Canada’s Climate Regions

8.2.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the basic features of Canada’s landscape and climate

identify and locate major climatic regions of Canada

explain the characteristics of Canada’s climatic regions and account for the variation among them

Dry Climatesamount of evaporation &

transpiration may exceed amounts of precipitation

some are warm, and some are cool (annual temp. less than 18ºC)

characterized by little rain and a huge daily temperature range. Two subgroups, S - semiarid or steppe, and W - arid or desert

Warm, Moist Climates(Maritime/Marine West Coast)

warm, humid summers and mild winters

in Humid Middle Latitude Climates land/water differences play a large part

these climates have warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Cool, Moist Climates(Temperate continental)

over 70% of Canadawarmest version (humid with

warm summers)Subarctic zone (short, cool

summer & only 1-3 months over 10ºC)

found in the interior regions of large land masses

total precipitation is not very high and seasonal temperatures vary widely.

Polar Climates

very cold and dryTundra zone and Ice

Cap areapermanent ice and

tundra are always present

only about four months of the year have above freezing temperatures

Polar Climates continued(High Latitude Climates)

• Subarctic• Tundra• Ice Cap

Elements of Climate

• Latitude (sunshine)• Air Masses and

Winds• Ocean Currents• Clouds and

Precipitation• Altitude• Bodies of Water• Mountain Barriers

Bibliography

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm Canadian Identity (p.31-37) http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/uwsp

_lectures/climates_toc.html http://www.worldclimate.com/