Geography Chapter 3: The Land and the People

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Questions and Answers

What causes orographic rainfall to occur?

Cold air rising over a lake

Frontal activity between two air masses

Clouds rising over a mountain range (correct)

Air mixing with warm ocean currents

In which areas is convectional precipitation most likely to occur?

High-altitude deserts

Interior of continents (correct)

Major coastal cities

Mountainous regions

What primarily drives frontal precipitation?

Convection currents in mountain regions

The collision of cold and warm air masses (correct)

Humidity levels in coastal areas

Solar radiation heating large bodies of water

What factor primarily contributes to the flow of rivers in Western Canada?

High precipitation levels and melting snow packs Signup and view all the answers

What major challenge affects water usage in Canada despite apparent water abundance?

Distribution and quality of water resources Signup and view all the answers

What environmental problem can runoff from agricultural land cause?

Diminished fish populations in rivers Signup and view all the answers

What issue related to sewage occurs in Victoria's water management?

Raw sewage being dumped into the Strait of Georgia Signup and view all the answers

What is the incorrect misconception about water sources in Western Canada?

They face issues of over-abundance of water. Signup and view all the answers

What primarily caused widespread environmental change in the prairies?

Western expansion of Europeans Signup and view all the answers

Which element does NOT belong to the five elements of place?

Cultural significance Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock predominantly characterizes the Canadian Shield?

Metamorphic Signup and view all the answers

Which physical feature is primarily responsible for the formation of the Western Mountains?

Collision of tectonic plates Signup and view all the answers

What factor causes temperature to drop approximately one degree Celsius for every 150 meters of elevation gained?

Altitude Signup and view all the answers

Which factor has the least influence on determining the climatic conditions of a region?

Human activity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of the Interior Plains?

Sedimentary rock Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes one reason why the climate of Western Canada varies?

Ocean currents influencing temperature Signup and view all the answers

Which source of precipitation involves lifting air as it moves over a mountain range?

Orographic Signup and view all the answers

Which type of rock is largely found in the area formed from deposits eroded from the Canadian Shield?

Sedimentary rock Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily responsible for the formation of fertile river valleys in the Western Mountains?

Glacial erosion and river deposition Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Canadian Shield?

Suitable for agriculture Signup and view all the answers

How do wind patterns influence temperature and precipitation?

Through the moisture they carry Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 3: The Land and the People

The ecology of the prairies remained unchanged for centuries, altered only by European expansion, causing widespread environmental change.
Settlers, primarily farmers, cleared land for agriculture, significantly altering native flora, and consequently, the environment.
A comprehensive study of Canada necessitates understanding its geography's impact on its development.

The Importance of Place

Geography primarily involves defining and analyzing "place."
Place comprises five elements:
- Location: identified by longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates.
- Physical and cultural characteristics: topography, flora, fauna, determining human activities and settlements and influencing the environment.
- Change: geological structures and processes cause places to change over time, including changes via natural or human causes (e.g., weathering, erosion, human activity).
- Interaction: size and location of a place impact interactions with the world (e.g., transportation technology has expanded contact).
- Regions: despite differences, places within a region have shared characteristics (e.g., climate, landforms, vegetation, soil). Similar regions, separated geographically, can share similar characteristics.

Physical Regions of Western Canada

Western Canada consists of three major landscapes:
- Canadian Shield: A massive, old rock formation providing the base for younger continental rock. It spans from the Arctic islands, around Hudson's Bay, south to the Adirondack Mountains of America, and east to Labrador, remains of a once-high volcanic mountain range. It contains rich mineral deposits (e.g., copper, gold, lead, nickel).
- Interior Plains: West of the Canadian Shield, covering much of Alberta, formed from deposited material eroded from the Canadian Shield; the area is sedimentary and was once a tropical region with abundant flora and fauna, yielding fossil fuels and potash.
- The Western Mountains/Cordillera: Ranges of parallel mountain ranges and valleys separated by plateaus. Created by tectonic plate collisions; mountains were shaped by river erosion and glaciers. The area features fertile river valleys that are rich in minerals (e.g., copper, gold, molybdenum).

Climates of Western Canada

Factors influencing climate include:
- Latitude: Distance from the equator influencing sunlight duration and intensity.
- Altitude: The higher the altitude, the colder the temperature (typically a drop of one degree for every 150 meters of elevation).
- Distance from the Sea: Land heats and cools more quickly than water; bodies of water moderate temperatures. The further from water, the wider the temperature range.
- Wind Direction: Wind direction impacts temperature (e.g., sea breezes moderating temperature). Wind can increase or decrease precipitation.
- Ocean Currents: Hot or cold ocean currents can significantly influence land temperature. Changes in currents ("switches") can affect regional climates.
Precipitation: Affected by distance from the sea, prevailing winds. Precipitation occurs in three main forms:
- Orographic Rainfall: Clouds rising over mountains release water.
- Convectional Rainfall: Daytime heating warms air, causing it to rise and release water.
- Frontal Precipitation: Cold and warm air masses meet, causing cool air to drop rain or other precipitation.

Water Resources

High precipitation and melting snow in the cordillera lead to constant river flow, but in dry years, water resources are limited.
Water usage restrictions may be needed for water scarcity. The key problem is water distribution and quality.
Runoff from agricultural land (e.g., pesticides, herbicides) and untreated sewage waste can contaminate water sources. Improper disposal of these materials negatively affects regional water supplies. Improper waste disposal, or lack of proper sewage treatment plants, contaminate water sources.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between geography and the development of Canada in this quiz based on Chapter 3. Understand how ecological changes driven by human activity, such as farming and settlement, have shaped the environment. Dive into the key elements of place that influence human activities and the natural landscape.