1. Geography of The Climates of
Western Canada Western Canada

2. What can temperature and
precipitation information
tell us about the way people
live in different locations?

3. 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

5. Six Factors Affecting Temperature
1. Latitude
2. Altitude
3. Distance from the sea
4. Wind direction
5. Ocean currents
6. Precipitation

6. Latitude
Lines extend east and
west around the earth
and measure the distance
north and south of the
Equator (0 degrees)

7. 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

8. Latitude

9. Altitude
• The higher the
altitude, the colder
the temperature
• 150 m rise in altitude
= 1 degree drop in
temperature

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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