Week 3: United States and Canada PDF

Week 3: United States and Canada What to Expect Describe the similarities and differences between the US and Canada Locate the climatic regions in Canada and the US Explain Environmental challenges Relate the geographies of agriculture and manufacturing in the US and Canada Introduc...

Week 3: United States and Canada What to Expect Describe the similarities and differences between the US and Canada Locate the climatic regions in Canada and the US Explain Environmental challenges Relate the geographies of agriculture and manufacturing in the US and Canada Introduction Were both British colonies Both cover an area of more than 7.5 million square miles which is more than 14% of the world. Physical Divisions of North America North America can be divided into 5 regions: The Mountainous West; The Great Plains; The Canadian Shield; The varied Eastern region, and the Caribbean. The Canadian Shield/Laurentian Shield (plateau) is a geological formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks Physical Divisions of North America Mountainous West: e.g., the Rockies, the Sierra Madre. These mountains are part of a system of parallel mountain ranges known as the Cordilleras. A cordillera is a long series of mountain ranges Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur frequently in this region. Volcanicity contributes to the rich fertile soils of the region. The mountains include temperate rainforests with precipitation ranging from 254-508 centimeters annually. Three major desert regions of North America (The Sonoran, Mojave, and Chinuahuan) are located in the rain shadows of the mountains  Physical Divisions of North America Great Plains: Termed the “breadbasket” of North America Has deep rich soils conducive for grain growing e.g., wheta Also rich in oil and natural gas The grassland/prairies make up the largest biome in North America Native animal species include bison, prairie dogs and grasshoppers Associated with extreme weather events Physical Divisions of North America Canadian Shield: Characterized by a rocky landscaped pocked by an outstanding number of lakes The tundra is the common biome in this region Low temperatures and precipitation hinder tree growth Characterized by permafrost soil Has little arable land but has a wealth of timber and minerals Physical Divisions of North America Eastern North America: This region includes the Appalachian mountains and the Atlantic coastal plain. The Florida Everglades is the largest wetland system in the US covering more than 11,137 square kilometers The most visible remnants of glaciation are the Great Lakes once scoured by glaciers and then filled with water Climate of North America  Factors Influencing Climate of North America Most of North America lies in the middle and high latitudes Prevailing wind direction is from the west (westerlies). Pushes weather systems from West to East North-- –South mountain ranges in the West modify air masses as they move eastward, often drying them up (orographic effect). Continentality where the atmosphere takes on more extreme heating and cooling The Gulf of Mexico provides an important moisture source Environmental Challenges Climate change: intensifying extreme weather and rearranging the geography Since 1895, the US average temperature has increased by 1.5 F with 80% of the increase occurring after 1980 Precipitation has decreased or become sporadic Prolonged drought Reduced mountain snowpack Increased Wildfire hazards Increased Water competition Observed and Projected Climate Changes in North America https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/chapter/chapter-14/  Environmental Changes The fifth national climate assessment: https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/ Hurricane Katrina Demographic Changes Both Canada and the US are lands of immigrants The baby boom of 1946-1965 had a birth rate of 2.5% Most of the US population lives East of the Mississippi river  Population Distribution Most Canadians live within 200 miles of the US border. Could you guess why? Population redistribution involves the migration of people from farms to cities and then outward to suburbs How the presence of coal influenced the geography of industrial revolution and in-turn the US demographics?  Manufacturing Primary manufacturing regions is in the Northeast US and Southern Canada Transportation systems of waterways, roads, and railroads provide an advantage for assembling and distribution  Iron and Steel Locations Steel influences the production of ships and the motor industry Steel industry faces competition from other countries. Capital intensive and technology have reduced employment. EPA web archive  Agriculture In 2010, the US supplied 53% of the World’s corn One-fifth of the US is classified as cropland Farming is highly mechanized in the US and Canada  Agriculture Total factor productivity: Takes into consideration the use of all inputs in the production process. It reflects efficiency Energy and Power Coal was the initial source of power for the industrial expansion of the US Environmental concerns have affected coal use through regulations and restrictions Concerns of coal use: Health, pollution, climate change Canada accounted for 4.3% and the US 12.5% of world crude production in 2012 Energy and Power USA 2019  Geography of the Post-industrial era Sectors of the economy: Quaternary sector: a) Primary – extraction Generating, managing, & b) Secondary – manufacturing interpreting information c) Tertiary – services Examples: finance, media, technology, education, consulting d) Quaternary – Information Has more geographic freedom Thrives near universities e.g., Silicon Valley (Stanford and To what extent is the quaternary Berkeley); Havard-MIT corridor sector divorced from the environment? Changing employment landscape in the US  Post-Industrial and Globalized North America Emphasizes services and knowledge, instead of manufactured goods. Service firms have become global Appearance of smart cities Associated with the transfer of jobs to low-wage labor markets abroad Corporations have become ‘stateless’ Will North America become a better place economically with globalization?  Poverty in North America Unbalanced economic growth Ineffective integration of regions into a national economy Environmental degradation Social, political, and economic circumstances of the minority 83% of those classified as poor live in metropolitan areas Poverty is chronic in the Native American lands of the West and Percentage of poverty by states 2010-2011 along the Mexican border  Income Inequality Congressional budget office https://inequality.org/facts/income-inequality/ Minority Population 2010 and Projections Historical Perspective of North America Map of 1750 Geography of Religion