Geography and Environmental Science Overview

Geography, Environmental Science, and Social Studies Topics Overview

• Canadian Shield: Large, rugged area of ancient rock, covering much of Canada.
• Great-Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands: Fertile, flat region; home to major cities like Toronto and Montreal.
• Appalachian Mountains: Older mountain range in eastern Canada.
• Map of Canada: Understand provinces (e.g., Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia), major cities (e.g., Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal), and basic directions (North, South, East, West).
• Continental Drift: Continents slowly move due to tectonic activity.
• Plate Tectonics: Earth's plates move and interact.
  • Folding: Crust bends due to tectonic forces.
  • Subduction: One plate moves under another.
  • Divergence: Plates move apart, creating new crust.
• Weathering: Breakdown of rocks by physical or chemical processes.
• Erosion: Movement of weathered material by wind, water, or ice.
• Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions.
• Climate: Long-term weather patterns in a region.
• Factors Affecting Climate: Latitude, altitude, proximity to oceans, ocean currents, wind patterns, and topography.
• Human Causes of Climate Change: Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes increasing greenhouse gases.
• Primary Industry: Extracting raw materials (e.g., mining, farming).
• Secondary Industry: Manufacturing and processing (e.g., factories).
• Tertiary Industry: Service industries (e.g., healthcare, retail).
• Ethical Sourcing: Ensuring products are produced responsibly (fair labor, environmental consideration).
• Fast Fashion: Rapid, cheap clothing production with questionable labor practices.
• Race to the Bottom: Competition to lower standards (e.g., labor laws) to reduce costs.
• Consumerism: Societal focus on buying goods and services.
• Globalization: Spread of businesses and influence across the globe.
• Oil Sands: Petroleum deposits in Alberta; requiring special extraction methods.
• Fossil Fuels: Non-renewable resources (coal, oil, natural gas).
• Sedimentary Rock: Rock formed by layers of sediment, often containing fossils.
• Hydroelectricity: Electricity generated using the power of flowing water.
• Renewable Resources: Resources that regenerate naturally (e.g., solar, wind).
• Non-Renewable Resources: Finite resources (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).
• Renewable Energy: Energy from natural, replenishable sources (e.g., solar, wind, hydroelectric).
• Non-Renewable Energy: Energy from finite sources (e.g., coal, oil).
• Urban Land Use: How land in cities is utilized (residential, commercial, industrial, recreational).
• Urban Sprawl: Uncontrolled spread of cities into rural areas.
• New Urbanism: Planning approach for sustainable, walkable communities.
• Urban Problems: Common issues in cities (overcrowding, pollution, traffic, poverty).
• Sustainability: Economic, social, and environmental health.
  • Economic Sustainability: Long-term financial health.
  • Social Sustainability: Promoting equality and access.
  • Environmental Sustainability: Protecting natural resources and ecosystems.
• Ecological Footprint: Measures human demand on Earth's ecosystems.
• Carbon Footprint: Measures carbon dioxide emissions from human activities.
• Population Pyramids: Graphs showing age and gender distribution of a population; used to analyze demographic trends.
• Canada's Aging Population: Increasing proportion of elderly people.
• Baby Boomers: People born between 1946 and 1964.
• Millennials: People born between 1981 and 1996.
• Types of Immigrants: Economic, family, and refugee immigrants.
• Immigration: Moving to a new country to live.
• Emigration: Leaving one's home country to live elsewhere.

Explore the key topics in geography and environmental science, including the Canadian Shield, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, and Appalachian Mountains. Learn about continental drift, plate tectonics, weathering, and erosion. This quiz will enhance your understanding of physical geography and its processes.