Download Factors that affect Climate

Climate
Factors that affect our Climate
Weather
• The day-to-day characteristics of
temperature, rain, cloud cover and wind
• Why is it important to know/inquire about
weather?
- Short term plans (cottage, Canada’s
Wonderland, camping)
Climate
• Long-term patterns of weather
– e.g. Cool/rainy summers
– Mild & dry winters
• Why is it important to know about the
climate of an area?
– Long term plans (travelling)
– Determines where we live, what we wear,
what we grow
Factors that affect climate in
Canada
• Canada extends for a great distance from
north to south
• Different elevations produce different
climate conditions
• Coastal regions have different climate
from inland regions
• Wind and pressure systems move weather
from one part of the country to another
Oct 15th, 2010
Canada’s Climate
• Canada has 8 climate regions
Arctic
Taiga
Cordilleran
Pacific Maritime
Boreal
Prairie
Southeastern
Atlantic Maritime
LOWERN
L = Latitude
O = Ocean Currents
W = Wind
E = Elevation
R = Relief
N = Nearness to Water
L = Latitude:
LOWERN
• The distance (north and south) from the
equator (0o).
• Regions close to the equator are warmer since
direct sun’s rays produce more heat.
• Latitude determines if a region is hot or cold
O = Ocean Currents
• Ocean currents bring
warm or cold water to
new places
• If the ocean current is
warm then it will heat the
air above it.
• If the ocean current is cold
then it will cool the air
above it.
• West – Warm Pacific
Current
• East – Cold Labrador and
Warm Gulf Stream
W = Wind:
•
Wind moves hot and cold
“air masses” to other parts
of the world.
•Prevailing winds establish a
pattern of weather (i.e. Jet
Stream)
•Weather moves from West
to East across Canada
(easterly direction)
• If there is no wind, our
weather wouldn’t change
very much!
LOWERN
E = Elevation
Elevation: refers
to the height
above sea level.
•The higher up you
are the colder it
gets
LOWERN
R = Relief:
• Relief: refers to
physical features such
as mountain ranges
(i.e. big difference in
elevation).
Mountains act like a
barrier to air masses
•
LOWERN
N = Nearness to Water:
LOWERN
• Region that are close to
oceans and large lakes
have different climates
= Moderating Effect
• In the summer  water remains cooler then the
land and when wind blows, it brings cool air over the
land.
•In the winter  water keeps its heat and when wind
blows, it bring warm air over the land.
LOWERN
Continental and Maritime
Climates
Continental Climate
Maritime Climate
LOWERN
Continental and Maritime
Climates
• A region that is close to a large body of
water (ocean or large lakes) has a Maritime
Climate.
• A region that is NOT
close to a large body of
water has a Continental
Climate.
Canada’s Weather
October 15, 2010
So, Canada has different
Climates because of….
L = Latitude
O = Ocean Currents
W = Wind
E = Elevation
R = Relief
N = Nearness to water
Climate Graphs
A Climate Graph
shows the average
temperatures and
precipitation
(rainfall), for each
month for a region or
city.
A Climate Graph should have…
1. Title of
region or city
2. Temperature
(oC) in a red line
5. Average Annual
temperature (oC) &
Total annual
precipitation (mm)
3. Precipitation
(mm) drawn in
blue blocks
4. Months at
the bottom