ENVSOCTY 2OC3 Final Exam QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADE A+.
What are the types of glacial deposition landforms? - ANSWER: Eskers: winding ridges
that were carved into tunnels that supposably moves meltwater through
Drumlins: elongated hill that is in the shape of a inverted spoon. The direction of the glacier
was moving in the direction where the hill comes to the end of the tear drop
Moraine: ridges or mounds of glacial material deposited close to ice margins often
associated with topography
How were the Great Lakes formed? - ANSWER: about 10,000 years ago, the retreat of
glaciers caused depressions in the landscape that allowed meltwater to fill in. These bodies
of water hold 21% of the world's freshwater
What are Epeiric Seas? - ANSWER: Considered an inland sea caused by high sea
levels that used to cover North America in the Mesozoic era. This also led to limestone caps
in lowlands.
What was the Pleistocene Period? - ANSWER: occurred about 2.5 mya and humans
began to evolve and migrate around the world out of Africa.
It also marks the most recent glacial period
How was the Canadian Shield formed? - ANSWER: Has been worn down through
weathering and erosion and as the glaciers retreated, they scraped away rock layers
exposing bedrock.
Erratics and drop stones were left behind
What is Orbital Eccentricity? - ANSWER: The departure of the earth's elliptical orbit from
a circular shape. Since the earth doesn't orbit in a full circle, it has more of an ellipsoid shape
which influences our summer and winter solstices and equinoxes
What is Axial Tilt? - ANSWER: The angle of tilt between rotational axis and orbital axis
which is the reason behind our seasons and determining our surface temperature. The
current tilt is 23.5 degrees.
,Can also influence glacial or interglacial cycles
What is Axial Precession? - ANSWER: The earth's rotational axis moves slow and
continuously which is caused by the moon and the sun being pulled by gravity. It takes
25,000 years for a full cycle.
What are 3 factors that determine glaciation? - ANSWER: Orbital Eccentricity, Axial Tilt
and Axial Precession
When was the last glacial maximum? - ANSWER: Wisconsin Ice Age 18,000 to 25,000
years ago
How do glaciers form? - ANSWER: with a temperature drop, it allows glaciers to form
and as they grow they're volume increases which yields to sea level dropping
What is a Physiographic Region? - ANSWER: an area with distinct surface landforms
and underlying bed rock structure
What is an Igneous Rock? - ANSWER: can either be extrusive meaning hardened out in
the open or intrusive meaning hardened deep in the ground.
Ex. Basalt, Granite, obsidian
The Canadian Shield is made up of igneous rock
What is a Metamorphic Rock? - ANSWER: a chemically altered rock by either heat or
pressure or both being penetrated that were often formed at deep surfaces
Ex. gneiss, quartzite, schist
What is a Sedimentary Rock? - ANSWER: a rock that has been created from various
sediments that have come from other rocks. This rock is often carried long distances and
eroded over time. Some rocks are made up with CaCO3 (limestone) which can react with
acid.
Ex. sandstone, limestone, chalk
Much of the Niagara Escarpment is made up of sedimentary rock
, How does the Rock Cycle work? - ANSWER: Igneous rock is the starter rock which has
been broken down or chemically altered into metamorphic or sedimentary.
Sedimentary rock can be metamorphosed into metamorphic rock
As layers get piled up and buried, they become recycled and used to create other rocks.
What is the Cordillera Region? - ANSWER: 16% of total land mass that is comprised of
mountains, plateaus and north-south running aligned valleys. The mountains were formed
from converging tectonic plates.
What is the Interior Plains and Prairies Region? - ANSWER: 20% of the total land mass
and is so flat because of epeiric seas that left behind millions of years of marine sediment.
there is a high population of people who live in the southern parts and they take advantage
of the growing conditions
Arctic Archipelago - ANSWER: located north of the Arctic Circle and boreal tree line that
hold polynyas in lots of the area. Area contains mountains made from folded sedimentary
rock.
Canadian Shield - ANSWER: the largest physiographic region in canada that covers
nearly half of the land mass. During the last glacial max this area was subjected to heavy
glacial erosion which has caused the rugged rolling upland topogrpahy
Hudson's Bay Lowlands - ANSWER: the youngest physiographic region (7000 yrs ago)
that takes up 3.5% of total area and is located in mainly northern ontario. The area is a large
wetland with muskey water and underlying permafrost
Great Lakes/ St. Lawrence - ANSWER: considered the smallest region with <2% total
land mass that is flat rolling with a mild climate and fertile soils. The limestone rock
Appalachian Uplands - ANSWER: 2% of landmass and are considered the weathered
down roots of the Taconic Mountain Chain
Composition of Soil in Canada - ANSWER: biome formed from millions of years of
weathering on bedrock and the accumulation of organic matter.
