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Factors that affect whether

- alot of precipitation or not

- whether it is colder or warmer on average?

- Most locations on the Equator are always hot. They only have 2 seasons - wet or dry - but it is always hot

Canada -\> 7 Climate regions

Mountain~ Driest

Pacific ~ Wettest

Arctic ~ Driest

Subarctic ~ Dry

Prairies ~ Dry

Southeastern ~ Wet

Atlantic ~ Wet

What is Latitude responsible for

Responsible for our 4 seasons

Climate Characteristics

Temperature - Average, Totals

Precipitation - Rain, snow, fog, hail ( Throughout years )

Same Climate region?

Will have similar temperature curve, Precipitation total, precipitation distribution between seasons.

0 degrees c Line

Helps us understand the temperature during cold months

What factors determine our climate regions?

- LATITUDE

- further away from the equator the colder it gets

- PROXIMITY TO LARGE WATER BODIES

- Areas near receive more precipitation

-oceans evaporate large bodies of water into air masses

-cross regions

- PRAVAILING WINDS

- OCEAN CURRENTS

- AIR MASSES

- JET STREAMS

- MOUNTAIN/OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION

Impact of latitude on climate

Latitude affects the amount of solar radiation a place receives. The amount of solar radiation a place receives is greatest at the Equator and lessens toward the poles.

Air (North and South)

Cold air pushes south

Gets colder the farther you go up north

Interiors

Interiors are warmer than the coast

Water

In the winter water warms up the air

In the summer water cools down the air

* Water holds onto its heat longer than air

Pacific Ocean warms air, not as cold on land as interior

Atlantic Ocean, not as cold as pacific

Air from the north also cools down the Atlantic

Great Lakes

Recieve greater amounts of snowfall because the lakes enhance precipitation in the areas

- only occurs when lakes aren't completely frozen over

* Great Lakes create snowbelts

Lake effects snow

Cold NW air picks up moisture from warm Great Lakes. Drops snow off along SE shore

When air masses cross the warm Great Lakes they pick up moisture. as air rises over land, it condenses and causes heavy snow fall.

* Causes snow squalls

- Troubles transport

- Visibility, collisions, injuries, shuts down transport.

Continental climate

-Low precipitation Totals

-More precipitation in summer

-Steeper curve in temperature

-Arctic

-Prairies

-Subarctic

Maritime Climate

-High total Precipitation

-More precipitation in winter

-Flatter temperature curve

- Pacific

-Atlantic

What factors dictate temperature

Latitude - The further it gets from the equator, the colder.

What factors dictate precipitation

- Large bodies of water

-regions near oceans, or large lakes have more precipitations

How does climate influence systems

Natural Environment

- Habitats

- Vegetation/Biomes (Forests, Grassland)

- Weather Patterns

- Landforms

Human systems

- Live (Housing)

- Work (Economic)

- Play (Sports, Leisure)

Jet streams

The jet stream is a relatively narrow band of strong winds originating in the upper layers of the atmosphere. (WHAT) It is common for jet streams to move from west to east, but the direction of the flow can shift both north and south. As air temperature varies from cold to hot, jet streams follow. (WHY THERE)In Canada, the polar jet stream is responsible for many of our weather patterns. It is a narrow band of fast-moving air in the upper atmosphere that can help direct our weather systems affecting temperature and precipitation.; It moves masses of air in and out of Canada, strengthens storms and steers low and high pressure centres. It is also possible for a weather system to stay in one place if it is far enough from a jet stream. However, this will cause heat waves and floods. (IMPACT) Many things that occur in our atmosphere are influenced by this, including weather and air travel. (IMPACT)

Pravailing winds

the direction from which the winds blow most frequently in a specific area on the earth during a given period of time.

Wind is the movement of air caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun and the rotation of the earth. In Canada, the prevailing winds in Canada flow from west to east.

Also, in Arctic Canada the winds blow southward and to the west. These prevailing winds have an impact on seasonal variations.

Impact on Canada:

the westerlies bring warm air from the Pacific causing high precipitation along the BC coast in winter

the easterlies bring cold polar air to the southern regions in winter

the winds bring different air masses together and these "fronts" where they meet create storms that often bring alot of precipitation in all seasons

ocean currents

Ocean currents are a predictable directional movement of seawater, 100km or bigger.

Ocean Currents get generated by winds, excessive cooling, and evaporation on the surface of the ocean and tidal forces.

-Driven by gravity and water density.

Pacific

-Influenced by warm Alaska current

-Creates warmer winters

Atlantic

-Meeting of the cold Labrador current and warm Gulf stream

-Creates cooler averages than Pacific

-Intense fog created by mixing of warm and cold air above the currents

Air masses

- Is a large volume of air

- Has a similar temperature and amount of moisture

- Temperature and moisture depend on where the air mass is formed

- When an air mass is formed near an ocean, it has more moisture

- That moisture is eventually released as precipitation

- When air masses are formed inland they don't have as much moisture, not creating as much precipitation