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1.4 Most of Canada lies above 49 degrees north latitude Inland areas experience a continental climate temperature extremes (high and low) low precipitation Coastal areas have a maritime climate mild temperatures and high precipitation The Atlantic Coast has more severe climate than coastal BC Result of wind blowing from inland creating greater differences in temp. and precipitation 1. Latitude 2. Altitude 3. Distance from the Sea 4.Wind Direction 5.Ocean Currents The further you move away from the equator, north or south, the cooler the temperature Why? The sun’s rays are dispersed over a larger area of land as you move away from the equator Also affects the length of day and night The higher it is from sea level, the cooler the temperature. Why? As elevation increases, the air becomes less dense. Less dense air cannot hold as much heat as dense air and thus temperature decreases. Generally temp. drops 1 degree Celsius for every 150 meter rise in altitude Snow still appears on mountains even in the summer. Land surface heats and cools more quickly than water Because Canada is so large, temperature can swing between extremes – high in summer, low in winter However, temperature of west coast of Canada is moderated by proximity to the sea Less difference between summer and winter temperatures Winds blowing from water increase moderating effect of water Prevailing winds are those that come from one direction In Canada those are mostly westerlies (from the west) or northerlies (from the north) Warm westerlies cause BC to have milder climate Ocean currents are either warm or cold depending on where they originate Warms or cools the air moving over it Affects temperature of land West coast, with a warm current, has a mild climate Newfoundland and Labrador, next to the cold ocean current, has much harsher winters Canada’s precipitation includes rain, snow, hail What determines the amount of precipitation an area receives? Distance from the sea Prevailing winds Western Canada faces 3 types of precipitation 1. Orographic 2. Conventional 3. Frontal Orographic =mountain Westerly winds push warm moist pacific air up against mountains Rising air cools, vapour condenses, clouds form and rain falls As the air descends the eastern slope the air becomes warm and dry; this area is called the rain shadow Caused by convection currents in atmosphere takes place mostly in Prairies and Canadian Shield during the hot months As the ground warms, the air is warmed, expands and rises Meets cool air which also warms, rises and cools to form Forms clouds of rain or hail which falls back to Earth Cold polar air from north and warm tropical air from south cannot mix Their line of contact is called a “front” Because tropical air is less dense than cold air, it rises over it As it rises it condenses and forms clouds which result in prolonged precipitation More of this type during winter months Most of the rivers begin in the cordillera Constant flow of water results from high precipitation and melting of snowpack Rivers flow west and east out of mountains and continue until they reach major body of water (Pacific Ocean, Hudson’s Bay) Join with other rivers and lakes and drain the land Areas drained by one river system are called a drainage basin/watershed Formed as rivers carry eroded material away • Complete Q’s #1-3 on pg. 107 (HW Check next class!)