Gr 9 Geography - Mind Map

Crust

Earth's crust is the hard uppermost layer made up of two parts, Sima and Sial. The thin crust makes up 0.1% of earth's total volume. The crust is made up of different types of rocks: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

Crust

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Lithosphere

The Lithosphere is the rigid outer part of the earth, including the crust and upper matle. The part of earth made up of rocks and minerals.

Lithosphere

Asthenosphere

The Asthenosphere is the upper layer of the Earth's mantle, below the Lithosphere. It causes plate tectonics and mountain buildings.

Asthenosphere

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Mantle

The mantle is a layer between the crust and the outer core. It makes up 80% of the Earth's volume.

Upper Mantle - Liquid

Lower Mantle- Solid

Mantle

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Outer Core

The outer layer is a fluid layer, composed of mostly iron and nickel that is above Earth's core and below the mantle. This layer makes up 1/3 of the planet's total mass.

Outer Core

Inner Core

The inner core is the innermost part of Earth. It is a solid sphere composed of iron and nickel.

Inner Core

Geologic Time

• The end of an era is when genetics change. Bio-Anthropocentric is the era, as humans live differently now, and are more dependant on machinery.

Geologic Time

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Glaciation

• The last ice age was 10,000 years ago (every 10-50,000 years). Ice ages are a "reset button."

Glaciation

Plate Boundaries

• Folding - happens when soft rock layer experience heat and pressure from the mantle forcing it upwards.

• Faulting - happens when hard rock is forced upward with heat and pressure from the mantle.

Plate Boundaries

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Plate Boundaries - Faulting Types

• Collision Fault - two continental plates = mountain building.

• Subduction - one continental plate and one ocean plate.

Faulting

• Strike Slip - is when two plates slide past = earthquake. (California)

• Extension Fault - is two plates pulling away = Rift Valley.

The Rocks (16)

The Rocks

Magma (2) (11) (13) - is lava and underground

Igneous Rocks (2) (12 (14)- are Magma that has cooled. The speed of cooling varies in rocks.

Sediments (3) (14) - sit on Earth's surface and erodes into smaller pieces.

Sedimentary Rocks (3) (12) - Sediments are compressed and form sedimentary rocks. Depending on the type of sedimets that were compressed, different sedimentary rocks will be made.

Metamorphic Rocks (11) (12)- Extreme compression and heat. Lots of fossil.

The Theory of Continental Drift (15)

The Theory of Continental Drift

• the land of Earth was initally one unified mass termed Pangaea.

• 200 million years ago, it started to break apart.

• the continents have been drifting since to form Earth.

Creation Theory

The creation theory is the idea that Earth was created by a higher power, a god or gods, usually taking place over 1000's of years.

Creation Theory

Evolution Theory

The evolution theory is the idea that the universe began with a big bang, 15-20 billion years ago, and that the earth is 4.6 billion years old.

Evolution Theory (7)

Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory (7)

The universe began forming 15-20 billion years ago, following an enormous explosion. The dust and gas created from the explosion were drawn together by gravitational attration to form a huge cloud. The debris in the cloud combined in circular motion are called eddies.

Earth's Axis and Tilt

Earth's Orbit

Earth's orbit is almost Almost Circular, not Elliptical. If the orbit was elliptical, Earth's summer temperatures would get too hot and water would boil away. Earth's winter temperature would be too cold and oceans would freeze.

Earth's Orbit

Cenozoic Era

65 - 0 = 65

65◘◘◘◘ ◘◘÷ 4600 = 0.0141

0.0141 × 100 = 1%

The Cenozoic Era is the current era, from 66 million years ago to today. This era is also known as the Age of Mammals.

Cenozoic Era

Mesozoic Era

250 - 65 = 185

185 ÷ 4600 = 0.0402

0.0402 × 100 = 4%

The Mesozic Era is a geological era that happened around 252 to 66 million years ago. It is also known as the Age of Reptiles. It was given this name by Gideon Mantell.

