Climates of Western Canada Continental Climate – extreme temperatures and low precipitation Maritime Climate – mild temperature and high precipitation http://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/ccontrol/controls/landwater1.html

Saskatoon Vs Vancouver Continental Climate – extreme temperatures and low precipitation Maritime Climate – mild temperature and high precipitation P–Precipitation-distance from sea and winds L-Latitude higher=less sunshine A-Higher Altitude=Lower temp O-Ocean Currents warm or cool air D-Distance from Sea:Temp moderated by water W-Wind blowing from ocean moderate temp

How to Make a Climograph Amount of Precipitation (mm) Temperature in degrees Celsius Connect temperature dots Place Months along the bottom Make precipitation into a bar graph

Factors Affecting Temperature 1. Precipitation – determined by distance from sea and prevailing winds 2. Altitude – 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. Distance from the sea – temperature is moderated by water since land heats and cools more rapidly

Factors Affecting Temperature Latitude – 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.html http://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/ccontrol/controls/geopositionlab.html Ocean Currents – are either warm or cold depending on where the originate – warm the air that blows over Western Canada Wind Direction – Winds blowing from the ocean moderates coastal temperatures Westerlies or Northerlies

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

Convection Precipitation 1) Results from the heating of the earth's surface 2) This causes air to rise rapidly. 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.

Frontal Precipitation 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. 3) As it rises the warm air cools, moisture in the air condenses, and rain results. 4) This precipitation is common in Atlantic Canada.