Chapter 5: Northern Character. Soil & Natural Vegetation Regions Arctic Tundra Arctic Tundra This region is in Canada's far north, and is composed of

Chapter 5:Chapter 5:

Northern CharacterNorthern Character

Soil & Natural Vegetation RegionsSoil & Natural Vegetation Regions

Arctic TundraArctic Tundra

This region is in This region is in Canada's far north, and Canada's far north, and is composed of is composed of permafrostpermafrost; land which ; land which is partially or is partially or permanently frozen.permanently frozen.


Only the top, or active layer ever thaws enough Only the top, or active layer ever thaws enough to allow plant growth, which consists of short to allow plant growth, which consists of short plants, bushes and lichensplants, bushes and lichens

Treeline:Treeline: the outer limit of tree growth the outer limit of tree growth


Boreal ForestBoreal Forest

The The largestlargest vegetation region in vegetation region in Canada, it is generally Canada, it is generally cool and wet.cool and wet.


LeachingLeaching washes most minerals into the soil, washes most minerals into the soil, which has little humus and is acidic. It is which has little humus and is acidic. It is grayish and is called grayish and is called podzolpodzol..

Only Only coniferousconiferous trees (spruce, pine, trees (spruce, pine, larch) and some hardy larch) and some hardy deciduousdeciduous trees (birch, trees (birch, poplar, aspen) can survive.poplar, aspen) can survive.


Temperate RainforestTemperate Rainforest

Situated in British Situated in British Columbia and parts of the Columbia and parts of the YukonYukon

The climate is ideal The climate is ideal for the growth of huge for the growth of huge coniferous trees like the coniferous trees like the Douglas FirDouglas Fir

The soil is a The soil is a deep deep grey podzolgrey podzol and is fertile and is fertile


Short-Grass Prairie (extreme southern AB/SK)Short-Grass Prairie (extreme southern AB/SK) Growing season is warm & dryGrowing season is warm & dry Minerals are drawn UPWARD to the topsoil Minerals are drawn UPWARD to the topsoil

(capillary action)(capillary action) Only short grasses and short-rooted plants like Only short grasses and short-rooted plants like

cactus & sagebrush grow here. Tree growth only in cactus & sagebrush grow here. Tree growth only in river valleys. There is limited amounts of humus.river valleys. There is limited amounts of humus.

The soil is called ‘The soil is called ‘brown grasslandbrown grassland’ and is light ’ and is light brown.brown.

Short-Grass PrairieShort-Grass Prairie

Long-Grass PrairieLong-Grass Prairie

Southern Prairie RegionsSouthern Prairie Regions Ideal for agricultureIdeal for agriculture Growing season is warm, with good amounts Growing season is warm, with good amounts

of rainof rain Minerals are not far from the soil surfaceMinerals are not far from the soil surface Deep-rooted tall grasses grow well here, Deep-rooted tall grasses grow well here,

creating lots of humuscreating lots of humus As a result, the soil is rich and is called As a result, the soil is rich and is called

‘‘chernozemchernozem’, Russian for ‘black earth’’, Russian for ‘black earth’

Long-Grass PrairieLong-Grass Prairie

Mixed ForestMixed Forest

Situated in southern ON, Situated in southern ON, QC, Maritimes.QC, Maritimes.

Climate is warm in summer, Climate is warm in summer, cool in winter. Precipitation cool in winter. Precipitation is even all year-round.is even all year-round.

A variety of deciduous A variety of deciduous (beech, oak, maple,…) and (beech, oak, maple,…) and coniferous (fir, spruce, pine,coniferous (fir, spruce, pine,…) trees grow. Many have …) trees grow. Many have been cleared for been cleared for development.development.

Mixed ForestMixed Forest

The topsoil is deep and The topsoil is deep and rich with humus. It is rich with humus. It is called a brown or grey-called a brown or grey-brown podzolbrown podzol

It is also excellent for It is also excellent for agricultureagriculture

Comfort Temperature IndexComfort Temperature Index

=How much the =How much the average temperatures average temperatures for a location vary for a location vary from the comfort from the comfort temperature of 20° Ctemperature of 20° C

Do # 5.e, 7, 8Do # 5.e, 7, 8

Questions:Questions:

Page 74, #4Page 74, #4 Use the atlases in class to help you…Use the atlases in class to help you…

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Chapter 5: Northern Character. Soil & Natural Vegetation Regions Arctic Tundra Arctic Tundra This region is in Canada's far north, and is composed of