Climate Analysis PDF

CLIMATE ANALYSIS Canada’s Climate Regions •Making Connections, p.154 Weather Is the condition of the atmosphere which lasts over a short time period and for a small area Consists of characteristics such as temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity, cloud cover, visibility, and air pressure. C...

CLIMATE ANALYSIS Canada’s Climate Regions •Making Connections, p.154 Weather Is the condition of the atmosphere which lasts over a short time period and for a small area Consists of characteristics such as temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity, cloud cover, visibility, and air pressure. Climate Is the condition of the atmosphere which lasts over a long time period (usually many years) and for a large area. Consists of the same characteristics as weather (such as temperature, precipitation, air pressure, etc.) Climate Data Interpretation ☼ There are 5 major pieces of climate data that help us to understand the climate patterns of a region. ☼ Average Annual Temperature ☼ Temperature Range ☼ Total Precipitation ☼ Seasonal Distribution of Precipitation ☼ Growing Season Average Annual Temperature HOW DETERMINED Add together the 12 monthly temperatures and divide by 12. SIGNIFICANCE Indicates whether a location has a warm climate (Toronto) or a cool climate (Yellowknife). Saskatoon, SK Avg Annual Temp = (-19) + (-15) + (-9) + 3 + 11 + 16 + 19 + 17 + 11 + 5 + (-6) + (-14) = 19 / 12 = 1.6° C Temperature Range HOW DETERMINED Maximum temperature (warmest) – minimum temperatures (coldest). SIGNIFICANCE Greater than 25°C = CONTINENTAL climate Less than 25°C = MARITIME climate Saskatoon, SK MIN (coldest) MAX (warmest) Temperature Range = 19 – (-19) = 38 °C MAX (warmest) = CONTINENTAL MIN (coldest) Total Precipitation HOW DETERMINED Add monthly precipitation totals. SIGNIFICANCE Indicates whether a place has a dry or wet climate. Less than 1000mm = CONTINENTAL climate More than 1000mm = MARITIME climate Saskatoon, SK Total Precipitation = 18 + 16 + 18 + 21 + 40 + 59 + 54 + 38 + 32 + 17 + 15 + 20 = 348 mm = CONTINENTAL Seasonal Distribution of Precipitation HOW DETERMINED WINTER: Add precipitation totals for the months of October – March SIGNIFICANCE Winter Max = MARITIME Summer Max/Even = CONTINENTAL SUMMER: Add precipitation totals for the months of April – September EVEN: Many places with an even distribution will have a slight summer max. Saskatoon, SK WINTER = 17 + 15 + 20 + 18 + 16 + 18 = 104 mm SUMMER = 21 + 40 + 59 + 54 + 38 + 32 = 244 mm = CONTINENTAL SUMMER MAX Growing Season HOW DETERMINED Add together the number of days with an average temperature of 5 °C and above. SIGNIFICANCE Indicates the number of days that are warm enough to grow crops. This number can vary due to precipitation and daylight hours. Saskatoon, SK Growing Season = 31 (May) + 30 (Jun) + 31 (Jul) + 31 (Aug) + 30 (Sept) + 31 (Oct) = 184 days Continental Climate In Canada, land areas that are far away from the ocean are generally very cold and dry in the winter and very hot and dry in the summer. This is called "Continental Climate". Large temperature range (more than 25ºC) Low total precipitation (less than 1000 mm yearly) Receive more precipitation in the summer months than the winter months. Maritime Climate •Large bodies of water have a moderating effect on the land nearby because the water takes a long time to heat up in the summer and a long time to cool off in the winter. The temperature of the water affects the temperature of the land. •Areas near large bodies of water have cool, moist winters and warm, moist summers. This is called "Maritime Climates" Maritime Climate 1. Low temperature range (less than 25ºc) 2. High total precipitation (more than 1000 mm) 3. More precipitation in the winter months than the summer months. Great Lakes Climate Areas near the Great Lakes are partially "Continental" and partially "Maritime" because they have cold, moist winters and hot, moist summers. 1. Temperature Range high 2. Medium total precipitation 3. Precipitation year round Climate Graphs One way to get a perspective on climactic differences across Canada is to study the climate data for different locations. Construction of a Climate graph: A BLUE bar graph shows the total precipitation for each month in the year. A RED line graph shows the average temperature for each month in the year. How to create a climate graph: Step 1: Use pencil to make and label the title and axis’. Your scales can use different numbers if necessary. Title at the top (location name), Months at the bottom, Temperature (°C) on the left, Precipitation (mm) on the right. How to create a climate graph: Step 2: Use the colour blue to make a bar graph of the monthly average amount of precipitation. Use a ruler and colour your bars neatly! precipitation How to create a climate graph: Step 3: Use red to plot the average monthly temperature. Make a dot for the temperature in the middle of each space for the month. temperature When you have plotted the data for all 12 months, connect the points into a smooth, curved line. *Make sure you are using the temperature axis (not the precipitation axis)! How to create a climate graph: Step 4: Using a ruler, draw a line across the 5°C line to mark the growing season. Optional: Colour the growing season green (above the growing season line and inside/below the temperature line). growing season (5 °C) How to create a climate graph: This is what it should look like when you’re done: Just like mapping, NEATNESS and ACCURACY are important when graphing ☺ Climate graphs Analyzing Climate Graphs Maritime or Continental? Lets try one together! J F A M J tem -7.2 -7.5 -3 p 2.7 9.2 Pre cip 88 94 97 82 M 83 J O N D 14.8 18.8 18.4 14 8.6 3.1 -3.6 87 112 115 117 79 A 90 S 92 Once you’ve finished, switch with a partner and peer-assess your partner’s climate graph! 🗹 Neat (ruler, colouring, writing) 🗹 Accurate 🗹 Coloured properly (blue bars, red line, green line) 🗹 Title (city, province/territory) 🗹 Labelled Axis (temperature on left, precipitation on right, Making Connections p. 154 & 157 Climate Station A B C D E F G H Climate Region (p. 154) List the factors that you think affects the climate in each region (LOWERN) Maritime or continental? Explain.