1. Climate and Weather

2. Weather
Combination of temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, and wind experienced on a day-to-day basis

3. Climate
The weather conditions of a place averaged over a long period of time

4. What is the difference between climate and weather?

5. Why does Canada’s climate have so much variety?

6. Canada extends for a great distance from North to South
Different elevations produce different climate conditions
Coastal regions have different climates from inland regions
Wind and pressure systems move whether systems from one part of the country to another

7. 6 Factors that Affect Climate

8. Latitude
Distance from the equator is a key factor in whether a region is hot or cold
Places closer to the equator are hotter
As you move away from the equator, toward the poles, it gets colder

9. Latitude
Energy from the sun that hits the earth at the equator covers a small area. The same amount of energy that hits the earth at a more northerly or southerly location is spread over a smaller area because of the curvature of the earth.

10. Ocean Currents
An ocean current is an underwater ‘river’ that circulates through the ocean. There are three main currents in the world.
Warm currents heat the air above the water and lead to warm, moist climate
Cold currents lead to cold, dry climate

11. Ocean Currents
Fun Fact-The meeting of warm currents and cool currents causes fog

13. Wind and Air Masses
Air mases (large bodies of air with similar characteristics (temperature and moisture)) that develop over an ocean contain moisture. As it moves over the land, it releases some form of precipitation
Air masses that develop over an inland area will be dry because they are far from a body of water
Wind carries with it weather conditions from the area it originates

14. Bill Nye explains wind

15. Elevation Elevation is the height above sea level
The higher the elevation, the colder the temperatures
Example- As you go up a mountain, the temperature drops. As you go back down, the temperature rises.

16. Elevation
As warm air rises, it expands because there is less air pressure. As it expands, it loses heat.

17. Relief
Relief refers to differences in elevation of the earth’s surface
Mountain ranges act as barriers to the movement of air masses

18. Example- Vancouver has warm, rainy weather in the winter while Calgary, on the other side of the mountain range, has cold, dry weather.
Mountains also cause precipitation called relief precipitation

19. Nearness to Water
Large bodies of water (oceans and bays) heat up and cool down more slowly than the surrounding land.
Winds blowing off the water onto the land keep it warmer/cooler than if there were no water at all
This moderates the temperatures of locations near large bodies of water
Example: Vancouver has a moderately warm, moist climate because of it’s nearness to the Pacific Ocean

20. Types of Climate

21. Maritime Climate Location is near water Warm winters and cool summers
Lots of precipitation (rain and snow)
Examples:
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Vancouver, British Columbia

22. Continental Climate Location is away from water
Hot summers, cold winters
Extreme temperatures
Little precipitation (rain or snow)
Examples
Interior Plains (Calgary, Regina etc)