geography of canada physical geography & climate
TRANSCRIPT
Geography of CanadaGeography of Canada
Physical Physical Geography & Geography &
ClimateClimate
Physical GeographyPhysical Geography
1.1. ClimateClimate
2.2. LandformsLandforms
3.3. Soil and VegetationSoil and Vegetation
4.4. EcozonesEcozones
Climate Vs. WeatherClimate Vs. Weather
WeatherWeather is the day to day readings of is the day to day readings of temperature and precipitation (and wind temperature and precipitation (and wind speed, barometric pressure, and several speed, barometric pressure, and several other factors)other factors)
ClimateClimate is the long term patterns of Weather is the long term patterns of Weather
What FACTOR influence ClimateWhat FACTOR influence Climate(LOWE)(LOWE)
LatitudeLatitude Closer the location to the EQUATOR the warmer the CLIMATECloser the location to the EQUATOR the warmer the CLIMATE
Ocean CurrentsOcean Currents – – Ocean Currents bring warm or cool air to our Ocean Currents bring warm or cool air to our
regionsregions
Wind Wind Different air pressure can either warm or cool the region. Air mass can Different air pressure can either warm or cool the region. Air mass can
gather or release moisture. gather or release moisture.
(i.e. Convectional Precipitation)(i.e. Convectional Precipitation)
ElevationElevation- - Different elevation will directly affect climate. Height can prevent Different elevation will directly affect climate. Height can prevent
the flow of air massesthe flow of air masses
ClimateClimate We can illustrate climate and compare climates We can illustrate climate and compare climates
from different locations easily using a from different locations easily using a climographclimograph
TORONTTORONTOO
JJ FF MM AA MM JJ JJ AA SS OO NN DD AnnAnn
TempTemp ( (ooC)C) -5-5 -4-4 00 44 1010 1616 1919 1717 1414 99 22 -1-1
PrecipPrecip(m(mm)m)
5656 5353 5353 5656 5656 6161 7676 5656 5858 5656 5858 5656
Climate – Climate – A Climograph of TorontoA Climograph of Toronto
MonthsJ F M A M J J A S O N D
Temp. (oC)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
Precip (mm)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
Alberta
Nunavut
BritishColumbia Manitoba Quebec
Ontario
CanadaClimate Regions
Arctic
West Coast
Mountain
Boreal
Prairie
Southeastern
N
Landforms – Landforms – Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains
Landforms – Landforms – Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield
Landforms – Landforms – St Lawrence LowlandsSt Lawrence Lowlands
Landforms – Landforms – Great Lakes LowlandsGreat Lakes Lowlands
LandformsLandforms – – Arctic LowlandsArctic Lowlands
Landforms – Landforms – Interior PlainsInterior Plains
Landforms – Landforms – Western CordilleraWestern Cordillera
Landforms – Landforms – Innuitian MountainsInnuitian Mountains
Landforms – Landforms – Arctic LowlandsArctic Lowlands
LandformsLandforms
Alberta
Nunavut
BritishColumbia Alberta Manitoba Quebec
Ontario
Northwest Territories
Canada
YukonTerritory
British Columbia
Whitehorse
YukonTerritory
Physical Regions
Western Cordillera
Interior Plains
Canadian Shield
Lowlands
Innuitians
Appalachia
Great Lakes -St. LawrenceLowlands
N
Soil and VegetationSoil and Vegetation SoilSoil is a naturally occurring, unconsolidated is a naturally occurring, unconsolidated
or loose material on the surface of the earth, or loose material on the surface of the earth, capable of supporting lifecapable of supporting life
Soil is made up of four components (MOMA):Soil is made up of four components (MOMA):– MMineralsinerals– OOrganic Materialrganic Material– MMoistureoisture – AAirir
More about qualities of soil (and their More about qualities of soil (and their disappearance!) will be discussed in Unit 3disappearance!) will be discussed in Unit 3
CanadaSoil Quality
N
Soil and VegetationSoil and Vegetation VegetationVegetation is a general term for the plant life of is a general term for the plant life of
a region (which very much depends on soil a region (which very much depends on soil quality)quality)
In Canada, we have everything from desert In Canada, we have everything from desert cactus to massive rainforest trees, and cactus to massive rainforest trees, and everything in betweeneverything in between– MossesMosses– PlantsPlants– ShrubsShrubs– Coniferous treesConiferous trees– Deciduous treesDeciduous trees
Alberta
Nunavut
Manitoba Quebec
Ontario
Northwest Territories
Canada
YukonTerritory
Tundra
Boreal Forest
Grassland
Parkland
West Coast Forest
Broad-leaved Forest
Mixed Forest
Cordilleran Vegetation
Vegetation Regions
N
EcozonesEcozones
AnAn ecozone ecozone is an area of the earth’s surface is an area of the earth’s surface that has a unique combination of plants, that has a unique combination of plants, wildlife, climate, landforms, and human wildlife, climate, landforms, and human activities. activities.
If you were to overlay or combine the If you were to overlay or combine the climate, landforms, soil (and vegetation) climate, landforms, soil (and vegetation) maps of Canada shown in this slideshow, maps of Canada shown in this slideshow, you would see patterns emerge resulting in you would see patterns emerge resulting in Canada’s 15 terrestrial (land) ecozonesCanada’s 15 terrestrial (land) ecozones+ + =