Geographic LiteracyGEOIC20F Ms. Crook

What is Geography?

Geography deals with the description, distribution and interaction of the diverse physical, biological and cultural features of the Earth’s surface.

Examples

Where does our food come from?

Layout of cities

Why do people vacation in Mexico?

Trade with other nations

Tornadoes

Why is Alberta so rich?

Why are Manitoba winters so cold?

A Day in the Life

Write a brief account of a day in the life of you!

This account might include the following:

What do you do when you get up in the morning? Eating breakfast

Watching TV

How do you get to school?

What do you do after school?

Please include at least 7 references to Geography and explain how each is related to Geography.

Physical and Human GeographyTextbook definition: Geography is

the study of the Earth’s physical and human systems and the relationship among them. During this portion of the unit we will

be exploring these two branches of geography and how they influence each other.

Physical Geography

Physical Geography is the branch of geography concerned with natural features and phenomena of the Earth’s surface, as landforms, drainage features, climates, soils, and vegetation.

Human Geography

A political/cultural branch of geography concerned with the social science aspect of how the world is physically arranged. Geographical distribution of humankind

Relationships between human and their environments

Creation of a cultural landscape

Human or Physical??

Human or Physical??

Human or Physical??

Human or Physical

Potential Changes in Human and Physical Geography

What can cause physical changes?

Tectonic Movement: tectonic plates moving beneath the Earth’s surface can cause landforms to shift.

Erosion: the gradual wearing away of the Earth’s surface due to wind or water.

Glaciation: The advancing or receding of glaciers (icecaps) that scrape away the Earth’s surface.

What can cause Human Changes

Technology

Development

Population Increase

Relation Between Human and Physical.

Instructions

Read the article assigned to you. (There are four different articles being read.)

Fill in the boxes on page 8. (Individually)

You will be placed in a group with individuals who read a different article than you. Each group member will have the opportunity to share their

responses on page 8 with the remaining members of the group.

As each group member shares, the results should be recorded into the chart on page 9.

Once all group members have had an opportunity to share, collectively answer the final question at the bottom of page 9.

Location

Location is a description used to define where something is situated.

Can be used to pinpoint a particular place, or the distance between destinations.

We use location daily in order to meet a friend in the mall, drive from city to city or find our way when we are lost.

The study of geography requires a variety of measurement tools in order to gain an understanding of geographic elements and communicate these to others.

Compass Points and Bearings

Used to dictate locations using four major directions. These four directions are known as the cardinal points.

North

South

East

West

In order to increase accuracy, four more ordinal points are located between each of these main points. They are as follows:

North-west

North-east

South-west

South-east

Once again to increase accuracy, additional points are added between each of the eight points.

Example: North North-East, South South-West

Compass Rose

All of these points are displayed on a compass rose.

The accuracy of these directions can also be increased by giving the points in degrees, otherwise known as compass bearings.

0°, 90°, 180°, 270°

337.5° 22.5°

0°

292.5°

247.5°

157.5°◦ 202.5°

112.5°

67.5°

45°

90°

135°

180°

225°

270°

315°

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude and Longitude is a grid system that divides the world into grid squares.There are invisible lines that circle the world

from top to bottom and side to side.

This system gives each place on the globe an address composed of two numbers.

This address is dictated by the place where the line of latitude and longitude intersect.

Latitude

Lines that run side to side are known as lines of latitude.

They dictate how far locations are from the equator which is located at 0°

The north and south poles are located at 90°

Other important lines are the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S)

Longitude

Lines that run up and down are known as lines of longitude.

They dictate how far locations are from the Prime Meridian which is located at 0°

Longitude locations are stated in degrees East or West of the Prime Meridian.

Using Latitude and Longitude

When trying to pinpoint a location, the latitude is measured and recorded first followed by the longitude.

Example: Winnipeg is located at 49°N, 97°W

How to Label a Map

1. Title your map (what are you showing?)

2. Put your name on the map(s)

3. Read and follow directions carefully

4. Labelling

cities – place a dot and print the name (small and neat) beside it

rivers – write the name along the river (follow it)

lakes/oceans/bays – write name in the body of water

mountains – draw ^^ or shade the area then write the name along the land feature

5. Tracing/colouring

Work carefully

Note the difference b/w rivers, coasts and political boundaries

Trace the full extent of the river (source to mouth)

Don’t use pen

If you don’t have space use a line/arrow and write on the side

Map Projections

Human Poverty

Military Spending 2002

Tourism Profit

Map Projections

A map projection is a method used to transfer features on the globe onto the flat surface of a map. There are hundreds of ways this can be done and

hundreds of different projections.

Each projection has its strengths and weaknesses.

**Instructions Examine the following map projections

and record what you notice about the positioning of the continents.

Projection 1

Projection 2

Projection 3

The Peters Projection

Created in 1973 by German historian and journalist Arno Peters. He boasted that his projection was better than others because it represented area accurately. Thus treating all countries equally.

Media stated that the Peters Projection “made things right for the oppressed world.”

Criticism: The Peters Projection has been described as looking like wet clothes hanging to dry on the Arctic Circle.

