Physical Geography: Weather, Climate, Soil, Vegetation, and Ecozones

Vocabulary practice cards covering weather, climate factors, soil science, vegetation regions, and ecozones for Physical Geography Unit Test 2.

Weather

What the atmosphere is like right now or over a short period of time (e.g., temperature, precipitation, wind, and velocity).

Climate

The usual weather in an area over a long period of time (e.g., average temperature, precipitation levels, and humidity).

Latitude (Climate Factor)

A factor influencing temperature; locations closer to the equator are warmer, while locations farther from the equator are colder.

Ocean Currents (Climate Factor)

A factor influencing temperature and climate in coastal areas; warm ocean currents make nearby coastal areas warmer, whereas cold ocean currents make them colder.

Wind and Air Masses (Climate Factor)

A factor influencing temperature and precipitation by moving heat, moisture, and air masses from one region to another.

Air Mass Types (M, C, T, P, A)

Classifications of air masses based on moisture and temperature: Maritime ($M$ = wet), Continental ($C$ = dry), Tropical ($T$ = hot), Polar ($P$ = cold), and Arctic ($A$ = cold).

Elevation (Climate Factor)

A factor influencing temperature; higher elevations experience cooler temperatures, while lower elevations experience warmer temperatures.

Relief (Climate Factor)

A factor influencing climate by altering wind patterns, precipitation, and temperature gradients as air moves over landforms.

Near Water (Climate Factor)

A factor influencing temperature; water heats up and cools down slower than land, which moderates coastal climates and prevents extreme temperatures.

Climate Graph

A graph that displays a location's average monthly temperature and precipitation over the course of one year to reveal seasonal patterns.

Average Annual Temperature

The average temperature across all twelve months of the year, calculated by adding all monthly temperatures together and dividing by $12$.

Total Precipitation

The cumulative amount of precipitation a region receives over the span of one year, found by adding all monthly precipitation values.

Temperature Range

The difference between the warmest and coldest monthly temperatures (highest temperature minus lowest temperature).

Growing Season

The total number of months during the year where the average temperature remains above $6^\circ\text{C}$.

Frontal Precipitation

Precipitation that is generated when a warm air mass collides with a cold air mass.

Relief Precipitation

Precipitation that occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a physical barrier such as a mountain.

Convectional Precipitation

Precipitation produced when solar radiation heats the ground, causing the warm air above it to rise rapidly.

Air Mass

A large body of air that takes on the specific temperature and moisture characteristics of the region where it forms.

Prevailing Winds

Winds that blow across a region predominantly in one consistent direction.

Jet Stream

A narrow, fast-moving band of air current flowing high in the atmosphere.

Windward Side

The side of a mountain facing the oncoming wind where rising moist air cools, condenses, and produces high precipitation (the wet side).

Leeward Side

The sheltered side of a mountain facing away from the prevailing wind where descending air becomes warm and dry (the dry side).

Continental Climate

A climate region characterized by extreme seasonal temperature differences and relatively low total precipitation.

Maritime Climate

A coastal climate characterized by mild seasonal temperatures and relatively high levels of precipitation.

Soil Minerals

A soil component constituting $47\%$ of soil volume that originates from parent material and supplies essential nutrients.

Organic Materials and Bacteria

A soil component constituting $3\%$ of soil volume; it is broken down by bacteria to release vital plant nutrients.

Soil Moisture

A soil component constituting $25\%$ of soil volume; it originates from precipitation and groundwater to provide necessary water for plant uptake.

Soil Air

A soil component constituting $25\%$ of soil volume that fills the void spaces between particles to provide oxygen for plant roots.

Topsoil

The topmost layer of the soil profile that is dark in color, rich in organic materials, and contains humus.

Subsoil

The middle layer of the soil profile that combines accumulated minerals with organic material.

Parent Material

The solid bedrock or mineral deposits from which soil is formed through weathering.

Leaching

A downward movement of water through the soil that carries soluble nutrients away from the topsoil, resulting in a thin, less fertile top layer.

Calcification

An upward movement of water driven by surface evaporation that leaves deposited minerals behind, producing a thick, mineral-rich topsoil layer.

Wet Climate Soil Region

Our local soil region, representing one of the $4$ primary soil regions in Canada.

Weathering

The physical and chemical breakdown of solid rock into smaller rock particles and mineral fragments.

Humus

The dark, decomposing organic material that forms the upper layer of healthy topsoil.

Capillary Action

The physical process of a liquid flowing through narrow spaces without the aid of, or in opposition to, external forces like gravity.

Natural Vegetation

Wild plant communities that grow naturally across an area without human interference or cultivation.

Transition Zone

A geographic boundary area where the characteristics of one region gradually change and merge into another.

Tree Line

The northern or high-altitude boundary beyond which environmental conditions are too cold for trees to grow.

Permafrost

Ground, soil, or rock that remains completely frozen continuously for two or more years.

Deciduous Trees

Broad-leaved trees (e.g., beech, sycamore, oak) that shed their leaves in the autumn; commonly found in southern Ontario.

Coniferous Trees

Cone-bearing trees with small, needle-like leaves (e.g., spruce, fir, pine) that retain their foliage year-round; common across northern Canada.

Tundra Vegetation Region

Canada's coldest and northernmost vegetation region, underlain by permafrost and possessing soil with very little humus.

Boreal and Taiga Forest

Canada's largest vegetation region, dominated by coniferous trees and featuring acidic soil that is generally infertile for agriculture.

Mixed Forest

An eastern vegetation region containing both coniferous and deciduous trees; it serves as a transition zone between the Boreal and Deciduous forests and supports farming and lumbering.

Deciduous Forest Region

The smallest and southernmost vegetation region in Canada (and our local region), characterized by hardwood species, ample humus, and Eastern Canada's most fertile soils.

Grasslands Vegetation Region

A region situated in southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta that is too dry for forest growth; divided into short grass prairie (driest), long grass prairie (richest soil), and parkland (transition zone).

Cordilleran Vegetation Region

A mountainous vegetation region where plant species vary according to altitude, with coniferous forests occupying the lower slopes.

West Coast Vegetation Region

The wettest and westernmost vegetation region in Canada, home to lush temperate rainforests of Douglas fir, spruce, red cedar, and western hemlock.

Temperate

An environment or climate state that remains moderate and free from extreme weather conditions.

Old Growth Forest

A natural forest that has attained great age and developed over a prolonged period without significant human or natural disruption.

Ecozone

A large ecological division of the Earth's surface that shares similar climate, soil, vegetation, landforms, water, and animal populations.

Canadian Ecozone Classification

Canada is partitioned into $20$ distinct ecozones, comprising $15$ terrestrial (land-based) ecozones and $5$ marine (water-based) ecozones.

Mixedwood Plains

The specific terrestrial ecozone located in southern Ontario in which our local region resides.