Gr.9 Geography Unit 3 - Climate, Soils and Vegetation Test Review

7 vegetation regions of canada

1. Tundra

2. West Coast Forest

3. Cordilleran Vegetation

4. Boreal & Taiga Forest

5. Grassland

6. Mixedwood Forest

7. Deciduous Forest

Tundra vegetation region

Climate: too cold, little precipitation

Vegetation: few small trees, shrubs, flowering plants, moss and lichens

Physiography: barren and somewhat rocky, permafrost soil

Location: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northeastern Manitoba, northern Ontario, northern Quebec and northern Labrador

West Coast Forest

Climate: large amounts of rainfall and warm climate

Vegetation: trees are lush and thick, trees here are important for the Lumber Industry

Physiography: forests are old, lush and thick fertile soil

Location: along the west coast of British Colombia

Cordilleran vegetation region

Climate: mild, wet and rarely has snow that stays

Vegetation: varies, many different trees

Physiography: alpine tundra to coastal rainforest to grasslands and savannah forests

Location: most of southern British Columbia and some of southwestern Alberta

Boreal & Taiga Forest

Climate: warm to cool summers and long, cold winters

Vegetation: thick forests, coniferous trees are more common than deciduous

Physiography: largest vegetation region, large and thick forests

Location: Newfoundland and Labrador on the Atlantic Coast to northeastern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory

Grasslands

Climate: very dry and are too dry for most trees

Vegetation: natural grasses grow taller in the wetter areas of the region than in the drier areas

Physiography: flat-to-gently rolling plain with a few major hill systems

Location: southern Manitoba into Alberta

Mixedwood Forest

Climate: cool winters and warm summers moderated by water bodies

Vegetation: deciduous (birch, aspen, maple, oak) and coniferous (spruce, pine) tree species

Physiography: large forests surrounded by bodies of water

Location: Southern Ontario and Quebec

Deciduous Forest

Climate: long and hot summers, mild winters and plenty precipitation

Vegetation: Many different kinds of deciduous trees

Physiography: Only small areas of trees are left as most of the area has been taken for human use

Location: southwestern Ontario

What is a soil horizon?

The different layers of soil parallel to its surface whose properties develop from the combined actions of living organisms and water

What is the structure of soil?

The way particles in soil are arranged and assembled.

Parts of soil?

Bacteria & Organic Minerals: Dead plants and animals are decomposed by bacteria releasing nutrients into soil

Air: Air spaces needed around plant roots, made by high humus levels or small animals

Moisture: water dissolves nutrients into soil and taken up by plants

Minerals: Comes from parent material and are weathered into soil

The soil regions of Canada and how to tell each one apart?

Soil can be told apart based on its fertility, texture, and moisture.

The Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) have the most fertile soil.

The layers of soil?

O Humus: dark, organic material that forms when plant and animal matter decays

A Top Soil: high concentration of organic matter and microorganisms

B Sub Soil: variable mixture of small particles, less organic matter and humus

C Parent Material: material forming soil horizons may be mineral rock and/or organic matter

R Bed Rock: solid rock beneath surface materials such as soil and gravel

What is natural vegetation?

Plants which grow without any human interference and grow in response to different climactic conditions

Define ecozone

an area with a particular type of natural environment

2 kinds of trees

Deciduous: leaves that fall off yearly

Coniferous: bear cones and have needles or scales that do not fall off and are acidic to the surrounding soil

Weather and climate?

Weather: short term atmospheric conditions

Climate: weather of a region averaged over a long period of time

What does LOWERN stand for? How does each factor affect weather?

Latitude: Closer to the equator means hotter temperatures

Ocean Currents: Flow of seawater in the ocean, affects temperature of air passing over

Wind & Air Masses: Carries weather conditions to different areas

Elevation: Higher elevation means lower temperatures

Relief: Causes less precipitation, creating dry climates

Near Water: Absences of large bodies of water cause less precipitation, hot summers, and cold winters

3 kinds of precipitation?

Relief/orographic: air is forced to cool when it rises over relief features. As it rises it cools, condenses and forms rain.

Convectional: heated air rises upwards with the water vapour and gets condensed when it reaches a higher altitude.

Frontal: colder air meets warmer air in a weather front. The warm air is then forced to rise over the cooler air

What is weathering?

Breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on Earths surface through contact with water, atmospheric gases, sunlight, and biological organisms

What is leaching?

Process of water carrying soluble substances or small particles through soil or rock.

What is the tree line?

Point in a habitat above which trees can't grow

What is permafrost?

Permanently frozen layer on or under Earth's surface. Consisting of soil, gravel, and sand, usually bound together by ice.

What is calcification?

Deposition of calcium carbonate in a soil in low precipitation areas having high rates of evaporation and water deficit