Download The Climates of Canada

What creates different
climates in Canada and
what impact does climate
have on human activity?
The Climates
of Canada
Weather: the state of the
atmosphere at any given
moment in time
CLIMATE: the
temperatures,
humidity,
precipitation and
atmospheric
conditions of a region
over long periods of
times.
Do you know....
1. What was the lowest
recorded temperature
in Canada?
2. The highest recorded
temperature in
Canada?
Climate Regions of
Canada
Six Factors Affecting
Climate
1. Latitude
2. Altitude
3. Distance from the Sea
4. Wind Direction
5. Ocean Currents
6. Precipitation
Latitude
Lines extending east
and west around the
earth and measure the
distance north and
south of the Equator (0
degrees)
Latitude
because the Earth is tilted on its axis, the sun
heats it unevenly
Areas closest to the equator (tropical and
subtropical zones) get more direct sunlight all
year
Areas farther from the equator (temperate and
polar zones) get less direct sunlight
the number of hours of sunlight per day changes
a great deal throughout the year
Latitude
Altitude
The higher the
altitude, the colder
the temperature
150m rise in altitude
= 1 degree drop in
temperature
Distance
from the Sea
the surface of land
heats and cools
more quickly than
water
Distance from the Sea
The surface of land heats and cools more quickly
then the surface of water
large landmasses can vary between temperature
extremes
Summer and winter temperatures on the West
Coast are moderated by the water
Wind
Direction
Depending on their
point of origin, winds
can warm or cool the
temperature
Wind Direction
In Canada, prevailing winds (those that usually
come from one direction) most often come from
the west, or from the north
West Coast communities are unique in Canada
with winter temperatures above freezing. They
have the mildest winter temperatures as a result
of warm westerly winds coming off the ocean.
Ocean
Currents
affect temperature
by warming or
cooling the air
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are
either warm or cold,
depending on their
origin
Affect temperature of
land by warming or
heating the air blowing
over them
Warm air can hold more
water than cold air; this
is why West Coast has a
mild, wet climate
Precipitation
= drizzle, showers,
heavy rain, hail, snow,
or fog - all have an
impact on the location
they fall
Precipitation
the amount of precipitation a location receives
depends on its distance from the sea and the
prevailing winds
Western Canada experiences three types:
orographic, convection, and frontal
•
•
•
Frontal - rain attached to a cold front, which is
a weather system that can produce large amounts
of rain and strong winds. The most common kind
of rain.
Orographic - caused when masses of air pushed
by wind are forced up the side of elevated land
formations, such as large mountains
Convection - Caused by the heat of the sun. Most
likely to occur on a hot and humid day. Can
produce large amounts of rainfall in very short
periods of time.
Question to Answer
Which one of the five conditions affecting
temperature do you think has the greatest
impact on Victoria and why? Explain your
reasoning with supporting details. (Minimum 4
sentences)