Climates of Western CanadaClimates of Western Canada

Continental ClimateContinental Climate – extreme – extreme temperatures and low precipitationtemperatures and low precipitation

Maritime ClimateMaritime Climate – mild temperature and – mild temperature and high precipitationhigh precipitation

http://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/ccontrol/controls/landwater1.html

Saskatoon Vs VancouverSaskatoon Vs Vancouver

Continental ClimateContinental Climate – extreme – extreme temperatures and low precipitationtemperatures and low precipitation

Maritime ClimateMaritime Climate – mild temperature – mild temperature and high precipitationand high precipitation

PP–Precipitation-distance from sea and winds –Precipitation-distance from sea and winds LL-Latitude higher=less sunshine -Latitude higher=less sunshine

AA-Higher Altitude=Lower temp -Higher Altitude=Lower temp OO-Ocean Currents warm or cool air -Ocean Currents warm or cool air

DD-Distance from Sea:Temp moderated by water -Distance from Sea:Temp moderated by water WW-Wind blowing from ocean moderate -Wind blowing from ocean moderate temp temp

How to Make a ClimographHow to Make a Climograph

Amount of Precipitation (mm) Temperature in

degrees Celsius

Place Months along the bottom

Connect temperature dots

Make precipitation into a bar graph

Factors Affecting TemperatureFactors Affecting Temperature 1. 1. PPrecipitationrecipitation – determined by distance – determined by distance

from sea and prevailing windsfrom sea and prevailing winds

2. 2. AAltitudeltitude – the higher the altitude the colder – the higher the altitude the colder Top the of ski hills is way cooler than the

bottom Mt Washington 1,917 meters (12-13 degrees

cooler)

3. 3. DDistance from the seaistance from the sea – temperature is – temperature is moderated by water since land heats and moderated by water since land heats and cools more rapidlycools more rapidly

Factors Affecting TemperatureFactors Affecting Temperature LLatitudeatitude – distance of an area from the equator – distance of an area from the equator

http://www.ioncmaste.ca/homepage/resources/web_resources/CSA_Astro9/files/multimedia/unit3/reasons_seasons/reasons_seasons.swf

http://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/ccontrol/controls/latitude.htmlhttp://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/ccontrol/controls/latitude.html

http://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/ccontrol/controls/geopositionlab.html http://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/ccontrol/controls/geopositionlab.html

OOcean Currentscean Currents – are either warm or cold – are either warm or cold depending on where the originate – warm the air depending on where the originate – warm the air that blows over Western Canadathat blows over Western Canada

WWind Directionind Direction – Winds blowing from the ocean – Winds blowing from the ocean moderates coastal temperaturesmoderates coastal temperatures Westerlies or Northerlies Westerlies or Northerlies

Orographic PrecipitationOrographic Precipitation

1) Warm moist air off the ocean is forced to rise by large mountains. 1) Warm moist air off the ocean is forced to rise by large mountains. 2) As the air rises it cools, moisture in the air condenses and clouds 2) As the air rises it cools, moisture in the air condenses and clouds

and precipitation result on the windward side of the mountainand precipitation result on the windward side of the mountain 3) The other side of the mountain receives very little rain (rain-shadow)3) The other side of the mountain receives very little rain (rain-shadow) 4) This is common in British Columbia. 4) This is common in British Columbia.

Convection PrecipitationConvection Precipitation

1) Results from the heating of the earth's surface1) Results from the heating of the earth's surface

2) This causes air to rise rapidly. 2) This causes air to rise rapidly.

3) As the air rises, it cools and moisture condenses into clouds and rain.3) As the air rises, it cools and moisture condenses into clouds and rain.

4) This type of  precipitation is common in the prairie provinces. 4) This type of  precipitation is common in the prairie provinces.

Frontal PrecipitationFrontal Precipitation

1) The leading edge (front) of  a warm air mass meets a cool air mass. 1) The leading edge (front) of  a warm air mass meets a cool air mass. 2) The warmer air mass is forced up over the cool air. 2) The warmer air mass is forced up over the cool air. 3) As it rises the warm air cools, moisture in the air condenses, and rain 3) As it rises the warm air cools, moisture in the air condenses, and rain

results. results. 4) This precipitation is common in Atlantic Canada. 4) This precipitation is common in Atlantic Canada.