Physical Geography - Unit 1 Quiz

Physical Geography - Unit 1

• Landforms and Regions: Landforms are natural features of Earth's surface. Regions are areas with distinct characteristics. Canada is divided into landform regions including the Canadian Shield, Hudson Bay Lowland, Arctic Lands, Interior Plains, Cordillera, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, and Appalachian Uplands. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands are the most populated due to favorable climate and fertile soil.

• Geological Eras: Earth's history is divided into eras. The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago) is the most recent, followed by the Mesozoic (251 million years ago), featuring dinosaurs, and the Paleozoic (541 million years ago). The Precambrian (4.57 billion years ago) is the oldest, during which the Canadian Shield formed.

• Plate Tectonics: The theory of plate tectonics posits that Earth's lithosphere is divided into moving plates. Alfred Wegener proposed the Pangaea theory, noting similarities in coastlines and fossils across continents. There are 15 major tectonic plates covering Earth, with the Pacific Plate containing the Ring of Fire, a zone of high volcanic activity. Convection currents in the asthenosphere drive plate movement via subduction.

• Continental Drift: Evidence suggests continents were once joined (Pangaea). Wegener observed matching coastlines, animal/plant fossils, and geological formations in separate regions as evidence for continental drift.

• Plate Movements: Plate movement impacts Earth's surface, creating mountains, volcanoes, and trenches. These movements can also trigger earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

• Glaciation: Ice ages are periods with significantly lowered temperatures, causing glaciation (large ice masses). Glaciers have shaped Canada's landscape by creating valleys, lakes, and mountain ranges. Fertile soil is also a byproduct of glacial activity.

• Niagara Escarpment: A sloping cliff running through the Great Lakes region, characterized by Niagara Falls.

• Soil: Soil composition consists of minerals, organic matter, bacteria, moisture, and air. Factors affecting plant growth include suitable temperature, precipitation, and soil quality.

Natural Disasters

• Earthquakes: Caused by stress on Earth's crust (tectonic plates). When pressure builds up, the plates shift, releasing energy and causing ground shaking.

• Volcanoes: Magma rises from Earth due to pressure. Eruption occurs when magma reaches the surface. Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) measures volcanic activity.

• Tsunamis: Often triggered by sudden displacement of ocean water, like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. As the water compresses, taller waves are created, impacting the shoreline.

• Tornadoes: Powerful rotating columns of air connecting to the ground and clouds. Formed by the presence of high and low-pressure air creating horizontal wind currents, which become vertical and stronger.

• Hurricanes: Form from thunderstorms accumulating warm, moist air, converting it into energy to drive the hurricane's circular winds. Storm surge (increased water level due to wind) is often more dangerous than wind speeds. The Saffir-Simpson Scale classifies hurricanes.

• Landslides: Downward movement of rock and soil due to various factors like heavy rain or earthquakes.

• Avalanches: Rapid downhill movement of snow.

Natural Resources - Unit 2

• Definition: Natural resources are useful materials from nature or organisms.
• Types: Renewable (e.g., air, water, animals) vs. non-renewable (e.g., rocks, minerals, fossil fuels). Flow resources (e.g., solar radiation, tides) don't diminish with use.
• Industries: Primary (extraction), Secondary (manufacturing), Tertiary (services), Quaternary (research), Quinary (management), Cultural (entertainment).
• Canada's Natural Resources: Specific locations are highlighted for oil/gas (northern Alberta), forests (Canadian Shield, BC), fish (Atlantic Ocean), minerals (Saskatchewan, Nunavut).
• Land Use and Agriculture: Southern Ontario has ideal conditions for agriculture, facing competing interests between farming and development. Wild rice is a notable resource with both ecological and indigenous cultural significance.
• Sustainability: Pillars of sustainability include Environmental management, Economic viability, and Social equity. Achieving sustainability requires different initiatives depending on the location (land protection, ecological mining, etc.) The James Bay Project is a massive hydroelectric development, impacting Indigenous communities.

Population - Unit 3

• Demography: Study of human populations. Statistics Canada conducts censuses to collect data for demographic analysis.
• Canada's Population: Canada's population growth is calculated through natural increase, net migration, and population ageing. Demographic indicators include birth and death rates, and immigration/emigration.
• Settlement Patterns: Patterns vary with urban (dense), rural (sparse), suburban areas (outer city), linear (along features), dispersed (spread out), and nucleated settlements (central hubs). Unique Canadian systems for settlement include the Quebec Long Lots and Ontario Concession Systems.
• Rural-to-Urban Migration: Movements from rural to urban areas are driven by factors like improved farming technology, education opportunities, and job prospects.
• Urbanization: Process of moving from rural to urban areas. This impacts urban plans: and growth. Includes distinct land uses within urban areas (residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational, and transportation). Characteristics of various densities (low, medium, and high density housing) and various commercial spaces (CBD, neighborhood, shopping centres, big box stores).

Energy and Urban Sprawl

• Energy Sources: Canada's electricity comes from a mix of hydro-electric, fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable sources. Distribution varies regionally, with hydro dominating northern areas and fossil fuels prevalent in the South.
• Energy Consumption: Industries, Transportation, Residential, and Commercial sectors have varying energy needs affecting distribution in different areas. Strategies to reduce consumption include government incentives, company efficiency upgrades, and individual efforts.
• Urban Sprawl: Expansion of urban areas into surrounding land. This can negatively impact natural habitats, farmland, and increase urban drainage issues. Countermeasures include developing compact and complete communities, investing into older areas, enhancing public transportation, and creating more walkable and environmentally friendly urban spaces.

Food

• Factory Farming: Industrialized animal agriculture prioritizes production over animal welfare, leading to potential environmental and human health concerns.
• Industrial Agriculture: Impacts both human health and environmental sustainability. Includes issues like the use of hormones, antibiotics, and excessive animal waste. Also includes concerns like food waste, imports/exports, and child labour in other countries.

This quiz covers key concepts in physical geography, including landforms, geological eras, and plate tectonics. Test your knowledge on the various regions of Canada and Earth's historical eras. Challenge yourself on how these elements shape our planet's surface.