Very few organizations still use the Peters Projection.

Mercator Projection The Mercator Projection was developed in 1569 by Gerardus

Mercator as a navigation tool.

The parallel and straight lines of latitude and longitude was beneficial to sailors due to the fact that it allows a constant compass bearing.

Criticism: The Mercator Projection was criticised because it supposedly distorts the size of countries in the Northern hemisphere.

North America, Greenland and especially Europe appear much larger than those in the Southern hemisphere.

This distortion was said to be representative of the advantage of the colonial powers. (Inequality of importance.)

The Winkel Tripel Projection

The Winkel Tripel Projection was developed in 1921 by Oscar Winkel.

The word Tripel (German for “a combination of three elements”) is used because the map attempts to minimize the distortions of area, distance and direction.

The Winkel Tripel Projection was not commonly used until 1998 when it was adopted by the National Geographic Society.

The Projection is now the standard projection for maps of the world.

The Winkel Tripel Projection

Pros:

The Winkel Tripel Projection is considered more realistic because it has curved lines of latitude and longitude.

The Winkel Tripel Projection is considered to be the least skewed of the many projections.

Cons:

The polar regions are distorted to the far East and West.

Due to the fact that the Projection attempts to minimize distortions of shape, distance and direction, there are small distortions in each area.

Time Zones Time Zones are a division of the Earth’s surface, usually

extending across 15 degrees of longitude, that establishes a uniform time.

Each time zone is roughly 15 degrees due to the fact that the Earth rotates 360 degrees over 24 hours.

360/24 = 15

Every place within that time zone has the same time and is therefore referred to as standard time.

The Prime Meridian is included in a time zone called Universal Time.

Due to the fact that the Earth rotates from west to east, time zones west of the PM are earlier and time zones east of the PM are later.

In Canada, the more east you go, the later the time is. The more west you go, the earlier it is.

Time Zone Questions

Calculate what time it would be in the following locations using your knowledge of time zones:

1. If it is 2:00pm in Central time, what time is it in Eastern time?

2. If it is 5am in Atlantic time, what time is it in Mountain time?

3. If it is 7pm in Pacific Time, what time is it in Eastern time?

4. If it is 4am in Newfoundland time, what time is it in Central time?

5. If it is 6pm in Mountain time, what time is it in Eastern time?

Answers1.3pm2.2am3.10pm4.1:30am5.8pm

Harder Time Zone Questions

1. If it is 1am in Vancouver, what time is it in Brandon?

2. If it is 9pm in Toronto, what time is it in Calgary?

3. If it is 5:30pm in Halifax, what time is it in Montreal?

4. If it is 2:00pm in St. John’s, what time is it in Winnipeg?

5. If it is 4pm in Fredericton, what time is it in Victoria?

6. If it is 3am in Edmonton, what time is it in Regina? (Daylight savings)

7. If it is 8:30pm in Saskatoon, what time is it in Hamilton? (winter time)?

Answers:1.3am2.7pm3.4:30pm4.11:30am5.12pm6.3am7.9:30pm

Scavenger Hunt Activity

Use your knowledge of latitude, longitude, Time zones, GPS, GIS and satellites to answer the following questions. You may use your atlases (page 2,3)

The multiple choice questions will provide you with a direction instruction for each answer (a, b, c)

When you have selected your answer, move locations according to the directions next to the letter selected.

Plot each location on the blank map on the next page.

Once you have answered all of the questions, record your final location on the map.

Canadian Landform Region

You will be shown a series of pictures of the Canadian landscape. Your task is to find the trends amongst the pictures.

Look for things that are similar and different from image to image.

Rockies

Alberta

Newfoundland

Northwest Territories

Mackenzie Mountains

North of Toronto

Northern Quebec and Labrador

Northern Northwest Territories

Prince Albert Saskatchewan

French Manitoba

Lake of the Woods

Southern Ontario

Richleau

New Brunswick

Cape Breton Island

Instructions

Decide on the number of categories

Name your categories

Decide which pictures fit into each category

Get a map and draw where you think that the categories begin and where they end.

Shade each landform in a different colour

Western Cordillera

Location: along the western edge of the continent.

Appearance: Range after range of mountains separated by plateaus and valleys. Great height, jagged appearance. Sparesly populated with some cities in the valleys.

Formation: This is the youngest mountain range in North America. Formed when the North American plate and the Pacific plate collided.

Industries: Tourism, such as skiing and sight seeing. Some mining and farming along the coast.

Appalachian Mountains

Location: The Atlantic coastline, Maritime provinces and the Gaspe Peninsula.

Appearance: Millions of years of erosion have worn away the once jagged mountains into rolling mountains and hills.

Formation: This is the oldest landform region in North America. They were formed when North America and Europe collided during the formation of Pangaea. Glaciation has also created wide valleys between the hills.

Industries: Fertile soil in the valleys is good for farming. Small inlets make excellent harbors good for fishing and tourism.

Innuitions

Location: Canada’s extreme north.

Appearance: Tall with jagged peaks. Barren of vegetation and covered in snow and ice year round.

