CLIMATE

UNIT TWO| March 2019

OUTCOME

9.2.1Demonstrate an understanding of the basic features of

Canada’s landscape and climate.

• identify and locate major climatic regions of Canada

• explain the characteristics of Canada’s climatic regions and account for the

variation among them

TEXTBOOKS

You will need a textbook today.

Share with the person sitting next to you.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

• Weather: the

combination of events

in the atmosphere

(day-to-day).

• Meteorology: the

science of weather

WEATHER & CLIMATE

• Climate: the average

patterns of weather

conditions over the long

term.

Summer Days

Rainy

Warm

Sunny

Canadian Climate

Hot and sunny in summer

(40°C)

Cold and snowy in winter

VIDEO

• A History of Earth’s Climate (11:19)|

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC_2WXyORGA

PRACTICE

• Which of the following examples are weather? Which are climate?

1. An early frost damaged the

strawberries.

2. Spring usually begins much later

in New Brunswick than in

Ontario.

3. The snow melted during a

January thaw this year.

4. High summer humidity causes

a lot of summer

thunderstorms.

5. Yesterday there were two

thunderstorms.

6. A July heatwave last year made

it almost 40°C for a week.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Climate is what we expect.

Hot

Dry

Cold

Humid

Weather is what we

get.

RainFrost

Storm

Wind

ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

• Latitude

• The sun shines on the earth most

directly at the equator.

• The farther north or south you go,

the less directly the sun reaches the

earth.

• This means higher latitudes are

cooler.

ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

• Air Masses & Winds

• Canada’s weather changes as a result

of the changing pattern of air masses.

• Air masses tend to move west

east in Canada.

• Handout| Air Masses

ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

• Use p. 32 of your

textbook to label and add

information to your

handout.

ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

• Maritime Tropical: warm water

makes the air warm and moist.

• Maritime Polar: cold water makes

the air cold and moist.

• Continental Arctic: cold land makes

the air cold and dry.

• Continental Tropical: desert makes

the air hot and dry.

FOUR ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

• Ocean Currents & Landforms

• Ocean currents move heat and cold

around the world.

• When air passes over an ocean current,

the temperature of the air is influenced

by the temperature of the water below.

FOUR ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

• Clouds & Precipitation

• Clouds: masses of suspended solid or

liquid particles.

• Precipitation: any form of water,

either liquid or solid, that falls from the

clouds and reaches the ground.

FOUR ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE

• What causes precipitation?

• The air cools and reaches its dew point.

• Dew point: temperature at which

condensation occurs.

• Water vapor condenses into water droplets –

cloud forms.

• Particles inside cloud collide – increase in size.

• Heavy particles fall to earth.

CLIMATE REGIONS IN CANADA

• Use the textbook to find information

about the following climate regions

in Canada (p. 36-37).

• A – Tropical

• B – Dry Climates

• C – Warm, moist climates

• D – Cool, moist climates

• E – Polar Climates

CLIMATE REGIONS IN CANADA

• A –Tropical: Canada does not have any.

• B – Dry Climates: more evaporation than precipitation. Some are warm,

and some are cool.

• C –Warm, moist climates: warm, humid summers and mild winters.

Precipitation throughout the year, but some areas are cool and dry in the

summer.

• D – Cool, moist climates: most of Canada. Western parts have warm,

humid summers. Eastern have cooler summers and more precipitation.

Northern parts have very short summers.

• E – Polar Climates: two types, both very cold and dry.

REGIONAL FACTORS

• Use p. 34-35 (Regional Factors) to add the following elements of climate to

your notes:

• Altitude

• Bodies of Water

• Mountain Barriers

• For each, explain:

A. What is it?

B. How does it affect climate?

CLIMATE RESPONSE

• Write a paragraph that discusses the following:

• What is your favourite season in Canada? Why?

• Provide convincing evidence to get me to agree with you.

• Refer to at least two elements of climate in your response.

Value: 10 marks

END