The The Climates of Climates of

CanadaCanada

What creates What creates different climates in different climates in

Canada and what Canada and what impact does climate impact does climate

have on human have on human activity?activity?

WeatherWeather:: the state of the state of the atmosphere at any the atmosphere at any given moment in timegiven moment in time

CLIMATECLIMATE: : the the temperatures, temperatures, humidity, humidity, precipitation and precipitation and atmospheric atmospheric conditions of a conditions of a region over long region over long periods of times.periods of times.

Do you know....Do you know....1. What was the 1. What was the lowest recorded lowest recorded temperature in temperature in Canada?Canada?

2. The highest 2. The highest recorded recorded temperature in temperature in Canada?Canada?

Answers:Answers: 1. -62.8 degrees in Yukon in 1947 1. -62.8 degrees in Yukon in 19472. 45 degrees in Saskatchewan in 19372. 45 degrees in Saskatchewan in 1937

Climate Regions of Climate Regions of CanadaCanada

Six Factors Affecting Six Factors Affecting ClimateClimate

1. Latitude1. Latitude

2. Altitude2. Altitude

3. Distance from the 3. Distance from the SeaSea

4. Wind Direction4. Wind Direction

5. Ocean Currents5. Ocean Currents

6. Precipitation6. Precipitation

LatitudeLatitudeLines extending east Lines extending east and west around the and west around the earth and measure earth and measure the distance north the distance north and south of the and south of the

Equator (0 degrees) Equator (0 degrees)

LatitudeLatitude

because the Earth is tilted on its axis, the because the Earth is tilted on its axis, the sun heats it unevenlysun heats it unevenly

Areas closest to the equator (tropical and Areas closest to the equator (tropical and subtropical zones) get more direct sunlight subtropical zones) get more direct sunlight all yearall year

Areas farther from the equator (temperate Areas farther from the equator (temperate and polar zones) get less direct sunlightand polar zones) get less direct sunlight

the number of hours of sunlight per day the number of hours of sunlight per day changes a great deal throughout the yearchanges a great deal throughout the year

LatitudeLatitude

AltitudeAltitudeThe higher the The higher the

altitude, the colder altitude, the colder the temperaturethe temperature

150m rise in 150m rise in altitude = 1 degree altitude = 1 degree

drop in drop in temperaturetemperature

Distance Distance from the from the

SeaSeathe surface of the surface of land heats and land heats and

cools more cools more quickly than quickly than

waterwater

DistanceDistance fromfrom thethe SeaSea

The surface of land heats and cools more The surface of land heats and cools more quickly then the surface of waterquickly then the surface of water

large landmasses can vary between large landmasses can vary between temperature extremestemperature extremes

Summer and winter temperatures on the Summer and winter temperatures on the West Coast are moderated by the waterWest Coast are moderated by the water

Wind Wind DirectionDirection

Depending on their Depending on their point of origin, point of origin,

winds can warm or winds can warm or cool the cool the

temperaturetemperature

WindWind DirectionDirection

In Canada, prevailing winds (those that In Canada, prevailing winds (those that usually come from one direction) most usually come from one direction) most often come from the west, or from the often come from the west, or from the northnorth

West Coast communities are unique in West Coast communities are unique in Canada with winter temperatures above Canada with winter temperatures above freezing. They have the mildest winter freezing. They have the mildest winter temperatures as a result of warm temperatures as a result of warm westerly winds coming off the ocean.westerly winds coming off the ocean.

Ocean Ocean CurrentsCurrents

affect affect temperature by temperature by

warming or warming or cooling the aircooling the air

Ocean CurrentOcean CurrentssOcean currents are Ocean currents are either warm or cold, either warm or cold, depending on their depending on their originorigin

Affect temperature Affect temperature of land by warming of land by warming or heating the air or heating the air blowing over themblowing over them

Warm air can hold Warm air can hold more water than more water than cold air; this is why cold air; this is why West Coast has a West Coast has a mild, wet climatemild, wet climate

PrecipitatiPrecipitationon

= drizzle, showers, = drizzle, showers, heavy rain, hail, heavy rain, hail, snow, or fog - all snow, or fog - all

have an impact on have an impact on the location they the location they

fallfall

PrecipitationPrecipitation

the amount of precipitation a location the amount of precipitation a location receives depends on its distance from the receives depends on its distance from the sea and the prevailing windssea and the prevailing winds

Western Canada experience three types: Western Canada experience three types: orographic, convection, and frontalorographic, convection, and frontal