climates of western canada
TRANSCRIPT
Geography of Western Canada
The Climates of Western Canada
What can temperature and precipitation information
tell us about the way people live in different locations?
Weather: • The state of the
atmosphere at any given moment in time
• Temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness
Climate:• the average of weather
conditions for a given location over a period of time
Six Factors Affecting Temperature
1. Latitude
2. Altitude
3. Distance from the sea
4. Wind direction
5. Ocean currents
6. Precipitation
LatitudeLines extend 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
• The higher the altitude, the colder the temperature
• 150 m rise in altitude = 1 degree drop in temperature
Altitude
Distance from the Sea
• The surface of land heats and cools more quickly then the surface of water
• Large land masses can vary between temperature extremes
• Summer and winter temperatures on the West Coast are moderated by the water
Wind Direction
• Winds blowing from the ocean increase the moderating effect of water
• The reverse is true of winds blowing off land
• In Western Canada, the prevailing winds blow most often from the west, or from the north
• West Coast communities are unique in Canada with winter temperatures above freezing
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 the West Coast has a mild, wet climate
Precipitation
• The amount of precipitation a location receives depends on its distance from the sea and the prevailing winds
• Precipitation = drizzle, showers, heavy rain, hail, or snow — all have an impact on the location they fall
• Western Canada experience three types: orographic, convectional, and frontal