WEATHER AND CLIMATE IN CANADA Social Studies 10

Your Job… Access the J. BOWLER worksheet online. As you go to each station, complete the worksheet to learn about each factor that affects climate Use your textbook to supplement the station information

Weather is… The short-term, day-to-day conditions in the atmosphere Examples: rain, sun, sleet, snow, wind The weather today can be described as…

Climate is… The weather conditions of a particular region averaged over a long period of time Example: Prairie, Subarctic, Mountain, Atlantic…

I’m the world’s best bowler Introducing J. Bowler I wonder if they have any clue how much I know about climate in Canada? Hmmmm. I love my skateboard I’m the world’s best bowler

Factors That Affect Climate J – Jet Stream B – Bodies of water O – Ocean currents W – Wind and air masses L – Latitude E – Elevation and Landforms R - Relief

Factor Power Certain factors have more of an impact in certain regions than in others, depending on geographic location, time of year, etc. Therefore, some regions are more heavily influenced by 1-2 factors compared to other regions.

Jet Stream (Polar) Layer of fast moving, high-altitude air that forms boundary between cold air masses from the north and warm air masses from the south “Follow the sun” and change location with the season 2 jet streams in northern hemisphere, 2 in the southern Polar Jet Streams are found at about 50-60N/S and the subtropical is found at about 30N Form where temperatures between air masses are the greatest (near poles). Caused by atmospheric heating and earth’s rotation. Jet Stream is found in the tropopause (boundary between the stratosphere and the troposphere) where winds are strongest 125-225km/hr – faster in winter when temperature variations are greater. They change location based on the seasons. In North America, the polar jet stream is said to “follow the sun” because it moves north in the summer and a bit further south in the winter.

Bodies of Water Bodies of water heat up and cool down more slowly than land Consider the desert Bodies of water affect air temperature in the region

Ocean Currents Warm and cold ocean currents make coastal locations warmer or colder than normal for its latitude Ocean current temperatures affect atmospheric conditions

Winds and Air Masses Air mass is a huge body of air that has the characteristics of where it formed Winds blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Continental = formed over land (dry) Maritime = formed over water (moist) Arctic = cold to very cold Polar = cool to cold Tropic = warm to hot cA cP cT mP mT What type of air mass would form over Regina, SK?

Latitude Distance from the equator affects climate Canada is located closer to the north pole than the equator therefore we have a colder climate than say Kenya Consider the flashlight demonstration

Elevation/Altitude Is the vertical distance (height) of a landform from sea level to the top of the landform - altitude What happens to the temperature as you climb up a mountain? Temperature drops as elevation increases Air gets thinner and pressure decreases as elevation increases and is less able to retain heat from the sun Air closer to the earth’s surface has higher pressure = warmer Air Pressure is due to the weight of the air. Air that is closer to the ground, sea level, has higher pressure due to gravity

Relief The difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points in an area Change in topography (shape of land) Mountainous regions tend to have more precipitation. As air rises, it condenses and releases in various forms of precipitation Example: The Rocky Mountains

Elevation and Relief

Windward Side Rain Shadow Leeward Side Define the terms windward, leeward, rain shadow and relief precipitation In your own words, how would you describe what this diagram is showing?

Relief/Orographic Precipitation

Work It! Use pages 145-155 to complete your chart. You can work individually or with your elbow partner. Compare your charts and diagrams with a classmate