Canada’s Physical Geography Climate and Weather Part III Unit 2 Chapter 2

Climate Regions of Canada A climate region is an area that experiences similar weather conditions within its boundaries throughout the year. Wladimir Köppen, a German botanist and climatologist, developed a classification system in the early 1920s. Köppen divided the world’s climates into five types based on annual temperatures and precipitation, and their distribution through the year.

Köppen’s system also included types of vegetation. The types of vegetation in a given region are determined mainly by that region’s climate. All plants must have light, moisture, nutrients, and heat. In Canada, a wide variety of plants have developed in response to the conditions in the climate region in which they grow.

Köppen’s Climate Classifications A – Tropical climates Canada does not have any tropical climates. B – Dry Climates B climates are dry because the amount of evaporation and transpiration may exceed the amount of precipitation. Some B climates are warm and some are cool. C – Warm, moist climates C climates have warm, humid summers and mild winters. D – Cool, moist climates Most of Canada – over 70% - has a D climate. The warmest version is humid with warm summers. The coldest D zone, the Subarctic zone, has a short, cool summer with only one to three months with temps over 10 o C. E – Polar climates Canada’s North has two types of polar climates. The Tundra zone, and the Ice Cap area.

Microclimates The small areas within the main climate region that do not fit the average conditions are called microclimates. Their special conditions are usually a result of topography. Depressions are low-lying areas where cold, dense air can drain and settle. Sometimes these are known as frost hollows. White River, Ontario, claims to be the coldest place in Ontario due to the number of frost days per year. The windward side of hills and mountains receives more precipitation than the leeward side. Examples are the east and west slopes of Vancouver Island. South facing slopes have more direct sunshine. This is where maple syrup farmers prefer to grow their trees. They are said to have a “southern aspect”. PEI has examples of this. In large urban centres, the concrete, asphalt, buildings, vehicles, and people give off heat, producing “heat islands”. Examples are Montreal and Toronto.