Download Social Studies Grade 9 Unit 2

Social Studies Grade 9
Unit 2 – Geographic influences on identity: Place and People
SCO 2.0 – The student will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the physical
geography of Canada
2.1
Outline the factors responsible for Canada’s varied topography and landforms.
2.2
Identify and describe Canada’s major landforms.
2.3
Describe the global and regional factors that account for variations in Canada’s climate
regions
2.4
Identify and locate the major climate regions of Canada
Terms:
Elevation – the height measured from sea level
Relief – the difference of elevation on the earth’s surface
Gradient – the steepness of a slope
Geology – the study of types of rocks and their history
Mountain Building – referring to the forces, such as folding and faulting, that create mountains.
Folding – When the earth’s rocks buckle and fold in a wave like pattern and create mountains
Faulting – when a fracture or break occurs in the rocks of the earth’s crust along which
movement can take place
Weathering – the breakdown of rock on the earth’s surface
Erosion – The wearing down of the earth’s surface by running water, waves, wind, and glaciers
Deposition – the depositing of eroded material to form new landforms
Climate – the average conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time
Metamorphic Rock – rock that has been transformed by heat or pressure beneath the earth’s
surface
Igneous Rock – hard, impervious rock formed from molten magma beneath the earth’s surface
Sedimentary Rock – rock composed of sediments, usually formed in layers.
Questions/Notes:
1. What factors are responsible for Canada’s landforms?
The forces of mountain building, weathering, erosion and deposition are responsible for the
formation of Canada’s landform regions. Mountain building and deposition create new
landforms; weathering and erosion are forces which break down landforms.
2. How are mountains created?
The mountains away from the Shield were formed at various times in geological history. The
Appalachian Mountains (which is the region Newfoundland is in) were formed when the North
American Plate and the Eurasian Plate collided. The collision of the Plates caused rock to
fracture and be pushed upward, creating a mountain. Mountains can be created by faulting,
which means there is a fracture in the earth’s crust and rocks push upward. Fold mountains are
created when the earth buckles and folds in a wave like pattern.
3. How was the Canadian Shield formed?
The Canadian Shield was formed 4 billion years by glacial movement. The Canadian Shield
forms the foundation of all of the other landform regions in Canada. As the giant ice sheet
moved away from the area, it scraped the area and moved large amounts of sediment, rocks,
and mountains away, creating a landscape of rolling hills and broad valleys.
4. How were areas of lowlands in Canada formed?
Moving water and ice from the glacier on the Canadian Shield carried Shield materials to
surrounding areas, building up great thicknesses of rock. These sediments built up over time,
creating very flat regions with thick, fertile soils. These areas are known as the various lowland
regions of Canada.
5. What is the oldest landform region in Canada?
The oldest landform region in Canada is the Canadian Shield. It was formed 4 billion years ago.
6. Which mountain region has the highest relief? Why?
The Western Cordillera in Western Canada is the highest mountainous region in Canada. This is
because this region is the youngest mountain region in Canada, being formed approximately 65
million years ago. The other regions have been around a lot longer and the older a mountain is,
the more erosion and weathering will occur, causing it to lose some of its height. The young
fold mountains of the Western Cordillera are high with jagged peaks and steep slopes.
7. The global factors affecting climate:

Latitude – As latitude increases (the further away you get from the equator), the
intensity of sunshine decreases. Therefore, the greater the latitude, the colder the
climate is.

Air Masses and winds – air masses are large volumes of air that have similar
characteristics. Air masses over bodies of water or areas of land have different
characteristics and names that reflect their origins:
o Maritime Tropical: warm water makes the air warm and moist
o Maritime Polar: cold water makes the air cold and moist
o Continental Arctic: cold land makes the air cold and dry
o Continental Tropical: desert makes the air hot and dry
As these air masses move into an area, they affect the temperature and humidity of
that area

Ocean Currents – ocean currents move immense amounts of heat and cold around the
world. Air passing over an ocean current will pick up the temperature of the current and
bring it to an area, thereby affecting the weather.

Clouds and Precipitation – Water or ice particles in clouds increase in size due to
condensation or collisions with other particles. When these particles become large
enough, they may fall to the surface as liquid or solid forms of precipitation.
The leading edge of an air mass is known as a front. As a front passes through an area,
the weather will change.
8. The regional factors affecting climate:

Altitude – As altitude (or elevation) increases, air temperature and air pressure
decreases. The air pressure decreases as the air expands and its molecules move farther
apart, which results in lower oxygen levels and cooling.

Bodies of water – Areas that are near a body of water will usually experience cooler
weather in the summer and milder weather in the winter. This is because water heats
up slowly and cools down slowly. The warmed water keeps the land warm during the
winter and once the water cools down during the winter, it keeps the land cool during
the summer months.
The water will feed moisture into the air and will fall as precipitation on the land around
it.
In summer, onshore winds may bring a cooling effect to the land.

Mountain barriers – The Coast Mountains in British Columbia get some of the highest
amounts of precipitation in Canada. These mountains are in the path of the warm, wet,
westerly winds, called the Westerlies. These air masses are forced over the mountains,
cool, and cause precipitation to fall.
9. What are the climate regions of Canada? What are their temperature, precipitation
and relative location?
1. Dry Climates – Primarily in the prairies. These regions are dry because the amount of
evaporation is higher than the amount of precipitation. They have a mean annual
temperature of 18 degrees C.
2. Warm, moist climates – This region is on the coast of British Columbia. This region has
warm, humid summers and mild winters. The region receives precipitation throughout the
year and the mean temperature in some areas in the region does not exceed 22 degrees C.
3. Cool, moist climates – Most of Canada is in this climate. Summers are cooler here and
receive precipitation for most of the year. The coldest zone in the climate has a short, cool
summer with only one to three months of temperatures over 10 degrees C.
4. Polar Climates – Canada’s North includes two types of polar climate, both of which are
very cold and dry. These areas cover 25% of Canada and include the Western Cordillera
mountain ranges. These areas are extremely cold and dry with a mean temperature below 0
degrees C for the whole year.
10. Be able to construct a Climograph (refer to assignment)
11. Be familiar with the Landform Regions Chart given out in class.