Climate in Canada !

Average Annual Temperature: Alert, Nunavut (Ellesmere Island) : -18°CPelee Island, Ontario: 9°CYellowknife, NWT: -5°C

Four Basic Facts:Four Basic Facts:

1. Canada extends for a great distance from north to 1. Canada extends for a great distance from north to southsouth

2. Different elevations produce different climate 2. Different elevations produce different climate conditionsconditions

3. Coastal regions have different climates from inland 3. Coastal regions have different climates from inland regionsregions

4. Wind and pressure systems move weather 4. Wind and pressure systems move weather conditions from one part of the country to anotherconditions from one part of the country to another

Why does Canada have so much climatic variety?

Weather:Weather: Day to day condition of the atmosphere, Day to day condition of the atmosphere,

- short term – 5 to 7 days- short term – 5 to 7 days- small area - cities- small area - cities- difficult to predict – 5 day forecast - difficult to predict – 5 day forecast

Ex. Temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, Ex. Temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, cloud cover, air pressure.cloud cover, air pressure.

Climate: Climate: Patterns of weather which have occurred Patterns of weather which have occurred over a long period of time over a long period of time

- long term - years- long term - years- large areas – countries, continents, the globe - large areas – countries, continents, the globe - easy to predict – summer, winter etc- easy to predict – summer, winter etc

Ex. continental climate, maritime climate, arid Ex. continental climate, maritime climate, arid climate.climate.

Weather vs. Climate

TORONTO J F M A M J J A S O N D

Temp (oC) -5 -4 0 4 10 16 19 17 14 9 2 -1

Precip(mm) 56 53 53 56 56 61 76 56 58 56 58 56

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

MonthsJ F M A M J J A S O N D

Temp. (oC)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

-40

Precip (mm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

Climate Graph

• Vancouver is further north than Toronto yet it is warmer and wetter in winter.

• Montreal is just a little bit north of Toronto yet it is much colder in winter

Why?

Factors that affect Climate:

LatitudeOcean CurrentsWinds and Air MassesElevation (Altitude)ReliefNear Water

1. Latitude

Solar energy delivered by sunlight varies with latitude - Intensity.

• At higher latitudes (ie. north pole), At higher latitudes (ie. north pole), the solar energy is less concentrated, the solar energy is less concentrated, spread over a larger surface spread over a larger surface area….area….cooler cooler

• At lower latitudes (ie. equator), the At lower latitudes (ie. equator), the solar energy is more concentrated, solar energy is more concentrated, spread over a smaller surface… spread over a smaller surface… warmerwarmer..

Your position on the Earth determines the amount of Solar Radiation (solar energy)

This is Intensity

Latitude cont’d

Latitude (cont’d)SEASONS SEASONS The earth is always at a 23.5 degree tilt.The earth is always at a 23.5 degree tilt.

The northern hemisphere changes from being The northern hemisphere changes from being tilted toward the sun (summer) to being tilted away tilted toward the sun (summer) to being tilted away from it (winter) – Duration.from it (winter) – Duration.

Summer SolsticeSummer Solstice - most direct sunlight at most - most direct sunlight at most northern point from equator.northern point from equator. Days are longer. Days are longer. June June 21-22.21-22.

Winter SolsticeWinter Solstice - most direct sunlight at most - most direct sunlight at most southern point from equator.southern point from equator. Days are shorter. Days are shorter. December 22-23December 22-23

Latitude (seasons)

Take a moment, and be Take a moment, and be AmazedAmazed, by the , by the following website…following website…

This site shows what the Earth looks like at This site shows what the Earth looks like at THIS MINUTETHIS MINUTE from different perspectives (from from different perspectives (from

the moon, the sun, night side, map view)the moon, the sun, night side, map view)Hint: Think about how our earth is tilted at this Hint: Think about how our earth is tilted at this

time of year...time of year...

http://www.fourmilab.to/cgi-bin/uncgi/Earth

2. Ocean Currents2. Ocean Currents

Warm and cold pockets or streams (currents) of water Warm and cold pockets or streams (currents) of water that move throughout the ocean.that move throughout the ocean.

• If a If a cold cold ocean current passes by, it will ocean current passes by, it will cool cool the the surrounding air.surrounding air.

• If a If a warmwarm ocean current passes by, it will ocean current passes by, it will warmwarm the the surrounding air.surrounding air.

• Ocean currents affect precipitationSee Map page 147

Major Ocean Currents

Average Temperatures in Winter - the lines are called Isotherms. Compare Toronto to Rome.

3. Winds and Air MassesA large volume of air with almost the same A large volume of air with almost the same temperature and moisture throughout. An air mass temperature and moisture throughout. An air mass takes climate conditions from one place to another.takes climate conditions from one place to another.

Eg. An air mass originating from the Arctic is cold and dry. Eg. An air mass originating from the Arctic is cold and dry. It moves southward and is carried by the westerly winds, It moves southward and is carried by the westerly winds, bringing cold dry air across Canada.bringing cold dry air across Canada.

Front:Front: The boundary between two air masses with different The boundary between two air masses with different temperature and and moisture content.temperature and and moisture content.

WARM FRONT – the leading edge of a warm air massCOLD FRONT – the leading edge of a cold air mass

See Map page 147

Air Masses, which have specific Pressure and Temperature characteristics are what effects our climate.

