Canada’s Climate

1. Canada’s Climate Maureen O’Grady Jason Nunley

2. Song • If elevation impacts climate, clap your hands! If elevation impacts climate, clap your hands! Yes, elevation impacts climate, temps go down when we climb up If elevation impacts climate clap your hands!

3. Song • If water impacts climate, stomp your feet! If water impacts climate, stomp your feet! Yes, water impacts climate, Whether current or close to land If water impacts climate, stomp your feet!

4. Song • If wind impacts climate, snap your fingers! If wind impacts climate, snap your fingers! Yes, wind impacts climate, Solar heat gets moved around If wind impacts climate, snap your fingers!

5. Song • If latitude impacts climate, nod your head! If latitude impacts climate, nod your head! Yes, latitude impacts climate, Zones receive unequal rays If latitude impacts climate, nod your head! Lyrics by Ms. O’Grady

6. If Elevation Impacts Climate… 1. The higher the elevation, the lower the temperature. 2. Elevation means height above sea level. 3. Some landforms with high elevation are hills, mts., and plateaus. 6

7. If Elevation Impacts Climate… • 4. For every 1,000 ft. the temp. goes down 3 degrees. • 5. In the middle of July, one can play in the snow high up in the Canadian Rocky Mts. • 6. Mts. can block moisture-carrying clouds. 7

8. If Elevation Impacts Climate… • 7. High mountains along Canada’s Pacific coast block the warm, moist air that blows in from the Pacific Ocean. The clouds drop rain on the coast side of the mts. The other side of the mts. is drier. This drier side is known as a rain shadow. 8

9. If Water Impacts Climate… • 1. Ocean currents move cold or warm water to different locations. • 2. Cold or warm air flows above the current. • 3. Warm ocean currents flow along both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada. 9

10. If Water Impacts Climate… • 1. Being close to bodies of water lessens temperature extremes in many areas. • 2. Water heats and cools more slowly than land. • 3. In eastern Canada, where a lot of Canadians live, the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean help keep the winters from being too severe. 10

11. If Water impacts climate… • 4. In the maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, the extremes of winter cold and summer heat are modified by oceanic influences. 11

12. If Winds Impact Climate… • 1. Winds can bring cold or hot air to a region. Often, the winds bring rain. • 2. Along British Columbia’s coastline, moist winds promote a mild, rainy, climate year round. Nearness to the Pacific Ocean also promotes a mild climate in this province. • 3. If one goes into western Canada’s interior, a wind called the Chinook has a drying effect on the land. These powerful winds have been known to raise winter temps up to 50 F. 12

13. If Winds Impact Climate… • 4.To most Canadians, wind chill is more important than actual temperature. Wind chill is what the temperature feels like to a person. 13

14. If Latitude Impacts Climate…. • 1. The northern part of Canada is inside the Arctic Circle. That is the part of the polar climate zone. • 2. In this region, soil is permanently frozen. This is called permafrost. • 3. The average temperature in January is 25° F, while in July it stays below 50° F. 14

15. If Latitude Impacts Climate… • 4. Most of Canada is in the temperate zone. It is the northern part of the zone, so winters are longer, and more extreme, than summers. • 5. Remember that latitude is only one factor that influences climate. Water, elevation, and winds can overule the impact of latitude. 15