Recent Quiz

Coniferous Trees: needles stay green all year; needles stay on trees

Decidous Trees: Trees: has leaves; turns colors in the fall; loses leaves in the fall

O Tundra: Cold, dry, poor soil — Plants: Shrubs, mosses, small flowers

O Boreal & Taiga: Cold, wet, poor soil, mostly coniferous trees

O Deciduous Forest: Long hot summers, mild winters, lots of precipitation, fertile soil, mostly deciduous trees

O Grasslands: Cold winters, hot summers, dry precipitation, fertile soil, long grass, some areas of trees. Coniferous in the North, Deciduous in the South

O West Coast Forest: Mild temperature, lots of rain, mixed soil, lots of trees; rainforest

O Cordilleran Vegetation: Warm in the valleys, colder in the mountains. Dry in valleys, but rain on West side of mountains. All types of soil depending on elevation. Grasses and cactuses in dry valleys; coniferous trees on mountains

Vegetation Regions

• Canada has seven (7) different vegetation regions. 

• Vegetation regions are determined by climate and soil. 

• Transition regions: gradual changes between regions.

Soil Health Threats

1. Erosion (water or wind removes topsoil)

   • Prevention: contour plowing, windbreaks, cover crops

2. Nutrient Depletion (over-farming drains N, P, K)

   • Prevention: crop rotation, green manure, organic fertilizers

3. Salinization (irrigation leaves salts behind)

   • Prevention: proper drainage, salt-tolerant crops

L = Latitude

O = Ocean Currents

W = Wind

E = Elevation

R = Relief

N = Nearness to Water

Maritime Continent = Region close to a body of water

Continental = Not close to a body of water

How does climate affect us?

1. A Drought (no rain, very dry period) can destroy

crops and soil.

2. Major snow/rain storms can cause major

transportation problems

3. Climate affects the vegetation, soil and

wildlife (animals).

4. Climate also affects certain industries in

Canada like farming and mining.

Climate Change:

• Global Warming: The Earth’s atmosphere is

getting warmer due to human

activities

The Greenhouse Effect: Greenhouse gases trap heat

• from the sun and raise the

  temperature of the Earth’s

  atmosphere

Fossil Fuels: Energy sources that are

formed in the geologic past

from the remains of living

things, such as coal, oil, or

natural gas