Grade 10 - Chapter 2: Canada's Physical Base PDF

Canada’s Physical Base Canada’s Physical Base - Introduction Part One: Overview (pg. 21-38): This chapter provides a basic introduction to Canada’s physical geography, emphasizing how it has shaped the regional nature of Canada. This lesson we will focus on: 1. The relationship between physical g...

Canada’s Physical Base Canada’s Physical Base - Introduction Part One: Overview (pg. 21-38): This chapter provides a basic introduction to Canada’s physical geography, emphasizing how it has shaped the regional nature of Canada. This lesson we will focus on: 1. The relationship between physical geography and humans. 2. The geological structure, origins, and characteristics of Canada’s physical base and its seven physiographic regions. The impact of physical geography -Physical geography helps us understand the regional nature of our world. For example, it helps explain why some regions are populated or industrialized, and others are not (recall the core/periphery model from Chapter 1). -Read Vignette 2.1 on page 22 to consider the differences in ecumene between Canada and the United States. -Ecumene is a term used by geographers to mean inhabited land. It generally refers to land where people have made their permanent home, and to all work areas that are considered occupied and used for agricultural or any other economic purpose Physiography and Physiographic Regions Physiography – The study of landforms, their underlying geology, and the processes that shape these landforms. Physiographic region – A large geographic area where a single landform, such as the Interior Plains, is found. There are 3 key characteristics of a physiographic region: 1. it extends over a large, contiguous area with similar relief features; 2. its landforms have been shaped by a common set of geomorphic processes; and 3. it possesses a common geological structure and history The Seven Physiographic Regions of Canada -Canada has seven physiographic regions (see your map and page 25 in the text). The largest is the Canadian Shield, while the smallest is the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Lowlands. The Seven Physiographic Regions of Canada -Each physiographic region has a different age. Some may be 4.5 billion years old, some much younger. Also, each region has a different geological structure, which have produced a particular set of mineral resources. -For example, Precambrian (600 – 3500 million years old) rock in the Canadian Shield contains deposits of copper, gold, diamonds, nickel, iron, and uranium. Others were formed more recently, such as the Interior Plains (about 500 million years ago). Great amounts of sediments were deposited here (a shallow sea existed here) over perhaps 300 million years, as well as plenty of vegetation and dinosaur/animal remains. Eventually, these deposits were solidified into sedimentary rock with coal and oil/gas deposits. -As these regions developed their various resources, differences in regional economies began to take shape. The Canadian Shield -The Canadian Shield is the largest physiographic region in Canada. Geologically, it is also the oldest, having formed 600-4500 million years ago. -The rock-like surface consists mainly of a rugged, rolling upland. -Shaped like an inverted saucer, the region’s lowest elevations are along the shoreline of the Hudson Bay. The Canadian Shield -During the growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, the surface here was subjected to glacial erosion and deposition. -As glaciers spread out over the surface of the land, they can change the shape of the land. They scrape away at the surface of the land, erode rock and sediment, carry it from one place to another, and leave it somewhere else. Thus, glaciers cause both erosional and depositional landforms. The Canadian Shield -As the ice sheet reached its maximum extent, its edge melted, depositing rocks, soil, and other debris (i.e. till). -Major lakes were also formed as this ice sheet retreated. The massive weight and movement of this glacier gouged out the earth to form the Great Lakes region. The Canadian Shield -Drumlins are widespread in this region. These are low, elliptical hills composed of till (material deposited and shaped by the movement of an ice sheet and subglacial megafloods). The Canadian Shield -Eskers are also common in this region. These are long, narrow mounds of sand and gravel deposited by meltwater streams found under a glacier. The Canadian Shield -In terms of industry and economy, the Canadian Shield has vast and varied mineral resources (e.g. nickel deposits near Sudbury). -Ontario’s Ring of Fire region is one of the most promising mineral development opportunities for critical minerals in the province. It’s located approximately 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and covers about 5,000 square kilometres. -The region has long-term potential to produce: chromite, cobalt, nickel, copper, platinum. -Hydroelectric power and tourism are also notable industries in this region, with the region having an abundance of lakes, rivers, and forests. The Cordillera -Plate tectonics played a critical role in the formation of this region. Roughly 175-85 million years ago, the Pacific and North American plates collided here, uplifting the horizontal sedimentary rocks into a series of mountain ranges. The Cordillera -The fault line separating the Pacific and North American plates makes the coast of British Columbia vulnerable to both earthquakes and volcanic activity. -The densely populated Lower Mainland of BC faces the threat of a powerful earthquake and possible tsunami sometime this century. The unknown question facing British Columbians is, when will the “Big One” strike?  