Formation: Formed when the North American Plate moved north. Composed of mostly sedimentary rock.

Industries: No industries due to the extremely cold climate.

Canadian Shield

Location: Takes up over half of Canada and some of the United States. Central Canada.

Appearance: Relatively flat with rounded hills of rock that were once mountains. Composed of Igneous and Metamorphic rock. Has many lakes and rivers in addition to vast forests.

Formation: Formed by volcanic action millions of years ago that eroded the mountains that once existed there.

Industries: Rocks contain minerals that are good for mining. Many lakes and rivers are good for recreational tourism (fishing, hunting, cottages). Many rivers are well suited to hydroelectricity.

Interior Plains Location: Stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

Mainly Southern Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Appearance: Rolling hills and deep wide valleys.

Formation: Creation due to the compression of sediments over millions of years. Different rates of erosion cause different levels in the Prairies. Glaciers once covered the province. When they receded, they scraped away the landscape that was once there. After the glaciers receded, there was a large lake in its place that created much fertile soil.

Industries: Farming due to the fertile soil. Compression of sediments has created oil and gas in some areas.

Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Lowlands

Location: Around the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Southern Ontario and Quebec

Appearance: Rolling Hills and Valleys. Fairly flat.

Formation: Great Lakes were created by glaciers receding, they scraped away the landscape that was once there. St. Lawrence was formed by a fault in the earth that split the land between the Appalachians and the Canadian Shield. The split was filled with glacial water.

Industries: Most densely populated region in Canada due to a warmer climate and abundance of transportation routes. Farming due to the fertile soil.

Arctic Climate

Features of this climate include very low levels of precipitation with most falling in the summer.

Summers or mild and winters are extremely cold.

This climate produces conditions known as Tundra.

The Arctic climate is found in countries/locations bordering the Arctic Ocean.

Atlantic Maritime

This climate is heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean.

This causes cool summers (14C) and mild winters (-5C).

Fairly narrow temperature range.

This also brings high levels of precipitation throughout the year.

Located in the Maritime provinces and includes the Gaspe Peninsula.

Prairie Climate

Distance from large bodies of water creates a broad temperature range

Hot summers and cold winters

Very broad temperature range.

Shadow of the mountains cause precipitation levels to be relatively low, with most falling in the summer months.

Located in southern Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Taiga Climate

The Taiga climate is largely determined by cool arctic air.

The average temperature is below freezing for 6 months of the year.

Summers may reach up into the mid twenties.

Overall temperature range is fairly broad.

Precipitation levels are low, with most falling in the form of rain in the summer.

Located in the northern regions of the World and Canada.

Cordilleran Climate The cordillera region is the most diverse climate region

in Canada. This is due to its proximity to the mountains.

On the west side of the Cordillera has very high levels of precipitation and has mild temperatures year round.

Large trees and vegetation thrive in this area.

The eastern portion of the region is much drier, as the mountains block warm air off the Ocean.

There is much less precipitation as well.

Temperature range is relatively narrow.

Southeastern Climate

This type of climate is slightly moderated by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. This moderation is not as great as the Oceans.

As a result, there is a fair amount of precipitation, however not as much as on the coastal regions.

The temperatures are somewhat mild in the winter and fairly hot in the summer.

Relatively narrow temperature range

Located in the southern portion of Ontario and Quebec around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

Boreal Climate

This climate region spans all of the way across Canada. For that reason there are some variations in climate.

The temperatures stay mostly the same throughout the region with cool winters and warm summers. No extreme temperatures.

Precipitation can vary throughout the region with heavy precipitation in the East and lower amounts in the west.

On average the amount of precipitation is more than many other interior climates.

Temperature range is somewhat broader than other climates.

Pacific Maritime

This climate type is heavily altered by the Pacific Ocean.

This creates an extremely small temperature range and the largest amounts of precipitation in Canada. (especially in the Winter.)

Extremely mild summers and cool winters.

Maritime and Continental Climates

The following climates are referred to as Maritime climates:

Pacific Maritime

Atlantic Maritime

Southeastern

Cordilleran

The following climates are referred to as continental climates:

Arctic

Taiga

Boreal

Prairie

Maritime Climates

A maritime climate is one that is strongly influenced by the closeness of an ocean or another large body of water (example Great Lakes).

The annual temperature range is small

amount of precipitation is high.

All of this is due to the moderating effect of water.

Oceans and other large water bodies heat up and cool off much slower than the land.

Winds blowing from over the water keep the surrounding area closer to the temperature of the water. (cooler in summer or warmer in winter)

Precipitation is higher due to the evaporation occurring over the water.

Continental Climates

A continental climate develops away from the influence of the Ocean or large bodies of water.

The annual temperature range tends to be large and the precipitation is low.

This is due to the fact that the moderating effect of water mentioned above is not at play.

Population Clusters Map

Amber, Christiana, Joni, Andy, Anne

Jessica, Calvin, Matt, Kurtis, Candace

Elizabeth, Jas, Andrea, Theron

Zach, Romel, Payton, Rivindu

Biome Map