What Factors Affect the Climate in Canada

There are 6 factors that affect climate. They are:

Latitude

Ocean Currents

Winds and Air Masses

Elevation

Relief

Near to Water

A useful acronym to help remember these factors is : LOWER Near Water

Latitude and Climate

Latitude: gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the equator

-measured in degrees

Lines of Latitude: horizontal lines running east to west on a map –increase in number as you move away from equator

The hottest places on Earth are found at the equator

As you move AWAY from the equator (either N or S) the average temperature decreases, but the temperature range increases.

Why?The amount of energy hitting any spot on the earth is equal

But,Because the earth is curved, at certain points this energy is spread out over larger distances

Therefore,

Temperature decreases as you move north or south of the equator, because due to the curvature of the Earth, less light from the sun is hitting per square metre.

Ocean Currents and Climate

•An ocean current is continuous, directed movement of ocean water.

Temperature of the current + surrounding water = overall current temperature

•Current temperature affects air temperature passing over it

West coast:

North Pacific current = warm

warmer air

Warm BC climate

Labrador current meets Gulf stream @ Newfoundland = FOG

Therefore,

Ocean currents affect climate because they influence the temperature of the air coming off the water.

Winds and Climate

Using your textbook, pg 148, define the following terms:

Air mass:

Wind:

Prevailing wind:

Polar front:

Jet stream:

Large volume of air that takes on climatic conditions .

Movement of air from high pressure to low pressure areas.

Well-established patterns of winds

Boundary between dry, polar air and warm, wet tropical air

West to east movement of air high above polar front

Because air masses take on their climatic conditions,

Ocean air masses = lots of moisture + warm/cool

Land air masses = very dry + warm/cool

Air moves,

High Pressure Low Pressure

Creates patterns called PREVAILING WINDS

In Canada, blow West East(WESTERLIES)

Move air masses (affects and changes weather)

Winds affects Climate?

JET STREAMThe east to west movement of the jet stream controls the location of the polar front.

This can have MAJOR implications on weather

N of jet stream =COLD

S of jet stream =WARM

If the jet stream shifts, there can be large shifts in temperature

Therefore,

Winds affect climate by moving air masses that mimic climatic conditions, and alter the position of the jet stream

Elevation and Climate

Increase in elevation = decrease in temperature

Remember relief precipitation,

o As air rises up, it expands and cools

oWill continue till the forming cloud becomes saturated

oLeads to increased water droplets

oResults in precipitationRain, snow, hail

Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya

Therefore,Increased elevation causes temperature decreases and precipitation increases

Relief and Climate

Mountain barriers create relief precipitation

Refer to previous day’s lesson on precipitation to clear up any problems

Therefore,The presence of mountains will cause cooler and wetter climates on windward sides and drier and warmer climates on leeward sides.

Near Water and ClimateContinental Climate(Not close to body of water)

Interior locations• Large temp range (hot =summer, cold =winter)•Low amounts of precipitation

Maritime Climate(Close to large water body)

Coastal locations•Relatively small temp range

•A lot of precipitation compared to left

Therefore,

The temperature range and amount of precipitation can be influenced by the proximity to a large body of water

What Climate Factor(s) is Affecting the following regions

in Canada?

Cold temperatures in Artic

Dry area in B.C. interior

Fog in Newfoundland

Snow in BC mountains