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+ + =