SOCIAL STUDIES TEST 2025 Flashcards
(30 cards)
Explain the continental drift theory
Alfred Wegener created a theory called continental drift that, at one time in history, millions of years ago, all of the continents were one giant land mass. This giant land mass slowly began to break apart into the continents we are familiar with today. He called this supercontinent Pangaea.
Explain tectonic forces and if it is a human factor or a natural factor?
Tectonic forces: This is a natural factor. The earths crust is made up of seven major and minor plates that are always moving. These plates rest on the top layer of magma which goes through a heating and cooling cycle. This causes the plates to rub together which results in creating and changes or landforms.
Explain weathering and erosion
Weathering is the natural process that breaks down rocks, soil and minerals into smaller parts when they come into contact with the Earth’s atmosphere. Erosion moves these weathered pieces to a new location using natural things like ice, wind, water, and living organisms.
Explain deposition
Deposition is the process of eroded soil and rock being transported by wind, water, ice or gravity and deposited in their new location creating new landforms or making changes to existing landforms.
Explain glaciation
Glaciation is the process of landforms becoming covered by glaciers or ice sheets. As glaciers move, they erode the land beneath them causing landforms to change.
Explain mining
Mining for rocks and minerals creates changes to the Earth’s landforms. Some mines are dug underground, while others dig out the resources and are left open. These mining practices change the interior and exterior of the landforms.
Explain land reclamation
Land reclamation creates new land in large bodies of water (oceans, rivers, or lakes). This is done by filling a section of the water body with rock or cement, then adding clay or dirt on the top to match the heights of the new and old land areas. One of the most well-known land reclamation projects are the Palm Islands in Dubai.
Why are rivers important?
Rivers are important due to their use as transportation routes, water supply, and as a source of food. The St. Lawrence River was crucial to the development of Canada. It was used as a transportation method for the First Nations people, and the European explorers. In New France, plots of land were long and narrow to fit as many settlements as possible along the St. Lawrence. As Canada developed as a country, many towns and cities were built on, or near, rivers and lakes (i.e., Winnipeg).
Explain river systems
River systems are a network of other streams and lakes called tributaries that eventually flow into one river, such as the St. Lawrence River. River systems can be found all over the world and flow from high to low ground.
Explain dendritic drainage
This is the most occurring drainage pattern. As the rivers flow over rocks, a tree-like pattern will be created into the landforms. It resembled a tree because of its main area (tree trunk) and then smaller lines that run off the main line (branches).
Explain a trellis drainage pattern
This is a less common drainage pattern. If the river flows over both hard and soft rocks, it will create a rectangular drainage pattern with one main line and perpendicular lines that run off the main line.
What are the five major drainage areas Where do they drain into?
Arctic Ocean Drainage, Hudson Bay Drainage, Atlantic Ocean Drainage, Gulf of Mexico Drainage, and Pacific Ocean Drainage. These drainage areas drain into one of the three North American oceans (Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific) depending on the location of the drainage area.
What is a drainage basin?
A drainage basin is the whole area that drains into one river system. In Ontario, the St. Lawrence basin contains the five Great Lakes and several rivers.
Why can drainage basins be an issue?
An issue that occurs within drainage basins is pollution because all of the water is interconnected. If one area of water becomes contaminated, it will eventually flow into other areas because they all drain into one area. This pollution can cause damage to aquatic life and cause health issues for the residents living around the water.
What are two major ocean currents?
Surface and deep water currents
How are surface currents usually caused?
Surface currents are usually caused by the friction of wind moving over water. This causes the water to move in a clockwise or counter clockwise spiral pattern. It moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, and counter clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. These currents are called Gyres
How are deep water currents usually caused?
Deep water currents are called thermohaline (ther-mo-ha-line) circulation and are created from different densities in the water. These differences in densities are caused by water temperature and the amount of salt in the water. Deep water currents move cold and warm water around the Earth.
How are water currents important?
Ocean currents are important for circulating the water, affecting global temperatures, assisting ships in their travels, and helping aquatic life move from place to place.
What is continental? And where is it?
Very cold and very hot seasons (summer and winter) caused by conflict between polar and tropical air - East coast of Canada (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, P.E.I. New Brunswick)
What is [polar and where is it?
Very cold and dry year-round - Northern Canada (Nunavut, etc.) - Northern Russia
What is dry and where is it?
Dry and hot year-round - Northern Africa (Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, etc.) - Most of Australia
What is tropical and where is it?
Hot and wet year-round - Brazil and other parts of South America
What is climate?
Climate is affected by many different factors. These factors can be natural, like wind currents, or related to human activity, like global warming.
what is latitude?
The climate is warmer the closer to the equator the area is located. The farther away from the equator, the temperature gets colder. This is because the heat from the sun is more concentrated closer to the equator
