UNIT 5 CLIMATE Geo Study Guide PDF

1.​ Weather vs. Climate- what is the difference? Weather is what is happening in any specific moment while climate is what is happening over a long period of time 2.​ Maritime vs. Continental Climate- key differences (location, temperatures, precipitation) Maritime Climate...

1.​ Weather vs. Climate- what is the difference? Weather is what is happening in any specific moment while climate is what is happening over a long period of time 2.​ Maritime vs. Continental Climate- key differences (location, temperatures, precipitation) Maritime Climate Continental Climate -​ Coastal Communities/Areas -​ Inland Locations/Communities -​ E.g.Vancouver, Halifax, -​ E.g. Markham Barrington -​ Is the typical climate of inland areas -​ It has a warm, but not hot, summer -​ Variation in temperature because lack and a cool, but not cold, winter of water bodies -​ The temperature range is low (Not -​ Winter temperature is cold enough for much difference between the highest snow and lowest temperature) -​ Moderate precipitation occurring -​ The majority of the precipitation mainly in summer - usually 200 - comes in the form of rain ~ close to or 1000mm per year usually over 1000 mm a year -​ Some areas have very cold, long and dry winters 3.​ Factors Influencing Climate- explain what are they (L.O.W.E.R.N) and how do they impact climate in a particular region Latitude -​ Earth is a sphere -​ Determines how warm a climate is -​ The further away you are from the equator, the colder your climate is on average -​ As there is less area that the sunlight can spread (the earth is closer to the sun); more concentrated sunlight in the center/equator -​ Ocean Currents -​ Warm and Cool currents -​ Currents moving away from the equator are warm -​ Currents moving toward the equator are cold -​ Examples in Canada: a.​ North Pacific Current: b.​ Labrador Current: Wind -​ Wind temperature is dependent on the area they pass through -​ Takes on the moisture and temperature of the area -​ Cause different types of weather 1.​ Wind moves warm and cold air around 2.​ Warm and cold air cause different weather 3.​ Convection happens in wind as well as water 4.​ Warm air has low pressure and holds more water 5.​ Cold air has high pressure and holds less water Westerlies -​ Wind in Canada tends to move from the west to east Cool & Warm Fronts Elevation -​ Higher the elevation, colder the temperature and less oxygen -​ Lower the elevation, warmer the temperature -​ Elevation based on sea level -​ At a higher elevation the air is less dense, so there is less pressure. -​ As air rises, pressure decreases so air expands and cools -​ Cooler air cannot hold as much moisture so condensation eventually occurs -​ The type of vegetation depends on the elevation of the area Relief -​ The geographic shape of the surface of the land. -​ The relief in an area is an important factor in determining the amount of precipitation that an area gets. -​ “Windward” side –the side that faces the wind – gets more rain and snow than places on the -​ “Leeward” side – opposite side away from wind in low lying areas -​ The leeward side is also known as the “rain shadow” because it is the drier side Near Water* Maritime Climates Water Heat & Cools Slower than land More precipitation near water Water cycle Modified Continentals Continental Climate E.g. Great Lakes may freeze Over - Acts as land 4.​ What is precipitation? Precipitation is moisture that falls to the earth in the form of rain, sleet, snow, hail, or graupel. 5.​ Steps that lead to precipitation a.​ Air rises (goes up) b.​ Air cools (colder as you go up) c.​ Moisture condenses (water droplets) d.​ Precipitates (falls to earth) CONDENSATION OCCURS WHEN WATER VAPOUR BECOMES LIQUID (REVERSE OF EVAPORATION) 6.​ Types of Precipitation- be able to name and describe each (what key factors are involved, reasons for rising, amount of precipitation, seasons Orographic (relief) precipitation: -​ Moist air is forced to rise over mountains  -​ As the warm air rises, it cools and condenses forming clouds. The clouds eventually precipitate -​ As the cool air descends the leeward slope, it warms up -​ Occurs in British Columbia ​ Convectional Precipitation: -​ The sun warms up the ground which warms up the air above it -​ This causes the air to rise which causes it to cool and condense becoming clouds -​ Clouds precipitate, cooling the air and drag it to the ground stopping the air from rising which stops the storm -​ This can cause thunderstorms or volcanoes ​ Cyclonic (Frontal) Precipitation -​ Warm (less dense) air meets with cool (more dense) air -​ This creates a boundary between them causing the warm air to rise -​ This cool and condenses forming clouds which then precipitate 7.​ Draw diagrams of 3 types of precipitation  Orographic/ Relief Convectionalm  Cyclonic/Frontal 8.