GEOG 2OC3 Lecture 3: 2OC3 Week 3
23 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
2OC3
Week 3
Climate
Climate: the long-term behaviour of the weather in a bounded area, usually averaged over
decades or centuries
Weather: the short-term, fluctuating behaviour of precipitation, cloud cover, temperature and
wind, usually over timescales less than a year
Influencing Factors: latitude, proximity to water, elevation, precipitation, ocean currents
Pacific Region
→ Marine climate influenced by the Pacific Ocean
o Warm summers and cool winters
→ Seasonal variation in temperature with wetter winter seasons
→ Orographic Precipitation: lifting of moist air over a mountain barrier
Pacific Cordillera
→ Higher elevation = lower average temperatures
→ Higher precipitation on leeward side of the mountains (due to orographic precipitation)
The Prairies
→ Continental climate with hot summers and cold winters
→ Precipitation patterns decrease east to west
→ Polar and tropical air current convergence occurs
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin
→ Humid continental climate
o Hot humid summers and cold winters
→ Great Lakes have a moderating effect on winter temperatures
The Carolinian Forest
→ Sub-area of Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Lowlands
o Nickaed Deep “outh due to arest aerage teps i Caada ad the
longest frost-free season
→ 25% of area, 33% of biodiversity
→ Nearly half of Caadas populatio i the idustrial heartlad
The Atlantic
→ Maritime Climate Zone (on East Coast)
o Warm summers and cool winters
→ Influenced by ocean currents
o Warm waters from the Caribbean carried North by Gulf Stream
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Climate: the long-term behaviour of the weather in a bounded area, usually averaged over decades or centuries. Weather: the short-term, fluctuating behaviour of precipitation, cloud cover, temperature and wind, usually over timescales less than a year. Influencing factors: latitude, proximity to water, elevation, precipitation, ocean currents. Marine climate influenced by the pacific ocean: warm summers and cool winters. Seasonal variation in temperature with wetter winter seasons. Orographic precipitation: lifting of moist air over a mountain barrier. Higher precipitation on leeward side of the mountains (due to orographic precipitation) Continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Polar and tropical air current convergence occurs. Humid continental climate: hot humid summers and cold winters. Great lakes have a moderating effect on winter temperatures. Lawrence lowlands: nick(cid:374)a(cid:373)ed (cid:862)deep outh(cid:863) due to (cid:449)ar(cid:373)est a(cid:448)erage te(cid:373)ps i(cid:374) ca(cid:374)ada a(cid:374)d the longest frost-free season. Nearly half of ca(cid:374)ada(cid:859)s populatio(cid:374) i(cid:374) the i(cid:374)dustrial heartla(cid:374)d. Maritime climate zone (on east coast: warm summers and cool winters.
