Geography Vocabulary - Unit 1 Review

These are geography vocabulary for Unit 1 Test on Sustainable Physical Canada.

Liveability

The characteristics that contribute to a community's quality of life.

Sustainability

Living within our means and using resources wisely to ensure they last for future generations.

Carrying Capacity

The ability to support a population without causing environmental damage.

Difference and relation between liveability and sustainability

Liveability refers to the quality of life in a place, while sustainability focuses on using resources responsibly for future generations.

Important things in a livable community

Safety, healthcare, education, affordability, and good infrastructure are important factors in a livable community.

Things not on the list to consider

Sustainable climate, electricity, and weather/climate are not considered in the list of important factors for a livable community.

Human Development Index

A measure of a country's standard of living based on its economy, health, and education.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of the demands individuals place on the natural environment.

Gross Domestic Product per capita

A measure of a country's economic health calculated by dividing the value of all goods and services produced by its population.

Environmental Performance Index

A measure of how successful countries are at solving environmental problems, including disease control, water management, biodiversity protection, and carbon emissions reduction.

Continental Drift Theory

Alfred Wegener's theory that continents drifted to their current positions by moving through the oceanic crust.

Fit of the continents

The modern continents fit together along the edges of their continental shelves, similar to a jigsaw puzzle.

Fossil Evidence

Fossils of prehistoric animals found in South America and Africa suggest that the continents were once joined.

Rock Types and Structures

Mountain ranges with similar age, rock types, and structures are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Climatic Evidence

Evidence of glaciation in areas that are now tropical suggests that the continents were once joined.

Theory Proven

The Earth is compared to an egg, with the lithosphere broken into major, secondary, and minor plates that are constantly in motion.

Divergent Movement

When two plates move apart, creating a mid-ocean range and volcanoes.

Convergent Movement (continental and continental)

Plates collide, forcing massive layers of rock upwards and creating mountain ranges.

Convergent Movement (continental and oceanic)

Oceanic plates, denser than continental plates, slide underneath them in a process called subduction.

Transform Movement

Plates move in parallel but opposite directions, resulting in small earthquakes.

Earthquakes

Caused by convection currents in the mantle, with potential energy building up when plates are locked.

Tsunamis

Often caused by earthquakes, they involve a violent shift of the ocean bed and can cause massive destruction.

Ring of Fire

A path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.

Glaciation

The process of ice advancing and covering large areas of land.

Alpine Glaciers

Smaller glaciers found in mountainous regions, mainly moved by gravity.

Continental Glaciers

Large glaciers that cover a large area of land mass or an entire continent, moved by their own weight.

Landforms created by glaciation

Glaciation can smooth out mountainous areas and change drainage patterns, creating new lakes.

Impact of Glaciation

Erosion and changes to drainage patterns, leading to the formation of new lakes and altered landscapes.

Deposition by ice

Materials deposited directly by ice, not sorted by size, mixture of loose sediments and rocks of all sizes.

Deposition by ice - till plain

Small hills and valleys formed from rock and sediment deposited by ice.

Deposition by ice - moraines

Deposits of till that form at the edges, such as the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Deposition by water

Immense amount of ice melting creates a large amount of meltwater.

Deposition by water - moving water

Glacial debris moved on a massive scale, heavy particles like gravel and rock deposited based on weight.

Deposition by water - still water

Meltwater rivers flow into lakes, lightest materials like silt and clay particles are deposited, resulting in flat areas with deep, rich soils.

Fort McMurray - Physical Features

Trees, plants, creek/river, water, dry air, lots of wind, hot climate.

Fort McMurray - Local effects

Homes burned down, destruction of roads, trees, buildings, stores, and communities, burned gas stations making it difficult to leave, belongings left and destroyed, separation of family members, loss of property and jobs, high repair and building costs, health impact from smoke.

Fort McMurray - Canada effects

Rebuilding requires significant money, time, and resources, support provided by people from around Canada, law enforcement helps with evacuation, other provinces offer assistance, negative economic impact from the fire.

