Factors That Affect Climate

CGC1D Ms. Hyndman FACTORS THAT AFFECT CLIMATE L.O.W.E.R.N.

Latitude - Canada’s southern most point is Middle Island in Lake Erie (41N) - Canada’s northern most point is Cape Columbia, NU (83N) - this range of 42 degrees latitude is almost the same as the distance between Ottawa and the Equator

- distance from the Equator is very important as locations nearer the equator have warmer climates as the Sun’s energy is more concentrated over a smaller area

Ocean Currents

- temperature of an ocean current affects the air mass above - warm, North Pacific current heats air above it, warming coastal B.C. - cold Labrador current meets warm Gulf Stream moving north off coast of Newfoundland, creating foggy conditions (100 foggy days per year)

Winds & Air Masses - air masses that form over continents are typically dry - air masses that form over oceans contain moisture and release precipitation when they reach land - air has weight which is measured as air pressure - warm air rises, creating a low pressure system - cold air falls, creating a high pressure system - air moves from high to low pressure areas, this is called wind - prevailing wind in Canada is west to east (called westerlies) - this means that most weather systems move west to east across Canada - the Jet Stream is a current of fast moving west to east air at high altitudes Elevation - temperatures drop as you go higher in elevation - as air rises, it expands due to lower air pressure - as air expands it cools (loses energy) - as air cools it reaches a temperature where it is saturated with water vapour - this is the dewpoint - if it cools further it will cause condensation

Relief

- mountains create relief precipitation - moist air rises up windward side of mountain, expands, and cools - dewpoint is reached and precipitation (rain or snow) occurs o ex. Vancouver, BC - leeward side of slope is drier creating a rain shadow effect o ex. Calgary, Alberta

Near Water

- areas located far from oceans and large lakes have a continental climate - high temperature range, low precipitation o ex. Regina, Saskatchewan - coastal locations have a maritime climate - water bodies have a moderating affect on land, are warmer in winter and cooler in summer - low temperature range, high precipitation o ex. Halifax, Nova Scotia - the Great Lakes region is unique, as it is classified as modified continental o ex. Toronto, Ontario