Participation Your Turn Mark! -Read the editorial article, “A Big Earthquake…” by Jonathan Hayward and answer the following questions in complete sentences. Submit your answers on lined paper. 1. Do you believe the Canadian government (at all levels) should be doing more or less to prepare for earthquake disasters in B.C.? Explain. 2. What is one new thing you learned from the article? Please remember to write legibly and include your name. The Cordillera -The Rocky Mountains are the most well known mountain ranges in this region. They contain some of the most striking landscapes in North America. Hence, tourism is very important here. -The Cordillera region also has robust agriculture, forestry, mining, and fishing industries. The Cordillera -Glaciation during the last ice age contributed to the physical features of the mountains in the Cordillera region. -Glaciers advanced down slopes, carving out hollows called cirques. -Arêtes (steep-sided ridges) were also formed. -Glaciers also eroded the sides of river valleys, creating distinctive U- shaped valleys known as glacial troughs. The Interior Plains -This physiographic region lies between the Canadian Shield and the Cordillera. Unlike the Cordillera, this region is in a stable zone where tectonic forces are not a concern. -Most of the population lives in the southern part of this region due to longer growing seasons for farming and cattle ranching. -Millions of years ago, this region was covered by an inland sea. As mentioned earlier, vast amounts of sediments were deposited in this inland sea. The sheer weight of these deposits produced sufficient heat and pressure to transform them into sedimentary rocks. These, in turn, allowed for the accumulation of oil and gas resources within their structural depressions or basins. The Interior Plains -As the Laurentide Ice Sheet melted and retreated from the Interior Plains about 12,000 years ago, huge glacial lakes were formed including Lake Agassiz (which drained into the Hudson Bay). -As the glacial waters moved, they cut deeply into the glacial till and sedimentary rocks, creating huge river valleys known as glacial spillways. The Hudson Bay Lowlands -This region is a vast wetland, dotted with a myriad of ponds and lakes. -Muskeg, a type of peat, is the dominant ground cover here, beneath which lies permafrost. -As the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated, this area was covered by the Tyrrell Sea, which was considerably larger than present-day Hudson Bay. The Hudson Bay Lowlands -This region is by far the youngest physiographic region, as it was formed around 10,000 years ago. -The region is still undergoing the process of isostatic rebound (i.e. post-glacial uplift). Hence, it is poorly drained and difficult for human settlement. Arctic Lands -This region is centered on the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The climate here is cold and dry. -The ground is permanently frozen to great depths, never thawing, except at the surface during the short summer season. -Various forms of patterned ground are found here due to physical weathering (continual warming and frost action). -Pingos are also common here. These are hills or mounds that maintain an ice core. Arctic Lands -Most people who live in this region, live along the coastal plains. -The three largest communities are Inuvik (which has a population of almost 3000), while Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk are smaller communities. The Appalachian Uplands -This physiographic region represents only about 2% of Canada’s land mass. It includes Newfoundland, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. -Though the name suggests an abundance of mountains, few exists in the Canadian section (compared to the US section). Weathering and erosional processes for the last 500 million years have worn down the mountains here. -This region is known for its rounded uplands and narrow river valleys. -This region favoured early European settlement. However, the demise of the fishing industry in recent decades has weakened the economy here, with many people choosing to move elsewhere. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands -This is the smallest physiographic region in Canada. However, it contains some of Canada’s largest cities. Namely, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. -Its proximity to the industrial heartland of the US, its fertile soil, and its favourable physical setting, make this region home to Canada’s main ecumene and manufacturing core. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands -The landscape here is largely flat and rolling. It was influenced by the Champlain Sea, which occupied this area for about 2000 years. It retreated about 10,000 years ago and left behind broad terraces (steep-landforms) that slope towards the St. Lawrence River.  Participation Your Turn Mark! Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Submit your answers on lined paper. 1. Is there a link between physical geography and the core/periphery model? Explain. 