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Canada Physical Geography

Earths beginings
1. Creation theory
  1. The idea that earth was created by a high power.
2. Evolution theory
  1. The idea that the universe started with a "Big bang"
    1. The universe formed 15-20 billion years ago following an enormous explosion
    2. Dust and gas were created and drawn together by a Gravitational attraction
      1. Shows how dust and gas were drawn in by a gravitational attraction
Earths movement
1. Earths Orbit
  1. Almost circular, not elliptical
    1. If it was elliptical then earths summers would be too hot and water would boil away. Winters would also be too cold therefore the ocean would freeze
    2. This diagram shows the way the earth orbits and the motion that it orbits in
  2. Takes 365.25 years to orbit around
  3. Moon has an effect on earths tides.
2. Earths axis and tilt
  1. Earths axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit around the sun
3. This diagram shows earths axis and the degree of its tilt
Plate Tectonics
1. Theory of Continental Drift
  1. Alred Wegner created this theory
    1. Continents look like a puzzle
      1. Shows how the continents have dried over time, and how they come together like a puzzle
    2. Same mountain ranges four d on different continents
    3. Records of climate are of cold in warm places such as Cuba and warm in cold places such as the Arctic
  2. The theory that land was once 1 unified mass termed Pangea and that it started to break apart 200 million years ago
2. Plate boundaries
  1. Folding
    1. When soft layers of rock experience heat and pressure from the mantle forcing it upwards
      1. This picture shows how folding works, and how the rocks experience pressure
  2. Faulting
    1. When hard rock is forced upward with heat and pressure from the mantle
    2. Faulting types
      1. Strike slip=When 2 plates slide past each other which causes a earthquake (California)
        2 plates sliding past each other
      2. Extension fault=2 plates pulling away which results in a rift valley
        2 plates pushing away from all directions
      3. Collision fault=when 2 plates smash together causing a mountain
        Shows 2 plates smashing together
      4. Subduction=When 1 continental plate and 1 ocean plate pass each other
        Shows 1 continental plate and 1 ocean plate colliding
Geologic time
1. An end of an era and when genetics are changed
  1. ERAS
    1. Mesozoic
      1. Began in 250 ended in 60
      2. Shallow seas that covered North America
      3. Reptiles dominated and dinosaurs began
      4. Most gas and oil deposits formed
    2. Paleozoic
      1. Began in 570 ended in 250
      2. 1st reptiles shoed up which were abundant fish
      3. The collision of North America and Europe was the formation of the Appalachian Mountains
    3. Precambrian
      1. Began in 4600 ended in 570
      2. Mountain building and erosion
      3. Only part of Canada that existed at this time was Canadian Shield
    4. Cenozoic
      1. Began in 60 and ended in 0
      2. Ice age ends and human beings emerge and develop
      3. Rocky mountains form
      4. Continents move to present positions
    5. Bio-Anthropocentirc
      1. How humans live now , and how they are dependant on machinery
        We use cars rather than walking, and we go to the grocery store rather than hunting for our food
