1. Climate Regions of Canada

2. A region is a place where there are similar characteristics
What is a region?
A region is a place where there are similar characteristics

3. What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is the day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere, over SHORT periods of time
Climate is the LONG-term pattern of weather

4. Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get!

5. Remember this acronym! LOWERN
LOWERN stands for:
Latitude
Ocean currents
Wind
Elevation
Relief precipitation
Nearness to water

6. LOWERN is an acronym for the factors that affect climate!

7. LATITUDE
Most southern part of Canada is Pelee Island - most northern is Alert.
Average temp in Pelee Island: 9.1°C
Average temp in Alert: -18.1°C
That is a difference of almost 30 degrees!
The further N you go from the equator (the higher in latitude), the colder it is.

8. Canada is so large - latitude is a major factor that affects climate
Energy from the sun hits the Earth at the equator and covers a small area
The same amount of energy from the sun hits the earth at a more northerly location is spread out over a larger area because of the curvature of the earth

12. OCEAN CURRENTS
Temp of an ocean current affects temp of the air that passes over it
On the west coast, the warm N. Pacific Current warms the cool, moist air that passes over it, giving the coastal side of B.C. a mild climate.

13. On the east coast, the cold Labrador Current, which flows down from the Arctic, cools the air around Newfoundland.

14. (AIR MASSES)
An air mass is a large volume of air with the climate conditions of the area where it formed.
An air mass formed over water carries moisture, and when it passes over land it falls as some type of precipitation (rain or snow)
This is similar to ocean currents

18. WIND
Air, like everything on earth, has weight. This weight is called air pressure.
Air pressure changes when the temp changes
Warm air rising = area of low pressure. Cool air sinking = area of high pressure.

19. Air moves along the surface of the earth from high pressure areas to low pressure areas. This movement creates wind.
Most of the winds in Canada come from the west called “westerlies.”

22. ELEVATION The higher up a mountain you go, the cooler it gets
As air rises it cools to become water vapour and eventually clouds
Clouds can produce precipitation

26. RELIEF Relief means the differences in elevation.
Mountain ranges act as barriers…creates relief precipitation.
Moist air moves up windward slope of mountain, cools, falls as rain. On the other side of the mountain, the leeward side, rain shadow where little precipitation falls.

27. This is why in Vancouver there is a mild, moist winter climate where the precipitation mostly falls as rain
Other side of the mountain in Calgary, which is in the rain shadow, has a dry, cold winter climate

29. NEARNESS TO WATER
Bodies of water have a moderating affect on land temperatures
Oceans and large lakes heat up and cool down more slowly than the land around it
During the summer, winds that move over lakes cool the surrounding air
In winter, the winds that move over lakes warm the surrounding air

30. This is why maritime (around water) climates have cooler summers and milder winters
Areas located in the interior of large land masses, far from water sources, have a continental climate
Continental climates also tend to have low precipitation due to distance from a moisture source

38. That’s all for today!!!