Paleozoic Era

570 - 250 = 320

320 ÷ 4600 = 0.0695

0.0695 × 100 = 7%

"The Paleozoic Era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic Eon." This era is also known as the Age of Marine Life.

Paleozoic Era

Rain Erosion

"Kettles" = erosion by water on rocks.

Rain Erosion

Wave Erosion

Sandy Beach = old

Rocky Beach = young

Wave Erosion

old

young

River Erosion

• erodes sediment and transport away.
• cuts into Earth's crust.
• straight + moves fast = young because it goes down.
• after hitting bedrock, it spreads out instead of going down.
• slow and wide = medium
• curvy but slow = old
• oxbow = old and makes shortcuts

Ice Erosion

freezing and thawing = cracked rock

Ice Erosion

Erosion by Wind

• blows away sediment
• not just wind, but everything
• plains filled with sediment mountains turn to rubble

Erosion by Wind

Artic and Hudson Bay Lowlands

Location:

• Above the Canadian Shield
• Most Northern

Characteristics of the landscape:

• glacier, iceberg
• waterfalls higher than Niagara
• days of light, days of dark
• negative 60
• no trees except tree line
• no roads/railways
• sub soil permanently frozen

Wildlife:

• polar bears
• whales
• walrus
• muskox

Human Habitation:

• Innuit
• some people
• food shipped in
• flew in community

Canadian Shield

Location:

• surrounds Hudson Bay
• in the middle of Canada

Characteristics of the landscape:

• oldest bedrock - 3.5 billion years old
• southern end (warmer)
• larges landform region
• most fresh water
• 5 million km2
• mostly coniferious and evergreen

Wildlife:

• beaver
• moose
• reptiles
• black bears
• may fish species

Human Habitation:

• largest abundance of people

oldest bedrock

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Lowlands

Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands

Location:

• near eastern Great Lakes
• around the St. Lawrence River

Characteristics of this landscape:

• largest group if inland lakes
• result of glaciation
• rich sil
• Niagara Falls
• proximity to water
• mild climate

Wildlife:

• coyote
• moose
• raccoon
• frog
• mouse

Human Habitation:

• European settlements (farmer)
• most dense population of people

Appalachian Mountains

Location:

• Canada's east coast

Characteristics of the landscape:

• created 100 million years ago
• high tides (50 m)
• highest tides in Bay of Fundy
• fertile soil
• past volcanic activity

Wildlife:

• seagulls
• horses
• grey seals
• puffins
• fish
• seabirds

Human Habitation:

• fishing is big industry
• farming (P.E.I.) potatos

Interior Plains

Location:

• west of Canadian Shield
• east of Western Cordillera

Characteristics of the landscape:

• little rainfall, hot summers, cold winters
• lies in rain shadows of the Rocky Mountains
• dinosaur fossils (300+)
• bread basket of Canada (2/3 of Earth's wheat)
• many farms
• less moisture
• windmills

Wildlife:

• dinosaurs
• ducks
• bisons

Human Habitation:

• European settlers
• farming
• oil pump

Western Cordillera

Location:

• between Interior Plains and Pacific Ocean
• most western landform region

Characteristics of the landscape:

• coast mountains
• rocky mountains
• mountains formed by volcanoes
• Canada's tallest trees grow in rainforests
• evidence of folding

Wildlife:

• mountain lions
• grizzly bears
• big horn sheep
• elk

Human Habitation:

• over fishing
• agriculture
• forest industry

The 2 Types of Volcanoes

Types of Volcanoes

Intrusive Structures are the cracks under the ground that are filled with magma. When two plates are rubbed together, they cause friction.

Extrusive Volcanoes happen when the magma is forced to the surface from the same proccess.

- Sometimes, if the magma solidifies before it reaches the surface, a volcanic plug is formed.

- Volcanoes can stay inactive for hundreds or thousand of years.