Glaciation
1. The last ice age was 10 000 years ago
2. An ice age is like an reset button
The earths crust
1. Crust
  1. The upper most layer like an eggshell
  2. Makes up 0.1% of earths total volume
  3. Solid
2. Lithosphere
  1. Made up of rocks and minerals
  2. Includes the surface, crust and just below the earths crust
  3. Solid
3. Asthenosphere
  1. Plastic layer of the the upper mantle
  2. The molten rock that comes out of volcanoes comes from here
4. Mantle
  1. 80% of earths volume
  2. 2 parts made of Iron, Silica and Magnesium
  3. Upper mantle is liquid while the lower is solid
5. Core
  1. Center of the earth
  2. 2 parts
    1. Outer core: Liquid iron and molten magma
    2. Inner core: Solid iron, and nickle
6. A detailed image of the earths crust and the different parts of it
Landform regions
1. A specific area that is made up of the same major landforms
2. 6 that make up Canada
  1. Arctic and Hudson Bay Lowlands
    1. Located above the Canadian Shield
    2. Very cold and reaches a low of -60 degrees Celsius
      1. A picture of what Arctic and Hudson Bay Lowlands looks like today
    3. There are Caribou, Polar bears, Arctic fox etc.
    4. Inuit people have lived there for 1000's of years
  2. Canadian Shield
    1. Surrounds Hudson's Bay
    2. Bogs as a result of the ice age
      1. A picture of what the Canadian shied lookalike today
    3. Makes up 10% of Canadas total forests
    4. The largest of Canadas regions
    5. Beavers, birds, fish etc.
    6. Many people live on the Southern side
    7. Igneous and Metamorphic rock
  3. Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Lowlands
    1. North and South shores of Canadas Great Lakes
    2. Primarily a result of glaciation
      1. An image of what the St.Lawrence Lowlands look like today
    3. Greenland sharks and other regular animals such as birds, bears etc.
    4. Most populated region (we live here)
  4. Appalachian Region
    1. Located in the Maritime provinces
    2. Jagged mountains have been reduced to rolling hills
    3. Huge boulders and some of the highest tides on earth
    4. Fish, seabirds, grey seals etc.
      1. This image shows the high mountains and the rolling hills
    5. Small towns
  5. Interior Plane
    1. East of the Western Cordillera
    2. Man -made lakes
    3. Praries and farms that are great for farming
      1. This image shows a farm that is great for agriculture
    4. Half of North Americas ducks live here
    5. Farms dominate
  6. Western Cordillera
    1. The western part of Canada in between Interior Plane and Pacific Ocean
      1. This image shows a river in the Western Cordillera
    2. Lots of rain and rivers
    3. Valleys and glaciers in mountains
    4. Mountain lions and Elk
    5. Climate and soil is ideal for agriculture and fishing is a huge industry
Lava and Magma
1. Magma
  1. Found in rocks and is very thin
  2. Comes from core and solidifies quickly
  3. Very hot
2. Lava
  1. Found at the surface and is very thick
  2. Friction and pressure makes it
  3. Solidifies slowly unless under water
  4. Not as hot
3. Similarities
  1. Plate tectonic fault lines
  2. Land Building and both are very hot
    1. This image shows the magma and lava part of a volcano, and what it looks like
  3. Molten, minerals and liquid rock found in both
Volcanoes
1. 2 types
  1. Intrusive Structures
    1. Cracks and crevasses under the ground that is filled with magma
    2. 2 plates rub together which causes friction
  2. Extrusive (typical volcanoe)
    1. Happens when magma is eventually forced to the surface from the same process
      1. This image shows the rock formation of an Extrusive and Intrusive Volcano
2. If magma solidifies before it reaches the surface then it will form a volcanic plug
Pyroclastic flow
1. Fast moving current of superheated gas and rock
  1. This diagram shows what pyroclastic flow looks like
2. Moves up to 700km/h and can be 1000 degrees Celsius
3. Normally hugs the ground. ex: Pompeii and Mount St. Helens
Erosion by Water
1. Wave Erosion
  1. Sandy beach=old, Rocky beach=young
    1. This is a rocky beach therefore it is young
2. River Erosion
  1. Erodes sediment and transport away
    1. This shows river erosion and sediments being carried away
3. Ice Erosion
  1. Freezing and thawing=crackled ice
    1. Crackled ice and freezing
Canada's Climate Systems
1. LOWERNH
  1. Latitude
    1. The distance from the equater
    2. Places near the poles will have a colder climate because the suns energy is more spread out
  2. Ocean Currents
    1. The temperature of the water effects the air passing through it
    2. Coastal areas will have a warmer than usual ocean climate because ocean currents are warming it
      1. This diagram shows ocean currents along Canada
  3. Wind
    1. Air formed over oceans will be wet/most=rain, while air over land will be dry=no rain
    2. Westerlies, bring warm air
    3. The shows how wind can move, and carry things with it
  4. Elevation
    1. Less pressure=air expands and cools down
    2. When reaches dew point, causes condensation which causes rain
      1. This diagram shows how when you reach the dew point, water vapour condenses , causing rain
  5. Relief
    1. Air passes over mountain, it expands, cools, and rains
      1. This shows how the air moves over mountains
  6. Near Water
    1. Air directly over water=warm and moist.
      1. As it moves away these characteristics dissipate
      2. This shows how the air over water is moist
  7. Humans
    1. Humans actions have been proven to negatively affect weather patterns