Fort McMurray - Prevention for the future

More warning before wildfires, earlier notice from meteorologists, thorough extinguishing of fires, following evacuation rules, preparedness measures such as filling up gas tanks and having emergency kits, educating people about wildfire signs and actions, spraying homes to prevent fire, smoke detectors in homes.

Canadian Shield - Process

Land worn down by erosion, glaciers modified the shape, tectonic plates collided to push rocks up, 4 sets of glaciers went over the shield.

Canadian Shield - Physical Features

Nearly flat, rounded hills of rock, trees, lots of lakes and rivers, minerals and metals, thin soil on top of rock, poor water drainage.

Canadian Shield - Population

Almost completely uninhabited, low population density, most live in the Southern Part due to nicer weather.

Canadian Shield - Economic and/or recreation activities

Attraction for mining companies, towns and cities built on mineral deposits, some fishing, tourism activities like hiking, boating, photography, and cottage visits.

Western Cordillera (Highlands) - Process

Interaction of Pacific and North American plate led to uplifting, glaciers carved out valleys.

Western Cordillera (Highlands) - Physical Features

Tall, rugged mountains, geologically young, glaciers in northern and elevated areas, valleys, trees, rivers, warmer climate with more plants.

Western Cordillera (Highlands) - Population

Less populated in colder regions, most populated and dense in towns like Vancouver.

Western Cordillera (Highlands) - Economic and/or recreation activities

Tourist towns like Banff and Jasper, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, showcasing the scenery and beauty of mountains, business opportunities, farming activities.

Innuitian Mountains (Highlands) - Process

Formed by movement of North American plate, younger mountains, not as worn down as the Appalachian Mountains.

Innuitian Mountains (Highlands) - Physical Features

Barren mountains, no tree growth, mineral deposits, very cold climate, no greenery or lakes.

Innuitian Mountains (Highlands) - Population

Not very populated due to cold climate and lack of resources, transportation challenges.

Innuitian Mountains (Highlands) - Economic and/or recreation activities

Limited activities due to the cold climate and remote location, mineral deposits present but difficult to mine.

Appalachian Mountains (Highlands) - Process

Tectonic folding forced rock layers upwards, millions of years of erosion worn the peaks, weight of glaciers forced plate downwards.

Appalachian Mountains (Highlands) - Physical Features

Rolling hills and smaller mountains, oldest highland region in Canada, lots of trees and grasses, fertile soil.

Appalachian Mountains (Highlands) - Population

Moderate population, pleasant summers.

Appalachian Mountains (Highlands) - Economic and/or recreation activities

Lumber/forestry, fishing, mining, farming, tourism, paper industries.

Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands (Lowlands) - Process

Formed by glacial debris and sediment, bedrock formed by eroded material deposited by seas.

Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands (Lowlands) - Physical Features

Relatively flat, frozen ground, limited agriculture due to the cold climate, low-level vegetation, no tall trees.

Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands (Lowlands) - Population

Low population due to cold climate and limited resources, transportation challenges.

Hudson Bay-Arctic Lowlands (Lowlands) - Economic and/or recreation activities

Fishing, mining (coal and natural gas).

Interior Plains (Lowlands) - Process

Shaped by glaciation, fertile soil left behind by glacial movement, formation of lakes like Lake Winnipeg.

Interior Plains (Lowlands) - Physical Features

Fertile and deep soil, lakes and rivers, suitable for agriculture and farming.

Interior Plains (Lowlands) - Population

Moderate population, colder in the north.

Interior Plains (Lowlands) - Economic and/or recreation activities

Farming, agriculture, saw manufacturing, oil and gas.

Great Lakes - St

Great lakes squeezed out by glacial movement, faulting created the St. Lawrence river, glaciers flattened the soil.

Great Lakes - St

Flat with sedimentary rocks left by glaciers, lots of lakes and rivers, warm climate, fertile soil, valleys, hills.

Great Lakes - St

High population density, 50% of Canada's population lives in this region.

Great Lakes - St

Agriculture and farming, major cities for trade, manufacturing, tourism activities.