Download Chapter 2 : Canada`s Physical Landscape

CHAPTER 2 : CANADA’S PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE

Canada’s geography (landscapes and climate) has
a profound effect on Canada’s identity.
Canada has some of the oldest rock in the
world (about 4 billion years old)
The Earth is formed in layers. The innermost
layer of the Earth’s interior is called the core.
This is a solid layer of rock
The middle layer of the earth, the Mantle, is not
solid but a hot, dense, slow moving liquid called
magma.
A German scientist named Alfred Wegener
developed a theory called Continental Drift. This
theory states that the earth’s crust is not
continuous but made of several plates that are
slowly moving.
Wegener believed that the earth’s continents
were once joined together in 1 supercontinent
called pangaea.
The movement of the continents on the earth’s plates is
called Continental Drift.
Canada is moving further away from
Europe at a rate of 2-4 cm every year.
A Subduction Zone occurs when 1 plate on the earth;’s
crust slides beneath another plate .
This is the case on the Pacific coast. This is why the
west coast of Canada is prone to earthquakes.
Landforms are the
natural features of the
land’s surface.
Landscape refers to an
area’s landforms together
with its cover of vegetation,
water, ice, rock and the
activities of life forms.
The topography or features of the land’s surface is
described by several factors :
1. Elevation = height of land above sea level
2. Relief
= difference in elevation between points on
the earth’s surface
3. Gradient = the steepness of the slopes
4. Geology = the types of rocks and their histories
5. General Appearance = a description of the
landforms
Landforms are built or created in several ways.
Sometimes, convection currents in the earth’s mantle
causes magma to break through the earth’s crust in the
form of lava and volcanic ash.
Sometimes, magma causes earth’s plates to separate or
collide. This causes the crust to move upwards creating
block mountains or downwards to create trenches or rift
valleys
Block Mountain
Rift Valley - Iceland
Lava is magma that flows onto the earth’s surface
Magma is molten rock within the earth.
Fault is a break in the rocks on the earth’s crust along
which movement can take place
Fault Lines
Lava
Magma
Landforms are by 4 forces :
1. Mountain building
2. Weathering
=
wearing down or exposure to
atmosphere
3. Erosion
=
wearing down
4. Deposition
=
rocks are deposited elsewhere
to form new landscapes
Plateaus are relatively flat areas that occur between
mountains. It is formed as a result of movements of the
earth’s crust.
Plains are lands formed under a lake or a sea. It was
exposed as the water receded.
Canada was almost completely covered by ice 18000 years
ago.
A shield is the base of an ancient mountain. The
Canadian Shield was formed during the Precambrian
Era.
Canada is so large that
Geographers break it into
regions.
A Region is an area that shares
common features which makes it
different than other areas.
Landform Regions are classified
according to :
1. Age of rock
2. Type of rock
3. Relief
4. Gradient
5. Process that shaped the area
Canada has 8 major landform regions :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Canadian Shield
Appalachian Mountains
Western Cordillera
Innuitian Mountains
Arctic Lowlands
Interior Plains
Great Lakes-St.
Lawrence Lowlands
8. Hudson Bay Lowlands
The Canadian Shield has the oldest rock in Canada (4
billion years old). It acts as the foundation of Canada’s
other landform regions.
Much of the Shield has thin acidic soils called podzols.
This soil is not good for farming. However, in areas where
glacial lakes have left deposits (Great Lake area), the soil
is good for farming.
The Appalachian Mts were probably formed about 375
million years ago when the Eurasian and North American
plates collided during the formation of Pangaea.
Appalachians have been worn down over time to rolling
hills and broad valleys. A typical height for mountains in
this chain is 1000m.
The Western Cordillera is a series of parallel mountain
ranges including the Coast Mts, Columbia Mts, and the
Rocky Mts.
Average height of mountains in this chain is 3000m and
they are separated by extensive plateaus
Western Cordillera includes British Columbia, Yukon and
Alberta.
The Innuitian Mts are located in the far north. They rise
over 2000m with steep sides. It is too cold for tree
growth.
