WEATHER AND CLIMATEIN CANADAMs. PercyCGC1DG

Your Job…

Access the J. BOWLER worksheet online.

As you go to each station, complete the worksheet to learn about each factor that affects climate

Use your textbook to supplement the station information

Weather is…

The short-term, day-to-day conditions in the atmosphere

Examples: rain, sun, sleet, snow, wind

The weather today can be described as…

Climate is…

The weather conditions of a particular region averaged over a long period of time

Example: Prairie, Subarctic, Mountain, Atlantic…

Introducing J. Bowler

I wonder if they have any clue how much I

know about climate in Canada? Hmmmm.

I love my skateboard

I’m the world’s best bowler

Factors That Affect Climate

J – Jet Stream

B – Bodies of water

O – Ocean currents

W – Wind and air masses

L – Latitude

E – Elevation and Landforms

R - Relief

Factor Power

Certain factors have more of an impact in certain regions than in others, depending on geographic location, time of year, etc.

Therefore, some regions are more heavily influenced by 1-2 factors compared to other regions.

Jet Stream (Polar)

• Layer of fast moving, high-altitude air that forms boundary between cold air masses from the north and warm air masses from the south

• “Follow the sun” and change location with the season

Bodies of Water

Bodies of water heat up and cool down more slowly than land

Consider the desert

Bodies of water affect air temperature in the region

Ocean Currents

Warm and cold ocean currents make coastal locations warmer or colder than normal for its latitude

Ocean current temperatures affect atmospheric conditions

Winds and Air Masses

Air mass is a huge body of air that has the characteristics of where it formed

Winds blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Continental = formed over land (dry)

Maritime = formed over water (moist)

Arctic = cold to very cold

Polar = cool to cold

Tropic = warm to hot

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What type of air mass would form over Regina, SK?

Latitude

Distance from the equator affects climate

Canada is located closer to the north pole than the equator therefore we have a colder climate than say Kenya

Consider the flashlight demonstration

Elevation/Altitude Is the vertical distance (height) of a

landform from sea level to the top of the landform - altitude

What happens to the temperature as you climb up a mountain?

Temperature drops as elevation increases

Air gets thinner and pressure decreases as elevation increases and is less able to retain heat from the sun

Air closer to the earth’s surface has higher pressure = warmer

Relief

The difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points in an area

Change in topography (shape of land)

Mountainous regions tend to have more precipitation. As air rises, it condenses and releases in various forms of precipitation

Example: The Rocky Mountains

Elevation and Relief

Windward Side

Leeward Side

Rain Shadow

Define the terms windward, leeward, rain shadow and relief precipitation

In your own words, how would you describe what this diagram is showing?

Relief/Orographic Precipitation

Work It!

Use pages 145-155 to complete your chart. You can work individually or with your elbow partner.

Compare your charts and diagrams with a classmate