Factors that Affect Climate that are out of our control…

Latitude The distance from the equator is a key factor that determines whether a region has a hot climate or a cold one Latitude affects how much sun there is in a certain spot which determines temperature

In Canada, the prevailing winds blow from west to east Wind systems In Canada, the prevailing winds blow from west to east

Wind speeds in Canada

Mountain barriers When moisture-bearing winds meet mountains, they move up the windward sides of these barriers. As air rises, it cools, and condensation produces rain – this is why BC gets so much rain!  ain

Himalayan mountains (seen from space)

Hurricanes and tornadoes can be a result Air masses Huge volumes of air moving because of unequal heating of the Earth by the sun Hurricanes and tornadoes can be a result

Currents in the water are caused by strong winds (prevailing winds) Ocean currents Currents in the water are caused by strong winds (prevailing winds)

Ocean currents around Canada

Altitude The higher you are, the colder it is – less air pressure means the air expands and loses its heat

Bodies of water Large bodies of water (lakes/oceans) take a long time to heat up & cool down, so areas around large bodies of water experience less extreme temperatures and more precipitation (air mass picks up moisture) The region around Lake Ontario stays warmer in the fall because it is influenced by the high temp. of the lake from the summer months.

What is precipitation? Precipitation is any form of moisture which falls to the Earth – this includes: rain, snow, hail, and sleet

Silent reading pages 145-half of 150

What are the 3 types of precipitation? (In each case, something happens to a mass of moist air) 1) Frontal (cyclonic) precipitation 2) Relief (orographic) precipitation 3) Convectional precipitation

Precipitation