Geographic Literacy Test Preparation

Define geography.

--A field of study related to the Earth.

--The study of places and the relationships between people and their environment.

--What's there, why is it there, and why should we care.

List different ways that people use Geography in the real world.

Reading maps, using GPS, seeing whether landforms are suitable for agriculture or transportation routes, finding climates suitable for agriculture or living, predicting where to find resources, improving safety following natural disasters, predicting the effects of human activity, collecting data, and developing maps.

What would the world look like if people did not think geographically?

People would get lost, create food shortages by choosing the wrong places to grow crops, build unsafe transportation routes, build unsafe homes, not have safe water, have to pay more for transportation, cause more species extinction, and accelerate global warming.

Define "space."

The facts and features about a specific location on Earth's surface). Maps and satellite images are tools that help define and quantify it.

Summarize the concept of Physical Geography.

It is the characteristics of the environment above and below the Earth's surface and the processes that create, modify, and destroy those environments. It determines where we live, what we do, the types of jobs that are available, and the types of changes to the environment we make.

Provide examples of Physical Geography.

Examples include landform features, rock types and minerals, soil type, bodies of water, atmospheric conditions, flora, fauna, natural processes that change the landscape, and the shape of the land.

Summarize the concept of Human Geography.

It is the study of people and their impact on the environment.

Provide examples of Human Geography.

Examples include population, economic activities, political processes, modification of the natural environment, resource usage, regional language use, and health conditions.

Explain how the physical environment can impact human activities.

Proper soil and climate help agriculture, mining happens where minerals are found, settlements are built where there is proper land, water, and climate, and it can help or discourage social interaction.

Explain how humans have an impact on the physical environment.

Deforestation can change the landscape, cause soil erosion, decrease biodiversity, and cause climate change. Waste leads to pollution of the land, water, and air, and the overuse of finite natural resources scars natural landscape.

List the four major Earth systems.

Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere.

What causes the Earth's four spheres (major systems) to interact?

The Sun and insolation.

Define "climatology."

The study of atmosphere and weather patterns over time.

Define "meteorology."

The study of atmospheric processes and phenomena.

Define "projection."

The formula or method a cartographer uses to represent the Earth's curves on a flat map.

Define "cartographer."

A person who makes maps.

Define "proportional."

The correct comparative relationship between the sizes and shapes of some object or picture.

Define "map."

A graphic representation of some place on Earth or of the world itself (usually on a flat surface). They are used to study, analyze, and interpret spaces, places, and human-environment interactions.

Define "representation."

Something made to be a copy or look like an actual object.

Define "distortion."

The misrepresentation of the proportions of an object or the changing of its shape.

What are some advantages of using globes instead of maps?

They give a three-dimensional picture of the continents' relative sizes and the shapes of landmasses and bodies of water. Maps can distort shape, distance, direction, and / or land area.

What are some advantages of using maps instead of globes?

Maps are more portable, let us see all of the Earth, allow for the measurement of straight-line distances, help us see the relationships between different areas of the Earth, and are more easily enlarged.

Why are world maps, or maps in general, distorted?

Creating a flat, 2D map version of a spherical, 3D object like Earth is always going to create some distortion.

Why do different map projections look so different from one another?

Each different projection type uses a different method or formula, which distorts maps in different ways.

List the benefits and drawbacks of a Fuller / Dymaxion map projection.

Benefits: Minimal distortion of shapes and land areas, less cultural bias because there is no "right way up," and masses are shown without disruption.

Drawbacks: Can be difficult to use and distorts distance and direction.

List the benefits and drawbacks of a Mercator map projection.

Benefits: It preserves direction, making it easier for navigation. It also preserves shape and angles, making close-up views of cities more accurate.

Drawbacks: It enlarges areas at the poles, is racist / ethnically biased because it distorts the relative land area of nations and continents making developed nations appear larger than they are, and varies the distance between lines of latitude.

List the benefits and drawbacks of a Gall-Peters (Equal Area) map projection.

Benefits: It accurately displays land area.

Drawbacks: Shapes are distorted horizontally near the poles and vertically near the Equator and there are projection errors in direction and distance.

List the benefits and drawbacks of a Winkel-Tripel map projection.

Benefits: Has a balance between size and shape accuracy. Distortion is minimized for land area, direction, and distance.

Drawbacks: The lines of latitude are slightly curved and non-parallel, and masses closer to the poles are still enlarged.

What is the difference between location and absolute location?

A location is the place where a particular point or object exists, while absolute location is often identified by latitude and longitude coordinates.

Define "latitude."

Flat, parallel lines going across a map from side to side. They measure distances north and south of the Equator. Each line of latitude has a different length, the longest being the Equator. The Equator is identified as being at 0 degrees latitude, while the North Pole and South Pole are 90 degrees N and 90 degrees S respectively.

Define "longitude."

Vertical lines running from the top to the bottom of a map and they measure distances east and west of the Prime Meridian. While the lines are not parallel, they are all the same length. The Prime Meridian is defined as being at 0 degrees longitude, while the International Date Line is both 180 degrees East and 180 degrees West.

Define "place."

