Climate Presentation

Climatic Processes Before we talk about Climatic processes a distinction needs to be made with weather. Before we talk about Climatic processes a distinction needs to be made with weather. –Weather - The current climatic conditions –Climate - A typical weather pattern.

Climatic Processes As geographers we are interested in two very important climatic processes: As geographers we are interested in two very important climatic processes: –Precipitation –Temperature

Precipitation vs. Temperature Both processes can be measured and recorded objectively. Both processes can be measured and recorded objectively. Both processes are vastly important in understanding how people interact with the Earth. Both processes are vastly important in understanding how people interact with the Earth.

Precipitation Water is essential for life so its important to understand the processes that manage and distribute this resource. Since most water bodies are fairly static in their current conditions the geographer is mostly interested in the dynamic nature of Precipitation. Water is essential for life so its important to understand the processes that manage and distribute this resource. Since most water bodies are fairly static in their current conditions the geographer is mostly interested in the dynamic nature of Precipitation.

Precipitation Precipitation occurs when warm, moisture-rich air is cooled. This can happen in several ways: Precipitation occurs when warm, moisture-rich air is cooled. This can happen in several ways:

1. Precipitation Convectional - Convectional precipitation occurs when moisture-rich air rises rapidly.

Convectional Precipitation Rising occurs when air becomes warmer because as air gets warmer it gets lighter. Rising occurs when air becomes warmer because as air gets warmer it gets lighter. In Convectional precipitation the air is warmed by the radiation of heat from the surface of the earth. In Convectional precipitation the air is warmed by the radiation of heat from the surface of the earth. Some summer thunderstorms in Winnipeg are good examples of this type of precipitation. Some summer thunderstorms in Winnipeg are good examples of this type of precipitation.

Precipitation

Convectional Precipitation

2. Precipitation Relief - Relief Precipitation occurs when a moisture-rich air mass is forced upward by a landform barrier. Relief - Relief Precipitation occurs when a moisture-rich air mass is forced upward by a landform barrier.

Relief Precipitation –Landform usually responsible is a mountain. –Precip. usually falls on the windward side or side of ascent. –Leeward side, or side of descent is usually moisture poor. These areas are called rain shadows. –Vancouver is a classic example of an area that experiences great amounts of Relief precipitation.

Relief Precipitation

3. Precipitation Cyclonic - Cyclonic precipitation,sometimes called frontal precipitation, occurs when air masses with different characteristics of temperature and moisture collide. Cyclonic - Cyclonic precipitation,sometimes called frontal precipitation, occurs when air masses with different characteristics of temperature and moisture collide.

Cyclonic Precipitation –These air masses can be enormous, covering much of a continent. –Masses move from High Pressure (cold, dry air) to areas of Low Pressure (warm, wet air) in an effort to “balance the mix.” –This is what we hear about all the time on the evening news.

Cyclonic Precipitation