Geography of Western Canada

The Climates of Western Canada

What can temperature and precipitation information

tell us about the way people live in different locations?

Weather: • The state of the

atmosphere at any given moment in time

• Temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness

Climate:• the average of weather

conditions for a given location over a period of time

Six Factors Affecting Temperature

1. Latitude

2. Altitude

3. Distance from the sea

4. Wind direction

5. Ocean currents

6. Precipitation

LatitudeLines extend east and west around the earth

and measure the distance north and south of the

Equator (0 degrees)

Latitude

• Because the earth is tilted on its axis, the sun heats it unevenly

• Areas closest to the equator (tropical and subtropical zones) get more direct sunlight all year

• Areas farther from the equator (temperate and polar zones) get less direct sunlight

• The number of hours of sunlight per day changes a great deal throughout the year

Latitude

• The higher the altitude, the colder the temperature

• 150 m rise in altitude = 1 degree drop in temperature

Altitude

Distance from the Sea

• The surface of land heats and cools more quickly then the surface of water

• Large land masses can vary between temperature extremes

• Summer and winter temperatures on the West Coast are moderated by the water

Wind Direction

• Winds blowing from the ocean increase the moderating effect of water

• The reverse is true of winds blowing off land

• In Western Canada, the prevailing winds blow most often from the west, or from the north

• West Coast communities are unique in Canada with winter temperatures above freezing

Ocean Currents

• Ocean currents are either warm or cold, depending on their origin

• Affect temperature of land by warming or heating the air blowing over them

• Warm air can hold more water than cold air; this is why the West Coast has a mild, wet climate

Precipitation

• The amount of precipitation a location receives depends on its distance from the sea and the prevailing winds

• Precipitation = drizzle, showers, heavy rain, hail, or snow — all have an impact on the location they fall

• Western Canada experience three types: orographic, convectional, and frontal