The physical and human aspects of a location that set it apart from other areas.

List some physical aspects of a place.

Landforms, bodies of water, elevation, climate, soils, ecosystems, natural vegetation, and animal life.

List some human aspects of a place.

Population size and density, ethnic and religious makeup, settlement patterns, architecture, infrastructure, landmarks, economic and recreational activities, art, political systems, transportation, communication networks, culture, common foods, language, ideology, and philosophy.

Identify the three important parts to describing a place.

1. The location (the relative or absolute position on the surface of the Earth).

2. The locale (the physical setting for relationships between people).

3. A sense of place (the emotions or meaning we attach to an area based on our experiences).

How can different people have different perceptions of a place?

Their perceived importance and emotional connections to that place will be different.

How can the information about a place change over time?

Physical settings and cultures can be influenced by new ideas and technologies.

Define "identity."

One's sense of self, including our qualities and beliefs.

How does place help shape our identity?

Where we live impacts the way we talk about the world around us. We come to know ourselves, and therefore our identities, through connection with the places we inhabit.

What is a national identity?

A shared sense of belonging to a larger group due to common symbols, colours, language, history, music, cuisine, and cultural artifacts. When citizens demonstrate national pride and love for their country, they are said to be "patriotic."

Define "ecosystem."

Living and non-living organisms existing together in a small geographic region. They are classified by similar flora (natural vegetation) and fauna (animal life).

Define "biome," or "global environmental type."

The grouping of similar ecosystems around the world, together with the climate that affects them. They are usually named after their dominant vegetation type.

What are the three factors that are used to organize terrestrial (land) and aquatic (marine) biomes?

Climate, soil, and natural vegetation.

Discuss the tundra biome.

This biome covers about one-tenth of the Earth's surface. It is found at high latitudes and altitudes. There are tiny hills, valleys, slopes, lakes, and marshes. The permafrost, short growing season, and poor soil quality prevent trees from taking root, so there are shrubs, mosses, and lichens. This area gets little precipitation and can have extremely cold temperatures. The people that live here were traditionally nomadic groups. The wildlife is mostly migratory. There is a great deal of oil and gas exploration in this biome. Climate change is its biggest challenge.

Discuss the coniferous / taiga / boreal forest biome.

a massive northern ecosystem that stretches across North America, Europe, and Asia, containing one-third of all the trees on Earth. It is home to 3.7 million people, including most of Canada’s Indigenous communities, and features a wide variety of landscapes like mountains, rivers, lakes, and bogs. Because the winters are long and freezing and the thin, acidic soil is poor for farming, the plant life mainly consists of hardy evergreen trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that support wildlife like caribou, beavers, and geese. While the region is valuable for logging and mining industries, these activities lead to major environmental problems like clear-cutting, soil erosion, and habitat damage from road construction.

Discuss the deciduous forest biome.

This is the world's most built-up and damaged biome, found in parts of North America, Europe, Asia, and South America with landscapes of hills, mountains, and rivers. It has four distinct seasons with temperatures ranging from freezing -30°C to hot 30°C. Thanks to rich, healthy soil, it grows large forests and supports animals like deer, bears, owls, and frogs. Because the land is so good for farming, humans have cleared huge areas of forest for crops, towns, and wood. Today, clear-cutting trees and invasive species are its biggest problems.

Discuss the grasslands / savanna / prairie biome.

a wide-open biome covering up to 40% (two-fifths) of Earth's land across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. It features rich, dark soils that are great for farming crops like wheat, oats, and sunflowers, but very few trees grow here because of frequent fires and long dry seasons. The weather varies widely from freezing winters to hot summers ($-20^\circ\text{C}$ to $30^\circ\text{C}$, or $-4^\circ\text{F}$ to $86^\circ\text{F}$), supporting diverse wildlife including coyotes, burrowing owls, zebras, and rhinoceroses. Although Indigenous peoples historically lived here sustainably while hunting bison and elk, European settlement transformed much of the region into farmland and towns, making invasive species and poor farming practices its biggest modern threats.

Discuss the desert biome.

This biome covers one-fifth of Earth's surface between 15° and 35° latitude, featuring extreme landscapes like sand dunes, canyons, plateaus, and salt flats. Water is scarce and weather is harsh, with day-to-night temperatures swinging from 38°C down to -4°C alongside severe dust storms and sudden flash floods. Plant and animal life adapted to survive these dry conditions: plants feature deep roots and thin leaves, while animals are mostly nocturnal burrowers. Millions of people—making up one-sixth of the global population—live here near oases, flood plains, or as semi-nomads, supporting an economy driven primarily by tourism and the oil industry. Today, human irrigation has altered the environment, while illegal poaching poses the greatest threat to its wildlife.

Discuss the tropical rainforest biome.

a warm, wet biome located around the Equator that covers just 6% (three-fiftieths) of the Earth's surface. Despite its small area, it contains over half of the world's land animals—many of which have bright colors and grasping limbs—and an incredible variety of plant life. While the heavy rainfall drains nutrients from the soil, dense greenery and high trees thrive with shallow roots in the constant $25^\circ\text{C}$ to $32^\circ\text{C}$ ($77^\circ\text{F}$ to $89.6^\circ\text{F}$) heat. Humans have lived here for over 45,000 years, but today the biome faces severe damage from logging, farming, mining, and urban development as people harvest its rich resources like timber, coffee, medicine, and rubber.

