Plate Tectonics
The scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements
Pangea
a supercontinent that formed 300 million years ago
Continental Drift
A theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface
Map
A picture of the earth on a flat surface
Compass Rose
A diagram in the shape of a flower that shows compass points to indicate direction of maps
Equator
The line of latitude that separates the earths surface into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at 0 degrees latitude
Prime Meridian
The line of longitude that runs through Greenwich, England that separates the earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres at 0 degrees longitude
Latitude (2)
-The distance north to south of the equator, measured in degrees
-measured from 0 degrees (Equator) up to 90 degrees
Longitude (2)
-Distance east and west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees
-measured from 0 degrees (Prime Meridian) up to 180 degrees
Landform region
an area of the Earth with a unique set of physical features
Ex: mountains and plains
Ecozones (2)
-Regions of the earth that have a specific combination of climate, vegetation and landforms and ways in which humans interact within this region
-Canada has 15 terrestrial and 5 maritime ecozones
Coniferous trees
Trees that mostly produce cones and have leaves that do not fall off during the winter
Deciduous trees
Trees and shrubs that lose their leaves and become dormant during the winter
Permafrost
Soil/ground that is frozen for the whole year
Tree line
The region in Canada north of which trees can not grow
Transition Zone
The borders between two ecozones where one gradually turns into another
Weather
The day to day conditions of the atmosphere
Climate
The wheather patterns of a specific place over a long period of time
Maritime climate
climates that have more than 1000mm of rain a year and are near large bodies of water
Continental climate
Climates that have less than 1000mm of rain a year and are far away from large bodies of water
Growing season (2)
-Between spring and autumn
-occurs above 6 degrees celsius
Freezing point (2)
-A temperature which a liquid turns into a solid
-occurs at 0 degrees
Precipitation
any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface (ex: rain, snow, sleet, hail)
Characteristics of an ecozone (6)
-climate
-vegetation
-landform
-economic activities
-major communities
-wildlife