Wow, Temperature, pressure, wind - it’s all connected!

You should remember the summer and winter effects of the Jet Stream on Toronto.

The weight of air – Air Pressure.

Low Pressure - associated with warm air that has expanded and is rising. High Pressure - associated with cold air that has contracted and is falling.

Winds move from High pressure to Low pressure - See Hadley cell.

Wind Systems (prevailing winds)

See page 148

Winds – cont’dThe movement of air from an area of The movement of air from an area of High PressureHigh Pressure to to Low PressureLow Pressure

Winds are created by differences in air pressure. Around the world there are belts of low and high pressure. As they move around each other, they create a well-established pattern of prevailing winds that blow from West to East in Canada.

Prevailing windsPrevailing winds - Winds that blow in almost constant Winds that blow in almost constant direction at these latitudes. In Canada, the prevailing winds direction at these latitudes. In Canada, the prevailing winds blow from west to east. These are called “westerlies” and blow from west to east. These are called “westerlies” and move air masses that affect our climate.move air masses that affect our climate.

Winds (cont’d)Why do the winds not simply blow directly north and south Why do the winds not simply blow directly north and south between these belts?between these belts?

• Winds are affected by the rotation of the earth.Winds are affected by the rotation of the earth.

This is called the CORIOLIS EFFECT.

Instead of winds moving in one straight north/south line Instead of winds moving in one straight north/south line they are deflected to the right in the NORTHERN they are deflected to the right in the NORTHERN Hemisphere and to the LEFT in the SOUTHERN Hemisphere and to the LEFT in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. HEMISPHERE. This is due to the rotation of the earth (eastward). This is due to the rotation of the earth (eastward).

Hence, we have “westerlies” instead of “northerlies”! Hence, we have “westerlies” instead of “northerlies”!

Winds (coriolis effect)

The earth rotates eastward. This force changes the expected path of the wind.

4. Elevation (Altitude)

Elevation:Elevation: refers to how high or low we are on the earth’s refers to how high or low we are on the earth’s surface. The earth’s surface is our source of heat. The sun heats surface. The earth’s surface is our source of heat. The sun heats the earth and in turn the earth heats us.the earth and in turn the earth heats us.

Air heats up, becomes less dense, rises, air pressure drops, Air heats up, becomes less dense, rises, air pressure drops, air expands, andair expands, and heat is lostheat is lost…Now it will COOL…until it …Now it will COOL…until it condenses.condenses.

Rate of Temperature DropRate of Temperature Drop BEFORE BEFORE condensationcondensation:: 1 degree celsius / 100 meters1 degree celsius / 100 meters

Rate of Temperature DropRate of Temperature Drop AFTER AFTER condensationcondensation:: 0.6 0.6 degrees celsius / 100 metersdegrees celsius / 100 meters

5. Relief

Relief:Relief: refers to differences in elevation caused refers to differences in elevation caused by features on the landscape, for example, a by features on the landscape, for example, a mountain range is type of relief. Even a small mountain range is type of relief. Even a small barrier like a building can cause a temperature barrier like a building can cause a temperature difference.difference.Mountain ranges act as barriers to the movement Mountain ranges act as barriers to the movement of air masses. They also cause precipitation to of air masses. They also cause precipitation to occur (called Relief or Orographic Precipitation)occur (called Relief or Orographic Precipitation)

6. Effect of Large Bodies of Water

Moderating Effect:Moderating Effect:• Water heats up and cools down more slowly than Water heats up and cools down more slowly than land.land.• In the summer, wind blowing from the water will be In the summer, wind blowing from the water will be cool.cool.• In the winter, wind blowing from the water will be In the winter, wind blowing from the water will be warmer.warmer.

Places near large water bodies are Places near large water bodies are MODERATE MODERATE - - they do not get as cool or as warm as othersthey do not get as cool or as warm as others

Maritime: Warmer and WetterMaritime: Warmer and WetterContinental: Cooler and DryerContinental: Cooler and Dryer

Weather Maps: (Monday, Jan. 5, 2009)

Use of Icons

Location of the Jet Stream, Cold and Warm Fronts, High and Low Pressure

Note: The Westerlies push the weather systems .

Weather Forecasts:

Soil and Vegetation

• Soil is a naturally occurring, unconsolidated or loose material on the surface of the earth, capable of supporting life

• Soil is made up of four components (MOMA):– Minerals– Organic Material– Moisture – Air

CanadaSoil Quality

N

Soil and Vegetation• Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of

a region that grows naturally (which very much depends on Soil quality and of course Climate)

• Canada is a country of grass and trees:– Coniferous trees– Deciduous trees

Alberta

Nunavut

Manitoba Quebec

Ontario

Northwest Territories

Canada

YukonTerritory

Tundra

Boreal Forest

Grassland

Parkland

West Coast Forest

Broad-leaved Forest

Mixed Forest

Cordil leran Vegetation

Vegetation Regions

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• An ecozone is an area of the earth’s surface that has a unique combination of plants, wildlife, climate, landforms, and human activities.

• If you were to overlay or combine the climate, landforms, soil (and vegetation) maps of Canada shown in this slideshow, you would see patterns emerge resulting in Canada’s 15 terrestrial (land) ecozones

+ + =

Ecozones

The End!