Download Ch 5 Study Guide Notes - Air Academy High School

GEOGRAPHY: CHAPTER 5: STUDY GUIDE
Definitions
Aquaculture: fish
farming
Blizzard: snow storm, 3
hours of
More than 35
mph wind
Chaparral: Dense
Forest, shrubs and
short trees
Chinook: Warm dry
wind blows down
the Rockies in
early spring
Contiguous: connected
Divide: high point,
ridge determines
which way water
flows
Fall line: where the
land drops to the
coast, Waterfalls
used for
power
Florida Everglades: rich
vegetation
and many animals
Great Plains: central
lowlands to
Mississippi
Headwaters: where a
river starts
Hurricane: ocean
storm, winds 100
miles wide
Rain Shadow Effect:
causes areas of
dry because of
the
mountains
Steppe Climate:
transitional between
dry and humid
Supercell: heavy
thunderstorm that
can start a
tornado
Timberline: point
where trees stop
growing
Tributary: small
streams or rives that
develop from a
river
Section 1
Where is the Grand Banks? What are they know for?: off the
coast of Canada, known for fishing
What/where is the Piedmont?: goes to Atlantic Plain, drops into
rapids and waterfalls on the fall line
What is the Continental Divide?: in the Rockies (same as Great
Divide
What is the Great Divide?: marks if a river flows to the Gulf of
Mexico or Pacific ocean
Where do rivers flow to west of the Continental Divide? The
Pacific
How were the Great Lakes formed? Glaciers carved basins out of
bedrock
What causes climate regions to vary? Elevation and latitude
How does a tornado develop? From a supercell
What mountain ranges are included in the Pacific Ranges?
Alaskan, Sierra Nevada, Cascade
Formed by collision of tectonic plates
Why is the Columbia Plateau dry? Rain shadow effect
What/where is the Canadian Shield? Eastern Canada (Northeast of
U.S.)
Why is the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence Seaway system important?
Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa grew around this area. Links the Great
Lakes and Atlantic
Which river drains much of Canada’s northern interior?
Mackenzie
What is the Colorado Plateau? From the Colorado River-Grand
Canyon
What kind of island is Hawaii? Volcanic
Where is the Mississippi headwaters located? Minnesota
Which river forms part of the border between the U.S. and
Canada? St. Lawrence
From west to east order the Rocky Mountains, Central Lowlands,
Appalachian Mountains, Pacific Ranges and Great Plains. Pacific
Ranges, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Central Lowlands,
Appalachian Mountains
What is the Great Basin? Death Valley the lowest point in the U.S.
Why are lakes and rivers important resources? Cities grew up
around them, shipping, transportation
Where is Mt. McKinley? Alaska Range Highest point in North
America
What is the lowest point of the U.S.? in the Great Basin, Death
Valley
Describe the Appalachian Mountains. North America’s oldest
mountain range, in the southeast U.S.
Section 2
What climate is characteristic of the northeastern U.S.? Humid
Continental
Name the common native plants of the Great Plains. Tall grasses
What was the Dust Bowl? What caused it? A drought in the Great
Plains, Famers broke up the dirt to grow crops and that made the
soil weak
Where would you most likely find a Mediterranean climate? Along
coastal areas
What type of climate is in large parts of Canada and Alaska?
subarctic
What is the cause of the highland climate of the Rockies and
pacific Ranges? elevation
What is the affect of the high atmospheric pressure area over the
Canadian subarctic? Cold winds affect the U.S. in the winter
What area in the contiguous U.S. has a tropical climate with a
distinct dry season? Southeastern Florida
What kind of vegetation is in the marine west coast climate from
northern California to southern Alaska? Ferns, mosses, coniferous
forests
What is the climate like in the Great Plains? Why? Bitter winter,
Hot summer, far from the ocean
What are the climate and vegetation like in the high elevations
and far northern latitudes? Always cold, little vegetation.