Geography Exam Review

Exam Review Booklet Notes: ZCGC 1W1

Section A: Skill Development

  • Map Identification: Ensure proficiency in identifying on a map:

    • All Provinces & Territories

    • All Capital Cities including Ottawa

    • The Great Lakes

    • St. Lawrence River

    • Oshawa

    • 3 Oceans

    • Grand Banks of Newfoundland

    • Oil Sands

    • Hudson Bay

    • The Landform Regions of Canada, particularly the Canadian Shield

  • Definitions:

    • GIS: Geographic Information Systems

    • Large Scale Map: A map displaying smaller, detailed features, particularly within towns or cities (e.g., roads, stores, bus stops).

    • Small Scale Map: A map that represents larger areas, such as countries, states, or provinces, and lakes.

    • Latitude: Imaginary horizontal lines traversing the Earth, such as the Tropic of Capricorn, Equator, and Tropic of Cancer.

    • Longitude: Imaginary vertical lines that extend from pole to pole, including the Prime Meridian.

    • Absolute Location: The precise point on Earth’s surface expressed through coordinates, e.g., (2.5 N, 67 E).

    • Relative Location: The location of a place relative to other landmarks or geographical features that make it identifiable; for example, "Your house is 1 mile north of the grocery store".

    • Spatial Significance: The importance of a location determined by its geographical context and the relationships between different places.

  • Oshawa's Unique Features: Important locations include GM, Parkwood, Thornton Bike Park, and Camp Samac.

    Importance of Oshawa’s locations:

  • GM: A major employer in the region, contributing significantly to the local economy and the first automotive company in Canada. It played a crucial role in the development of Oshawa's industrial landscape and provided numerous jobs, fostering growth and innovation in the automotive sector.

  • Parkwood: A historical estate and garden that attracts visitors and educates them about the region's heritage. This was once the home of McLaughlin - GM founder and industrialist, offering insight into the early automotive industry and its impact on Oshawa's growth. This place also serves as a filming location.

  • Thornton Bike Park: Offers recreational opportunities and promotes outdoor activities, enhancing community health and well-being.

  • Camp Samac: Provides a facility for youth programs and outdoor education, fostering community engagement and personal development.

  • Scale Practice:

    • Direction from the mine to church: northeast

    • Best dolphin viewing spot: southern side

Section B: Interactions in the Physical Environment

  • Earth's Layers Diagram:

    • Top Layers:

    • Geosphere

    • Atmosphere

    • Biosphere

    • Hydrosphere

  • Rock Cycle:

    • Processes and Rock Types:

    1. Igneous Rocks: Formed by cooling of magma.

    2. Metamorphic Rocks: Created through heat and pressure.

    3. Sedimentary Rocks: Form through weathering, erosion, compaction, and cementation of sediments.

  • Processes:

    • Weathering and Erosion -> Sediments -> Compaction/Cementation -> Sedimentary Rock

    • Heat and Pressure -> Metamorphic Rock

    • Cooling -> Igneous Rock

  • Definitions:

    • Convection Currents: Movements in the Earth's mantle causing tectonic plate shifts.

    • Pangea: A hypothesized supercontinent existing around 250 million years ago.

    • Continental Drift Theory: The theory proposed by Alfred Wegener suggesting continents are in constant motion on Earth's crust.

    • Permafrost: Permanently frozen subsoil in polar regions that complicates construction and infrastructure development.

    • Orographic (Relief) Precipitation: Moisture meeting mountains, resulting in precipitation on one side and rain shadow on the other.

    • Maritime Climate: Characterized by low temperature ranges, significant precipitation, and moderated conditions from nearby large water bodies.

    • Continental Climate: Marked by larger temperature ranges (above 25°C) and lower annual precipitation (less than 1000 mm).

Section C: Managing Canada’s Resources

  • Definitions for Resource Management:

    • Ecological Footprint: The resource demand derived from one person's consumption compared to Earth's ability to regenerate resources.

    • Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Long-standing Indigenous understanding regarding environmental stewardship.

    • Clear-Cut Harvesting: The complete removal of trees in an area, promoting rapid economic benefits but endangering biodiversity.

    • Selective Harvesting: Cutting part of forested areas to preserve ecology and reduce landslide risk; however, it's more costly.

    • Shelterwood Harvesting: Removal of mature trees while maintaining the forest structure, ensuring ecological balance yet costly.

    • Sectors of Economy:

    • Primary/Extractive Sector: Jobs involving resource extraction like forestry, mining, and agriculture (5% of jobs in Canada).

    • Secondary Sector: Manufacturing or processing raw materials (17% of jobs).

    • Tertiary Sector: Providing services like retail (78% of jobs).

    • Quaternary Sector: High expertise services, e.g., education and research.

    • Quinary Sector: High-level management positions and decision-making roles.

  • Mining Types:

    • Surface Mining: Used to extract minerals such as coal and oil sands located near the surface of the Earth.

    • Underground/Shaft Mining: Used to extract deeper resources in the earth by building tunnels or shafts to access minerals like gold, silver, and copper, which are not reachable through surface methods.

    • Open Pit Mining: A method that involves removing large quantities of earth to extract minerals located near the surface.

  • Sustainability Terms:

    • Bycatch: Unintended marine life captured during fishing activities.

    • Aquaculture: Controlled farming of fish or aquatic organisms.

    • Ugly Food: Edible products rejected for not meeting aesthetic commercial criteria.

    • Fast Fashion: Rapidly produced, cheap clothing compromising on sustainability.

  • Collapse Reasons for the East Coast Cod Fishery in 1992:

    1. New technology enhancing fish capture.

    2. Waste practices leading to high bycatch levels.

    3. Overfishing from foreign fleets.

    4. The imposition of the Cod Moratorium.

Section D: Changing Populations

  • Defined Terms:

    • Baby Boom: Surge in birth numbers post-WW2.

    • Baby Boom Echo: Population growth widening after baby boomers gave birth to their own children

    • Population Density: Canada has a notably low density relative to land size.

    • Emigrant: An individual exiting a country to reside elsewhere.

    • Immigrant: A person entering a country permanently.

    • Refugee: Displaced individual seeking safety from conflict or disaster.

    • Developed Country: Nations with sophisticated capabilities and citizens in advanced economic sectors (quaternary).

    • Developing Country: Nations lacking technology and infrastructure, tending towards high population stress.

    • Newly Industrializing Country: Nations in transition with growing industry and wealth disparity.

Section E: Liveable Communities

  • Key Concepts of Liveability:

    • Green Infrastructure: Systems benefiting ecological balance and urban health.

    • Urban Heat Island Effect: Temperature rise in urban areas due to human-made structures compared to natural surroundings.

    • Mixed Use Development: Spaces serving multiple functions (residential, commercial).

    • Megacity: A large, urban metropolitan area with a population of over 10 million people.