A Pyroclastic Flow

Pyroclastic Flow

• A fast moving current of superheated gas and rock.
• Can move up to 700 km/h and can be 1000°C hot.
• Normally hugs the ground and travels downhill, or spreads laterally under gravity.
• They are a common and devestating result of certain explosive volcanic eruptions. e.g. Pompeii and Mount St. Helens

Convectional Precipitation

• In Canada, this type of precipitation usually occurs in the summer.
• Happens when sun heats the ground, then as warm air rises, cool air rushes in to replace the warm air.
• Friction between air creates static electricity that can cause thunder and lightning.

Orographic (relief) Precipitation

• Air is forced to a Dew Point, but this time it's because the surface elevation has changed.
• Happens in coastal-mountainous regions.
• Warm moist air is blown in off the sea, begins to move up the windward side slope of the mountain. Eventually the air reaches dew point = rain or snow
• After condensation, the air passes over the top and begins to drop down the leeward side, but no moisture left means no rain. Creating a rain shadow.

Orographic (relief) Precipitation

Frontal Precipitation

• When two air masses with different characteristics meet.
• Warm, moist air is forced to rise when it crashes together with cold, dense air.
• Like Orographic Precipitation, but instead of a land mass pushing the air up, it's a cold air mass forcing the warm air up quickly until dew point.
• Precipitation can either take form of a cyclonic storm or dull, wet weather (or winter storms) that can last for days.

Frontal Precipitation

Factors Affecting Climate

Factors Affecting Climate

Four Main Parts of Soil

Minerals

• ends up in the soil from parent material that is eroded and then deposited in the ground
• full of nurtrients for plants

Bacteria and Organic Materials

• dead animals and plants are broken down by bacteria and becomes Humus, providing moisture and nutrients for plants
• this gives soil its dark colour

Air

• air is necessary for plants root health
• air pockets are created by loose soil, worms, insects, and small animals

Moisture

• water helps to dissolve the nutrients in the soil so that the plant can take them up with their roots
• water is necessary for further break down of sediments

Soil Profile

Soil Profile

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Top Layer - organic litter

Next Layer - topsoil, rich organic material, dark brown, very slow to make (1000"s of years)

Next Layer - subsoil combined minerals and organic materials

Bottom Layer - parent material mineral from which sediments are made through erosion and bedrock

Terms

Loam: Is soil composed of sand, silt, clay, and Humus that are good for plants.

Leaching: The downward movement of water through soil, often taking the important nutrients in soil. (drain away from soil)

Calcification: The upward movement of water in the soil. The water in top soil is evaporated and the water beneath moves up to replace soil, through capillary action.

Terms

Loam

Four Soil Regions of Canada

• Tundra Soils
• Wet-climate Soils
• Dry-climate Soils
• Complex soils of Mountain areas

Four Soil Regions of Canada

Tundra soils

Wet- climate soils

Dry-climate soils

Complex soils

Coniferous Trees

• also known as soft wood
• sometimes called evergreen trees
• have needles
• keep needles all year long (generally)
• long, tap root
• can grow in colder climates and more acidic soil
• e.g. Cedar, Pine, Jack pine, Spruce, Fir
• Jack pines need extreme heat to release seeds in forest fires
• shade tolerarant
• these trees take a long time to grow

Deciduous Trees

Deciduous Trees

• also known as hard wood
• sometimes called broadleaf trees
• lose leafs in winter
• changes colour in fall
• shallow widespread root system
• prefer warmer climates
• e.g. Maple, Birch, Poplar, Oak
• shade intolerant

Vegetation Definitions

Natural Vegetation is plant growth without humans disturbance and is controlled by the climate.

The 3 main types of Vegetation in Canada are Coniferous, Deciduous, and Temperate.

Transition Zones are a part of the mantle between the upper and lower mantle. It has a depth between 410 and 660 km.

Tree lines are the edge of the habitat where trees can grow.

Permafrost is when the ground is at or below freezing point 0°C for two or more years.