The Arctic Lowlands, located to the south of the
Innuitians, is a region of tundra with a cold dry climate
and poorly drained soil
The Interior Plains is located between the Canadian Shield
and the Western Cordillera. It was created when inland
seas receded.
In Canada, the Interior Plains covers most of Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories
In some parts of the Plains, the deep, moist soil called
black earth or chernozen is ideal for growing wheat
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands was formed
about 10,000 years ago when the Champlain Sea, an
ancient arm of the Atlantic Ocean, retreated.
This retreat left deposits of sands and clays in a
nearly level area. This created a very fertile soil
called brown earth.
The Hudson Bay Lowlands is within the southern area
of the Canadian Shield.
It’s mainly flat but poorly drained. Its soil is a mix of
tundra and podzols creating wetlands.
Profile Maps
Rules for drawing profile maps :
1. Copy the elevations on the map to the
lines below (lowest on bottom)
2. Using the line (AB) drawn across the
map, place a dot at each point that the
AB line touches the contour lines.
3. Using a straight-edge, place on each
dot and place a new dot on the lines
below on the appropriate contour line
(see dotted lines on map).
NOTE : YOU DO NOT DRAW THE
DOTTED LINES!
4. Connect the dots below to show the horizontal image.
( solid black line on map)
Homework : Complete the 3 profile map below (see handout) for homework
Determining Geographic Significance is based on several
factors :
1. Magnitude : How important is the influence?
2. Scope : How many people will be affected?
3. Duration : How long will it last?
Assign activity chart on page 32.
Climate and Weather
The science of weather is called meteorology
Climate is how we describe the patterns of weather
conditions over a long period of time.
Ex. Last winter was very wet and cold.
The elements of climate include :
Global Factors
Regional Factors
1.
2.
3.
4.
1. Altitude
2. Bodies of Water
3. Mountain Barriers
Latitude
Air Masses & Winds
Ocean Currents
Clouds &
Precipitation
Global Factors Affecting Climate :
1. Latitude =
because the earth is round, places
closer to the Equator gets increased
sunlight and therefore warmer
climates.
Places closer to the Poles have cooler
climates.
2.Air Masses
takes on the temperature and humidity
characteristics of the area in which it
originates. Moves as a result of
changing air pressure systems.
3. Ocean Currents Air passing over an ocean current is
influenced by the characteristics of that current.
Ex. the Gulf Stream brings warm moist air to the Maritimes
whereas the Labrador current brings a cold moist
air mass and climate to the same region.
4. Clouds & Precipitation : these occur when water
vapour in the air cools below the dew point.
3 types of precipitation :
A. Orographic
B. Convectional
C. Frontal
Watch video clips “Weather and Climate Part 2, 3 and 4 in Staff
Shared Folder
-
Orographic
=
precipitation
air cools as it rises
over higher ground
Warm, dry air
Air cools and
condenses as
it rises
Hot, moist air
Hot dry air
Convectional
=
air rises when warmed from
below
Frontal
=
when warm air and cold air meet,
the warm, moist air rises
Regional Factors Affecting Climate :
1. Altitude =
the higher you are from sea level,
the thinner the air is and the
colder the temperature gets.
(Every 100 m = -1.0˚C)
2. Proximity to Water :
Land and the air above it heats up quickly &
cools quickly whereas the water is much
slower. Thus, areas near the water stays
cooler in the summer but warmer in the winter
than areas inland.
3. Mountain Barriers :
west-facing windward sides of
mountains tend to be wetter than the east-facing leeward
sides of mountains.
A climate region is an area that experiences similar
weather conditions within its boundaries throughout the
year.
A German climatologist named Wladimir Koppen
divided the world’s climates into 5 zones. Canada has
4 of these zones.
These zones are :
A. Tropical =
not in Canada
B. Dry climates = more evaporation than precipitation
C. Warm, Moist climate = humid summers, mild winters
D. Cool, Moist climates = 70% of Canada cool summers and
precipitation most of year
E. Polar Climates = North has 2 very cold and dry climates
A Microclimate is a smaller climate area within a
bigger area where the average conditions are
different from the rest
End of chapter 2