CLIMATE CONNECTIONS WEATHER OR CLIMATE? Planning a winter ski vacation to Whistler. Planning a day of golf in July. Purchasing a new summer wardrobe. WEATHER – DAY TO DAY CLIMATE – AVERAGED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS 4 REASONS WHY CANADA HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF CLIMATES… 1) Canada is big North to South 2) Canada has many different elevations 3) Coastal regions have different climates from inland regions 4) Wind and pressure systems move weather conditions across the country

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS 6 FACTORS THAT AFFECT CLIMATE: 1) Latitude 2) Ocean currents 3) Winds and air masses 4) Elevation 5) Relief 6) Nearness to water

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE… 1) LATITUDE

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE… 2) OCEAN CURRENTS Temperature of an ocean current affects the temperature of the air that passes over it.

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE… 3) WINDS & AIR MASSES Air Mass: Immense body of air Moves over the earth’s surface Takes on the characteristics of their source regions They MOVE!! Making WIND

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS Air Mass Classification LabelInterpretationSourceCharacteristics cAContinental Arctic Over land Arctic region Dry Very cold mTMaritime Tropical Over water Tropics Wet Hot mPMaritime Polar Over water 55N – 66N Wet Cold cTContinental Tropical Over land Tropics Dry Hot

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE… 4) Elevation Air cools as it rises 1 degree per 100m (before condensation) 0.6 degrees per 100 m (after condensation)

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE… 5) Relief Air cools as it rises over landforms (Western Cordillera) Condensation occurs (rain/snow) Rain shadow

CLIMATE CONNECTIONS FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE… 6) Nearness to water Oceans and lakes heat up and cool down at a slower rate than the land Summer – water remains cooler Winter – water remains warmer Wind blowing off of the bodies of water cool or warm the surrounding land