Horizons chapter 3, climate, factors, water, climate change

1. CLIMATES OF
WESTERN
CANADA
CLIMATE: THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
PREVAILING IN AN AREA IN GENERAL OR
OVER A LONG PERIOD.

2. FACTORS AFFECTING
TEMPERATURE:
• Latitude – the distance of an area from the
equator determines the amount and intensity of
sunlight it receives.
• Northern latitudes have a greater variation of
length of day and night. (Alaska, Yukon, NWT
etc)
• Altitude - Higher the altitude the colder the temp.
for every 150m above sea level the temp drops
about 1 degree Celsius.

4. FACTORS CONTINUED
• Distance from the Sea – the surface of land
heats and cools more quickly than water
surface. Extreme highs and lows in areas away
from the ocean, on the west coast our temps are
moderated by the Pacific Ocean
• Wind Direction: Winds blowing from the ocean
increase the moderating effect of water. Wind
blowing off the land create more extremes in
temperature.

5. PRECIPITATION

6. FACTORS CONTINUED
• Ocean currents – can be either warm or cold,
depending on their origin. Warm currents warm
the air blowing over them. Warm air can absorb
more water than cold air – resulting in more rain.
• Precipitation (rainfall) – the amount of
precipitation in a location is determined by the
distance from the sea and prevailing winds.

8. WATER RESOURCES
• High level of precipitation and melting
snowpacks provides a fairly constant flow of
water in Western Canada – something we have
taken for granted.
• Water quality vs water supply – This summer we
had an unprecedented shortage of water, due to
lack of rainfall and melting snow pack.
• Other areas of BC suffer from poor water quality
(undrinkable) due to sewage & agricultural run
off.

9. CLIMATE CHALLENGES
Climate Change?

10. CLIMATE CHANGE
PROTESTS