1. Introduction to Climate Change

2. Global Warming or Climate Change?
The terms global warming and climate change are often used interchangeably. What’s the difference? Scientists’ initial focus on the changing climate was the persistent temperature rise over several decades: hence “warming” was the feature that received major attention. The more comprehensive term “climate change” is more common now; it includes the global warming trend, but also refers to other climate change linked phenomena such as severe weather, melting polar ice caps, and high winds.

3. Weather
Describes conditions outside on a particular day (temp., precip., etc.)
Studied by meteorologists
Very short term

4. Weather Weather terms to know: Temperature
Precipitation (type and amount)
Wind speed
Relative humidity (amount of water vapour in air compared to max. amount of water possible for air to hold at that temp.)
Atmospheric pressure
Fog, mist or cloud type and cover

5. Weather Agency responsible is Environment Canada
Gather data used by meteorologists
Weather stations, weather balloons, aircraft, satellites

6. Satellite Weather

7. Climate
Usual pattern of weather in an area over a long period of time (> 30 years)
Use average results
“Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get”
Robert Heinlein

8. Climate
Determines types of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) a region has
Flora and fauna adapt to survive in certain climates

9. Climate Zones Vladimir Koppen Early 1900’s
Used temp., precip. and plants to identify zones
Had very crooked beard

10. Ecoregions Updated Koppen’s method Focus on ecology of region
Added landforms, soil and animals
Over 20 in Canada alone

11. Factors Affecting Climate
Distance from the Equator (latitude)
Large bodies of water
Ocean or air currents
Land formations
Height above sea level (altitude or elevation)

12. Bioclimate Profile