      1. This shows greenhouse gases polluting the air
    2. Amount of greenhouse gases released is a negative impact
Weather and Climate
1. Weather
  1. Temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, and wind at current times of observation
    1. For example: it is rainy outside
2. Climate
  1. Weather conditions of a place on average, over a long period of time
    1. Average temp of Aurora=hot summers, cold winters
      1. This shows hot summers and cold winters on average
Rocks
1. The Rock Cycle
  1. This is the cycle of processes undergone by rocks in the earths crust
2. Rock types
  1. Magma
    1. Magma lives under the curst, and is lava before it has cooled
      1. This shows magma flowing
  2. Igneous
    1. Formed through the cooling of magma, examples include, Pumice, and Granite
      1. This is an example of pumice
  3. Sediments
    1. Caused through erosion and weathering of Igneous rock
      1. These are sediments
  4. Sedimentary rock
    1. Formed through the compression of sediments and common examples are Limestone.
      1. This is a limestone rock
  5. Metamorphic
    1. Caused through heat and pressure of Sedimentary rock, and some examples include Gneiss and Shale
      1. This is a Gneiss rock
Precipitation
1. As air rises, its ability to hold water decreases
2. 3 Types
  1. Convectional
    1. Friction between air creates static electricity that can cause thunder and lightning
      1. The process of Convectional Precipitation
  2. Orographic (relief)
    1. Air is forced to a dew point because the surface elevation has changed( happens in coastal mountainous regions)
      1. This shows the process of Orographic Precipitation
  3. Frontal
    1. When 2 air masses with different characteristics meet
      1. This is the process of Frontal Preciipitation
Soil
1. 4 main parts
  1. Minerals
    1. Full of nutrients for plants
      1. These are minerals found in soil
  2. Air
    1. Necessary for plants root health
      1. This is how air travels through soil
  3. Moisture
    1. Water helps to dissolve nutrients in the soil
      1. This is what moist soil looks like
  4. Bacteria
    1. Dead animals and plants are broken down by bacteria
      1. This is what bacteria looks like in soil
2. Soil Formation
  1. Soil profile
    1. Cross section of soil showing layers beneath surface
      1. Top :Organic litter
        Next:Top soil, rich organic material
        Next: Subsoil, combined minerals and organic materials
        Bottom: Mineral material from which sediment is made
      2. This shows the different layers if the soil and the order they go in
3. Penology: the study of soil
4. Loam
  1. Mix of sand, silt, clay and humus
    1. This is a picture of what loam looks like
5. Leaching
  1. Downward movement of water through soil
    1. Shows the downward movement of soil
6. Calcification
  1. Upward movement of water in soil
    1. Shows the upward movement of the water
National Parks
1. Banff
  1. Western Cordillera, and it a mountainous region
  2. Bears and moose, and hiking, climbing, and biking are available
    1. This is a picture of Banff and you can see that it is a very mountainous area
2. Ellesmere Island
  1. Intuition region, and is a cold desert with clear air
  2. Hiking
    1. You can see that it is a clear desert with cold air
3. Point Pellee
  1. Great Lakes St.Lawrence Lowlands, and it includes lakes, marches, and lots of birds
  2. Fishing and skating are offered
    1. You can see that there is a great lake that is ideal for fishing
4. Pukaskwa
  1. Canadian Shield, and has very cold winters and very wild animals
    1. You can see that canoeing is ideal in Pukaskwa due to the usually calm water
  2. Canoeing, hiking, and paddling are offered
5. Riding Mountain
  1. Interior plane , and it is an escarpment with thick, fertile soil, and wildlife includes Elk and Bufflao
    1. Theres are buffalos in the Riding mountain national park
  2. Horseback riding is very popular
6. Cape Breton
  1. Appalachians, and it has mountains right down to the sea with forests
  2. Boating is common and animals such as moose, and coyote
Vegitation
1. Coniferous Tree
  1. Generally keep their needles all year, and are also known as soft wood trees
  2. Cedar, pine, and spruce trees are examples
2. Deciduous Tree
  1. Prefers warm climates, and it loses its leaves in the winter (also known as hardwood)
  2. Examples include Maple or Birch tress
Additional Regions of Canada
1. Climate
  1. Climate regions include: Arctic, Taiga, Cordilleran, Pacific Maritime, Boreal, Prairie, Southeaster, and Atlantic Maritime,.
    1. This map shows where the regions are split up
2. Soil
  1. Soil regions include: Tundra, Wet-climate, Dry-climate, and Complex of Mountain areas
    1. This map shows the Separation of the regions
3. Natural Vegetation
  1. Natural Vegetation regions include: Tundra, West coast forest, Cordilleran, Boreal and Taiga, Grassland, Mixed, and Deciduous
    1. This map shows the separation of the regions
Classification of clouds
1. Cirrus
2. Cirrocumulus
3. Cirrostratus
4. Altitude
5. Cumulonimbus
6. Altostratus
7. Altocumulus
8. Stratocumulus
9. Cumulus
10. Nimbostratus
11. Stratus
Climate Graphs
1. A chart that shows the average weather for a certain period of time in a certain location.
  1. Precipitation is usually shown in a bar graph and the temperature is usually shown in a line graph

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Canada Physical Geography

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	Created by Lauren Snelgrove over 7 years ago