There are different soil zones depending on latitude, precipitation and vegetation
ANSWERS GRADE A+.
What are the types of glacial deposition landforms? - ANSWER: Eskers: winding ridges
that were carved into tunnels that supposably moves meltwater through
Drumlins: elongated hill that is in the shape of a inverted spoon. The direction of the glacier
was moving in the direction where the hill comes to the end of the tear drop
Moraine: ridges or mounds of glacial material deposited close to ice margins often
associated with topography
How were the Great Lakes formed? - ANSWER: about 10,000 years ago, the retreat of
glaciers caused depressions in the landscape that allowed meltwater to fill in. These bodies
of water hold 21% of the world's freshwater
What are Epeiric Seas? - ANSWER: Considered an inland sea caused by high sea
levels that used to cover North America in the Mesozoic era. This also led to limestone caps
in lowlands.
What was the Pleistocene Period? - ANSWER: occurred about 2.5 mya and humans
began to evolve and migrate around the world out of Africa.
It also marks the most recent glacial period
How was the Canadian Shield formed? - ANSWER: Has been worn down through
weathering and erosion and as the glaciers retreated, they scraped away rock layers
exposing bedrock.
Erratics and drop stones were left behind
What is Orbital Eccentricity? - ANSWER: The departure of the earth's elliptical orbit from
a circular shape. Since the earth doesn't orbit in a full circle, it has more of an ellipsoid shape
which influences our summer and winter solstices and equinoxes
What is Axial Tilt? - ANSWER: The angle of tilt between rotational axis and orbital axis
which is the reason behind our seasons and determining our surface temperature. The
current tilt is 23.5 degrees.
,Can also influence glacial or interglacial cycles
What is Axial Precession? - ANSWER: The earth's rotational axis moves slow and
continuously which is caused by the moon and the sun being pulled by gravity. It takes
25,000 years for a full cycle.
What are 3 factors that determine glaciation? - ANSWER: Orbital Eccentricity, Axial Tilt
and Axial Precession
When was the last glacial maximum? - ANSWER: Wisconsin Ice Age 18,000 to 25,000
years ago
How do glaciers form? - ANSWER: with a temperature drop, it allows glaciers to form
and as they grow they're volume increases which yields to sea level dropping
What is a Physiographic Region? - ANSWER: an area with distinct surface landforms
and underlying bed rock structure
What is an Igneous Rock? - ANSWER: can either be extrusive meaning hardened out in
the open or intrusive meaning hardened deep in the ground.
Ex. Basalt, Granite, obsidian
The Canadian Shield is made up of igneous rock
What is a Metamorphic Rock? - ANSWER: a chemically altered rock by either heat or
pressure or both being penetrated that were often formed at deep surfaces
Ex. gneiss, quartzite, schist
What is a Sedimentary Rock? - ANSWER: a rock that has been created from various
sediments that have come from other rocks. This rock is often carried long distances and
eroded over time. Some rocks are made up with CaCO3 (limestone) which can react with
acid.
Ex. sandstone, limestone, chalk
Much of the Niagara Escarpment is made up of sedimentary rock
, How does the Rock Cycle work? - ANSWER: Igneous rock is the starter rock which has
been broken down or chemically altered into metamorphic or sedimentary.
Sedimentary rock can be metamorphosed into metamorphic rock
As layers get piled up and buried, they become recycled and used to create other rocks.
What is the Cordillera Region? - ANSWER: 16% of total land mass that is comprised of
mountains, plateaus and north-south running aligned valleys. The mountains were formed
from converging tectonic plates.
What is the Interior Plains and Prairies Region? - ANSWER: 20% of the total land mass
and is so flat because of epeiric seas that left behind millions of years of marine sediment.
there is a high population of people who live in the southern parts and they take advantage
of the growing conditions
Arctic Archipelago - ANSWER: located north of the Arctic Circle and boreal tree line that
hold polynyas in lots of the area. Area contains mountains made from folded sedimentary
rock.
Canadian Shield - ANSWER: the largest physiographic region in canada that covers
nearly half of the land mass. During the last glacial max this area was subjected to heavy
glacial erosion which has caused the rugged rolling upland topogrpahy
Hudson's Bay Lowlands - ANSWER: the youngest physiographic region (7000 yrs ago)
that takes up 3.5% of total area and is located in mainly northern ontario. The area is a large
wetland with muskey water and underlying permafrost
Great Lakes/ St. Lawrence - ANSWER: considered the smallest region with <2% total
land mass that is flat rolling with a mild climate and fertile soils. The limestone rock
Appalachian Uplands - ANSWER: 2% of landmass and are considered the weathered
down roots of the Taconic Mountain Chain
Composition of Soil in Canada - ANSWER: biome formed from millions of years of
weathering on bedrock and the accumulation of organic matter.
There are different soil zones depending on latitude, precipitation and vegetation