​ Climate regions of Canada- boundaries (location + which provinces are part of which regions) FACTCHECK NEEDED Climate Region Characteristics Arctic -​ Very harsh Climate and very short summers -​ Most northerly locations experience an extremely cold winter that lasts 10 months -​ Known as a “cold desert” -​ Receives 35-50 cm of precipitation each year -​ Precipitation is low because the Arctic Ocean and other bodies of water are frozen for most of the year and there is little evaporation -​ This region includes most of Nunavut as well as the Northwest Territories and Northern Quebec Pacific Maritime -​ British Columbia’s west coast -​ Pacific Ocean provides a moderating effect -​ Relief precipitation along the coast is very  common in winter Western Cordilleran ​ This climate varies greatly because of the elevation of Rocky Mountains and insulated valleys ​ Coastal temperatures tend to be warmer ​ Northern climates are cooler than southern climates ​ Locations that are only a few kilometers apart may have a very different temperature and precipitation ​ West facing areas receive a lot of precipitation ​ East facing slopes are dry because of rain shadows ​ This region includes almost all of B.C and the Yukon as well as a little bit of southwestern Alberta Taiga -​ A belt from Labrador Quebec, Ontario, and the prairies to the Northwest Territories -​ Long severe cold winters -​ Only 50-100 days are frost free -​ Wide temperature range -​ Most precipitation occurs during the summer from convectional precipitation Boreal Continuous belt from Newfoundland & Labrador; through central Quebec and Ontario, across the prairies and west to the Rocky Mountains Continental Climate:Winters are cold; Summers are warm Precipitation results from cyclonic (frontal) storms Convectional Precipitation also occurs as the land masses heat up Prairie Climate -​ Flat land in Canada’s interior. Includes: southern regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba -​ Continental climate with wide temperature range -​ Winters are cold and dry  -​ Summers are warm and dry -​ This region is dry because it is the rain shadow of the Western Cordillera -​ Most of the rainfall occurs in the spring and summer from the convectional precipitation South Eastern Climate -​ This region includes Southern Ontario & Quebec & Parts of Nova Scotia + New Brunswick -​ Moderately cold winters and warm summers -​ Both continental and maritime characteristics although most of the region has a continental climate with a wide range of temperatures -​ Maritime climate conditions are evident in areas near the Great Lake and Atlantic Ocean -​ Frontal Precipitation occurs all year in this climate range -​ Prevailing winds brings storms from the west Atlantic Maritime Climate -​ Includes all the maritime provinces -​ The Atlantic Ocean and it’s currents bring moderate climate to this region -​ It is cool and humid -​ Winters aren’t very cold and the summers aren’t very hot -​ High amounts of precipitation  9.​ Climate descriptions 10.​What is a climate graph? What are the features? -​ Also known as a Climograph, displays yearly temperature and precipitation (rain, snow, hail) statistics for a particular location. -​ Uses both line and bar graphs. -​ Used by geographers to analyze data. -​ Temperature in celsius is on left side -​ Precipitation is on right side in mm -​ Temperature 11.​What do climate graphs allow us to compare? A climate graph allows the user to compare temperature and precipitation over the year 12.​Know how to create and label a climate graph from a set of data. Title: City, Country Left Axis: Temperature Right Axis: Precipitation 13.​Know all of the climate calculations practiced in class. Temperature Range: Highest temperature – Lowest temperature Annual Average Temperature: Add all the temperatures up, and divide by 12 Total Precipitation: Add the precipitation totals for each month. Snowfall Equivalent: For every month that has a temperature of 0C or less, add the precipitation for those months. Take the total and multiply by 10. Length of Growing Season: For every month that has a temperature of 6C or more, take the number of months and add them up. Seasonal Distribution of Precipitation: Add the precipitation for “winter” months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec) Add the precipitation for “summer” months (Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept) 14.​Be able to determine if the temperature, precipitation and seasonal distribution belongs to a Maritime or Continental climate region. Determining Continental Climate: Temperature range of more than 25C Precipitation total of less than 1000mm Seasonal Distribution’s total for summer is higher Determining Maritime Climate Temperature range of less than 25C Precipitation total of more than 1000mm Seasonal Distribution’s total for winter is higher 15.​What is a tornado? What are its features? How do they form? A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air. They form when 1.​ Thunderstorms develop when warm, moist air rises and cools 2.​ This creates clouds. Water vapour condenses and releases heat 3.​ This release of heat creates the energy in a thunderstorm 4.​ Under certain conditions, when the air moving up into the cloud is very strong, a tornado can develop 5.​ The whirling winds are like a spinning column of air that comes down from the thundercloud  6.​ The tornado on the ground follows the same path as the thundercloud 16.​What is the Fujita Scale? A scale that measures the severity of tornadoes from a scale from 0 - 5 17.​Know what to do during a tornado Take cover in a basement or room far away from windows