource rights, especially in contested regions like the Arctic.
Why is the EEZ important in the Arctic?
Defines areas where a country has rights to explore and use marine resources like oil, gas, and fish
Many countries are competing for resources in the Arctic, which could significantly boost their economies.
What are the perspectives of Indigenous people regarding Arctic resource extraction?
- Claim the Arctic as their land
- Facing challenges from climate change affecting their livelihoods
- Inuit culture is threatened
Indigenous communities are directly impacted by resource extraction and climate change.
What is the trend regarding polar bears in the Arctic?
- Population decreasing
- Health and size shrinking
- Linked to melting ice
Polar bears are a key indicator of climate change impacts in the Arctic region.