2. Bone notes in Vignette 2.1 (pg. 32) that geography is partly responsible for the much smaller population in Canada (versus the United States). a. To what extent is this true? What other factors have contributed to this population differential? b. Suppose Canada’s population was to increase by 10 million people over the next 25 years. Where would these additional people live? Please remember to write legibly and include your name. Canada’s Physical Base - Continued Part Two: Climate in Canada (pg. 38-50): This chapter provides a basic introduction to Canada’s physical geography, emphasizing how it has shaped the regional nature of Canada. This lesson, we will focus particularly on… 1. The nature of Canada’s climate, its seven climatic zones, and climate change. a. Understanding Canada as a maritime country b. The Issue of the Northwest Passage c. The Four Major Climate Factors/Controls d. Air Masses over Canada 2. The Impact of Climate Change: a. Extreme Weather Events b. Permafrost c. Sea and Lake Ice Canada as a maritime country Canada is arguably a maritime country: At 243,042km, Canada has the longest coastline in the world. It forms 21% of the world’s coastline (total world coastline comes in at 1,162,306km). It also has the largest offshore zone in the world (stretches seaward for 200 nautical miles, which is equal to 370km). Canada has over 2 million lakes and rivers, covering about 7.6% of the country’s landmass, and making this the largest freshwater system in the world. Extending from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Lake Superior, Canada’s inland waterway is the longest in the world and extends for over 3,700km. The Arctic Archipelago is considered to be the largest archipelago in the world (covers 1.4 million km²). Canada’s Climate Climate Factors/Controls: These are changing due to greenhouse gases causing global warming. Aside from human activity, there are four main climatic controls affecting our climate. These are: 1. Solar radiation and latitude – lower latitudes receive more energy. 2. The global circulation system – redistributes energy from the sun. 3. The movement of large air masses 4. The continental effect – landmasses heat up and cool more quickly than oceans Canadian Climate Zones -It was Wladimir Köppen, a German botanist and climatologist, who devised a pattern of climates based on natural vegetation zones. The “zones” were similar with regard to their temperatures and precipitation amounts as seen with the respective plants that grew there (e.g. deserts and xerophytes). He devised a system of 25 climate zones; seven of which are found in Canada and are: 1. Pacific 2. Cordillera 3. Prairies 4. Great Lakes / St. Lawrence 5. Atlantic 6. Subarctic 7. Arctic Review Table 2.3 on page 44 for more details regarding each region. Air Masses Air Mass = A body of air whose temperature and humidity characteristics remain relatively constant over a horizontal distance of hundreds to thousands of kilometres. Air masses develop their climatic characteristics by remaining stationary over a source region for a number of days. Air masses are classified according to their temperature and humidity characteristics. There are two main types: -Maritime – warm to mild, humid -Continental – very dry usually, can vary in temperature depending on where the air mass originates and the season What six air masses affect the weather in Canada? There are a total of six: continental tropical (cT), maritime tropical (mT), continental polar (cP), maritime polar (mP), continental arctic (cA), and maritime arctic (mA). Air Masses The Impact of Climate Change: Extreme Weather Events -Include blizzards, droughts, ice storms, tornados, hurricanes, and floods. These can have a very large impact on humans and property. With a warmer world, increases in extreme weather events will increase as well. -Read article from the Edmonton Journal, “Looking back at Edmonton's deadly Black Friday tornado”. The Impact of Climate Change: Permafrost -Permafrost is soil or underwater sediment which continuously remains below 0°C (32°F) for two or more years. -A relic from the Pleistocene Epoch; today is undergoing a retreat due to global warming which, in turn, is changing the northern landscape. The Impact of Climate Change: Sea and Lake Ice -Seasonal melting occurs throughout the year as ice from lakes and rivers appear and disappear, but the Arctic ice pack has, over the last several decades, been melting, allowing for more open water to exist. -This has brought forward the issue of the Northwest Passage and which nation has claim to this region. Canada’ Physical Base Continued The Northwest Passage and Canada’s access to trade: -Trade is very important via shipping routes (i.e. Pacific Rim nations). -Ports may open in the north (e.g. Churchill, Manitoba) as global warming affects sea ice. -The Northwest Passage could, in the future, be the most important ocean route between Europe and Asia.  Participation Your Turn Mark! Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Submit your answers on lined paper. 