Geography Lecture Notes

Flashcards based on lecture notes about Geography terms

LOWERN

Factors that affect climate: Latitude, Ocean Currents, Wind & Air Masses, Elevation, Relief, Near Water

Canadian Shield

Largest landform region in Canada; ancient rocks, rich in minerals, thin soil.

Interior Plains

Flat land with sedimentary rock; farming and oil/gas production.

Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands

Most populated area; fertile soil and industrial center.

Appalachian Mountains

Old mountains with rounded peaks; important for forestry and fishing.

Western Cordillera

Young, tall mountains along Canada’s west coast; tourism hotspot.

Hudson Bay–Arctic Lowlands

Flat, swampy, cold region with permafrost.

Innuitian Mountains

Remote, cold northern mountains with little human activity.

Early Expanding

High birth & death rates, slow growth.

Expanding

High birth, falling death, rapid growth.

Stable

Low birth and death rates, slow growth.

Contracting

Low birth and death rates, shrinking population.

Primary Industry

Extracts natural resources (e.g., farming, fishing, mining).

Secondary Industry

Manufactures goods from raw materials (e.g., factories).

Tertiary Industry

Provides services (e.g., teachers, doctors, retail).

Quaternary Industry

Involves information and research (e.g., scientists, IT).

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be replenished naturally (e.g., trees, fish).

Non-renewable Resources

Resources that cannot be replaced once used (e.g., oil, coal).

Flow Resources

Resources that are constantly available but can be wasted if unused (e.g., wind, solar energy).

Sustainability

Using resources so future generations can meet their needs.

Urban Sprawl

Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

Computer system for mapping and analyzing geographic data.

Plate Tectonics

Theory that Earth's crust is divided into plates that move, causing earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain formation.

Divergent Boundary

Plates move apart, forming mid-ocean ridges.

Convergent Boundary

Plates collide, causing mountains and volcanoes.

Transform Boundary

Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.

Latitude

Distance north or south of the Equator; affects climate.

Longitude

Distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Maritime Climate

Climate near large bodies of water; mild temperatures and higher precipitation.

Continental Climate

Climate far from water; large temperature ranges and less precipitation.

Ecological Footprint

Measure of the impact a person or population has on the environment.

Geographic Inquiry Process

Steps to study a geographic question: Ask → Research → Analyze → Conclude → Communicate.

Map Scale

Shows the ratio of distance on the map to actual distance on the ground.

Population Density

Number of people per square kilometer.

Push Factors

Reasons people leave a place (e.g., war, poverty).

Pull Factors

Reasons people move to a place (e.g., jobs, safety).

Multiculturalism

Canada’s policy promoting acceptance of diverse cultures.

Settlement Patterns

How communities are arranged: Linear (along roads/rivers), Clustered (grouped), Scattered (spread out).

Urbanization

Movement of people from rural areas to cities.

Smart Growth

Planned urban development to reduce sprawl and protect the environment.

Renewable Energy Sources

Energy from resources that naturally renew (e.g., solar, wind, hydroelectric).

Non-renewable Energy Sources

Energy from finite resources (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas).

Natural Resource Management

Using resources carefully to avoid depletion and environmental damage.

Demographic Transition Model

Model explaining population changes through stages linked to birth/death rates.

Time Zones

Regions that share the same standard time; Canada has six time zones.

Topographic Map

Map showing elevation and landforms using contour lines.

Satellite Imagery

Photos of Earth from satellites used for mapping and monitoring.

Climate Graph

Graph showing temperature and precipitation over time for a location.

Elevation

Height above sea level, affecting temperature and climate.

Permafrost

Permanently frozen ground found in northern regions.

Fertile Soil

Soil rich in nutrients, good for farming.

Natural Hazard

Natural event that can cause harm (e.g., earthquake, flood).

Economic Migration

Moving for better job opportunities.

Refugee

Person forced to leave their country due to danger or persecution.

Land Use Types

Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Recreational, Transportation.

Ecotourism

Tourism focused on protecting natural environments.

Geographic Scale

The level at which a geographic question is studied — local, regional, national, or global.

Human-Environment Interaction

How humans affect the environment and how the environment affects humans.

Natural Resources

Materials found in nature that people use (water, minerals, forests).

Renewable Energy Technologies

Examples: solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric dams.

Soil Erosion

Wearing away of topsoil by wind or water, harming farming.

Deforestation

Cutting down large areas of forest, leading to habitat loss.

Desertification

Land degradation turning fertile areas into deserts, often due to over-farming or drought.

Overfishing

Catching fish faster than they can reproduce, depleting stocks.

Land Reclamation

Process of creating new land from oceans, rivers, or lakes.

Urban Heat Island

Urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activity.

Greenhouse Effect

Trapping of heat by gases (like CO2) in the atmosphere, causing global warming.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in Earth’s climate caused by natural and human factors.

Ecological Footprint

Measurement of the land area needed to support one person’s lifestyle.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming methods that protect the environment and resources.

Water Table

Level below the ground where the soil is saturated with water.

Aquifer

An underground layer of water-bearing rock.

Floodplain

Flat land next to a river that floods during heavy rain.

Renewable vs Non-renewable Energy Examples

Renewable: solar, wind, hydroelectric Non-renewable: coal, oil, natural gas

Waste Management

Ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste to protect the environment.

Transportation Corridors

Routes used for moving goods and people (highways, railways).

Push-Pull Migration Model

Explains reasons why people move from one place to another.

Population Doubling Time

Time it takes for a population to double in size.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size that an environment can sustain.

Economic Sectors

Dividing the economy by type of work: primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary.

Land Use Conflicts

Disagreements over how land should be used (farms vs factories vs parks).

Environmental Impact Assessment

Study to predict how a project affects the environment.

Renewable Resource Management

Practices like selective logging and fish quotas to conserve resources.

Canada’s Population Distribution

Most people live within 200 km of the US border.

Push-Pull Factors Examples

Push: War, natural disasters, unemployment Pull: Education, healthcare, safety

Satellite Navigation Systems

GPS, used for locating places on Earth.

Remote Sensing Uses

Monitoring deforestation, urban growth, natural disasters.

Economic Migration vs Refugee Migration

Economic: move for jobs Refugee: move to escape danger

Rural vs Urban Communities

Rural: low population density, farming Urban: high population density, services

Infrastructure

Basic physical systems of a community (roads, power, water).

Natural Disaster Preparedness

Plans to reduce risk and protect people from floods, earthquakes, etc.

Energy Conservation

Using less energy to reduce environmental impact.