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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?

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A

An area of land with similar characteristics

25
What is a landform region?
Part of Earth with a unique set of physical features
26
What are the types of landform regions and their definitions? (3 regions)
1. Shield: Large area of Precambrian rock forming the core of a continent 2. Highlands: High elevation areas 3. Lowlands: Low elevation areas
27
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
28
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
29
Tell me about the Appalachian Mountains
Appearance: Formed over 450 million years ago Resources: Minerals, fish, agriculture Info: Bays here make excellent harbours
30
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
31
Tell me about the Innuitian Mountains
Appearance: 50-70 million years old Resources: Fishing, mining Info: Generally uninhabited
32
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
33
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
34
Tell me about the Interior Plains
Appearance: Flat and dry Resources: Oil and natural gas from sedimentary rock, agriculture
35
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
36
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
37
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
38
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
39
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
40
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
41
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
42
What is a growing season?
Begins when temperature is 6° or more and stops when temperature is under 6°
43
How to find the amount of snowfall in a region?
Add up all precipitation values under 0°
44
Convection meaning
Warm air rises, cool air descends creating a cycle
45
Climate VS Weather
Climate: The expected average temperature and precipitation over time Weather: The observed temperature and precipitation daily
46
What is a climate region?
A region with similar climate characteristics
47
What factors influence climate?
Latitude Ocean currents Wind Elevation Relief Near water
48
How does latitude influence climate?
Earth's curvature causes the sun's energy to be less concentrated at the poles than near the equator
49
How do ocean currents influence climate?
Air temperature if affected by water temperature
50
What three ocean currents affect Canada?
North Pacific Current - warm Labrador Current - cold Gulf stream - warm
51
What happens when ocean currents meet?
A dense fog is created
52
How does wind influence climate?
Warm air has low pressure and holds more water Cold air has high pressure and holds less water
53
What are Westerlies?
Winds that come from the west controlled by a jet stream
54
What is a jet stream?
A current of fast moving air high up in the atmosphere
55
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
56
What is condensation?
When gas or vapor turns into a liquid
57
How does relief influence climate?
When air rises, it expands because of decreasing air pressure. When it expands, it cools releasing water
58
How does near water influence climate?
Closer to water: Small temperature range Lots of precipitation Further from water: Large temperature range Low precipitation

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