1. Based on the information in Table 2.3 (pg. 44), what are the temperatures and precipitation characteristics in the climatic zone where you live? 2. To what extent might natural disasters and extreme weather events contribute to regional consciousness? Please remember to write legibly and include your name. Canada’s Physical Base - Continued Part Three: Drainage Basins and Pollution (pg. 50-57): This lesson, we will focus on… 1. Canada’s Four Major Drainage Basins 2. The Issue of Pollution in Canada a. Nuclear Waste b. Mining c. Oil Sands d. Air pollution Canada’s Four Major Drainage Basins 1. Atlantic Basin 2. Pacific Basin 3. Hudson Bay Basin 4. Arctic Basin Atlantic Drainage Basin -Centred on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. -Receives much precipitation, making it second in terms of stream-flow after the Hudson Bay Drainage Basin. -Largest hydro-electric power development is located at Churchill Falls in Labrador, with proposed future expansion to this project. -Some hydro-electric power along the shores of the St. Lawrence in Southern Quebec (e.g. Manicouagan River draining out of the Laurentide Uplands). Hudson Bay Drainage Basin -This is the largest drainage basin in terms of size. -Precipitation is higher in the eastern side. -Hydroelectric power potential is great here due to the amounts of precipitation, the large rivers, and the drops in elevation (interestingly within the Canadian Shield around the areas of greatest glacial rebound). -Hydroelectric projects here include the massive La Grande Rivière development, which we will see again in depth when we examine Quebec, and on the Nelson River in Northern Manitoba. The Arctic Drainage Basin -Mackenzie River dominates this drainage basin as it flows northward into the Beaufort Sea; tributaries of the Mackenzie include the Athabasca, Liard, and Peace Rivers -The Mackenzie River is the second longest river in North America after the Mississippi -This drainage basin doesn’t have a large stream-flow because of low precipitation amounts (thus very few HEP projects). The Pacific Drainage Basin -While it is the smallest in terms of size, it still accounts for the second- highest volume of water flowing into the sea. -Heavy precipitation along the Coast Ranges accounts for this high stream-flow. -It should be no surprise that there are numerous hydroelectric projects in this area. -One such site is located at Kemano, which uses the power generated at the dam for its aluminum smelter in nearby Kitimat. Pollution in Canada -Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has become a notable agent of environmental change. -The mining industry in particular represents a major polluter of lands and waters. -The burning of fossil fuels by coal-burning plants and the operation of vehicles and planes pollutes the air and atmosphere. Pollution in Canada -Waste is also a major issue that affects Canada’s environment. Governing waste is a complex and risky activity involving all three levels of government. -Nuclear waste disposal, for instance, tops the list in terms of dangerous waste products. -Mining wastes stored in tailing ponds (i.e. engineered pools/dams) are less dangerous, but the risk of leakage or rupture in containment structures is always present. Note on Nuclear Waste and Storage in Canada -Nuclear waste is the result of the production of nuclear energy. -The heat generated from nuclear fission (splitting of a heavy atom such as uranium or plutonium) is used to heat water, producing steam. This steam is then used to turn turbines connected to electrical generators, which convert the mechanical energy into electricity. Note on Nuclear Waste and Storage in Canada -Water that is used in the production of nuclear energy can remain irradiated for decades, posing a threat to human health. However, spent fuel such as plutonium-239 can remain hazardous for over 240,000 years. Hence, the need for careful management and storage. -Dry storage containers are made of reinforced high-density concrete about 510 millimetres (20 inches) thick and are lined inside and outside with a 12.7- millimetre-thick (half-inch) steel plate. The thickness of the concrete provides an effective barrier against radiation. -Canada’s used nuclear fuel is currently safely managed in facilities licensed for interim storage. These facilities are located at nuclear reactor sites in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. See video: How is it stored today? (nwmo.ca) Mining and Pollution -Water is essential in various stages of mining. Notably, it is combined with various chemicals to extract metals from ores. For example, cyanide is used in gold mining. -Mining, before environmental regulations were put in place, left behind massive amounts of toxic wastes with no framework for clean-up or land reclamation. -The Giant Yellowknife mine, for example, left behind toxic waste that will cost the public millions to neutralize. -Read the history of Giant Mine (article). Mining and Pollution -Water is also essential for Alberta’s vast oil sands project because it is used, along with various chemicals, to separate oil from bitumen. This contaminated water, however, must be managed and stored carefully in tailing ponds. -Currently, toxic chemicals from Alberta’s oil sands tailing ponds have been leaching into groundwater and seeping into the Athabasca River. -It is estimated that the cost to the federal government for removing wastes from abandoned mining sites would exceed $4 billion and could reach $7.7 billion. The Suncor tar sands processing plant near the Athabasca River at their mining operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, September 17, 2014. Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions -Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions peaked in 2007. The Alberta oil sands are a major contributor of this. -Tar/oil sands extraction emits up to three times more global warming pollution than does producing the same quantity of conventional crude. It also depletes and pollutes freshwater resources and creates giant ponds of toxic waste. Refining the sticky black substance produces piles of petroleum coke, a hazardous by-product. Video: The Oil Sands Explained... in 10 minutes - YouTub e