What is a climatogram?

A chart used to graphically display both annual temperature and precipitation for a region.

Define "population distribution."

The pattern of where people live in a region.

Define "dispersed patterns of population."

A pattern of population that can be seen in agricultural areas, as people tend to be spread out over the farms in the area.

Define "concentrated patterns of population."

A pattern of population that tends to happen when resources and economic opportunities are found in a central area.

Define "population density."

A value that represents the number of people who live in each square kilometer of land.

What physical and human factors affect population density?

Physical factors might include climate, water supply, and landforms. Human factors might include politics, the economy, and social issues.

Why is Canada not densely populated?

Because much of the country is dominated by less inhabitable forest and tundra.

Is Canada's population mostly urban or rural?

Canada's population is severely urbanized—more than 80 percent of its inhabitants live in medium to large-sized cities. While representing only 10 percent of Canada's land area, 90 percent of the country's citizens and almost all of our productive farmland are found within 600 kilometres of the border with the United States.

Define "weather."

What's going on in the atmosphere at any given time and place. It happens in the short-term (so it's different from one day to the next) and is difficult to predict. It tends to affect our daily choices.

Define "climate."

A region's set of average atmospheric conditions (including temperatures and precipitation) over many years. Because it is based on trends, it is predictable.

List two rules that help explain why precipitation occurs.

1—Air cools as it rises in latitude and elevation.

2—Cooler air cannot hold as much water as warm air can, so the extra moisture condenses and falls as precipitation.

What are some of the ways that changes in weather and climate can affect people?

• Extreme Weather Risks: Droughts cause food and water shortages, while heavy snow creates dangerous driving, power outages, roof damage, flu spread, and heart strain from shoveling.

• Health Impacts: Hot, humid air makes breathing hard for people with asthma, and quick shifts in air pressure can trigger headaches, sinus pressure, and joint pain.

• Daily Life & Ecosystems: Weather determines what clothes you wear each day, while regional climate shapes the soil, native plants, and wildlife supported in an area.

What are the four most important elements of climate?

Temperature, precipitation, wind, and ocean currents.

Explain why the polar regions of the world are much cooler than the equatorial regions.

The Earth is curved, so beams of sunlight with the same amount of energy are spread out over different areas (a smaller area at the Equator due to sunlight being perpendicular to the surface of the Earth and a larger area at the poles due to the sunlight being spread out over a steeper angle). Therefore, as latitude increases, the temperature of an area decreases.

What happens when cool air passes over warm water?

Fog can be created.

What are the five climate controls?

Latitude, elevation, continental and maritime environments, ocean currents, and mountain barriers.

Discuss how latitude influences climate.

Latitude is the most powerful climate control. Due to the Earth's curved surface, a beam of sunlight that strikes the Equator is perpendicular to the Earth's surface so that the solar energy is spread out over a small area, leading to warmer temperatures. As latitude increases, the temperature of an area decreases. At the poles, a beam of sunlight is spread out over a large area, leading to cooler temperatures. Thus, Jamaica is much warmer than Churchill because it is closer to the Equator.

Discuss how elevation influences climate.

There is less air pressure at the top of a mountain, and more air pressure at sea level. Under lower pressure, air molecules rise and expand. With the air particles further apart, there are fewer of them available to absorb the Sun's incoming solar radiation, and temperatures are therefore cooler. For every 1000 metres we go up in elevation, the air temperature decreases by an average of 6.5oC.

Dramatically different ecosystems at different elevations along a mountainside reflect the different temperatures found at sea level (where you may find year-long tropical rainforests) versus the summit of the mountain (where you may find year-long Winter snow).

Discuss how continental and maritime environments influence climate.

Water heats up and cools down slowly, which keeps coastal areas like Vancouver mild year-round with a maritime climate. In contrast, land changes temperature quickly, causing inland places like Winnipeg to experience extreme weather with hot summers and cold winters, known as a continental climate.

Discuss how ocean currents influence climate.

Major ocean currents flow clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere. Water molecules closer to the Equator absorb more heat energy and evaporate more than water at higher latitudes. As ocean water from the Equator begins to move north, the increase in latitude causes a decrease in temperature. Cooler air cannot hold as much water, so it condenses and falls as precipitation. Thus, coastal areas next to warm ocean currents (like coastal B.C. and Nova Scotia) tend to have higher humidity and more precipitation. Conversely, coastal areas next to cold ocean currents (like coastal California and Morocco) tend to have less precipitation and lower humidity.

Discuss how mountain barriers influence climate.

As warm, moist air rises up the windward side of a mountain (like Vancouver), it expands, cools, and drops rain or snow, fueling lush vegetation. As that air descends down the leeward side (like Calgary), it compresses, warms, and absorbs moisture. This leaves the leeward side in a dry "rain shadow" with sparse vegetation and brings warm, dry "Chinook" winds