Climate
Presentations & Handouts
Definitions
Air Mass: large body of air having the same moisture and temperature conditions throughout.
Air Pressure: weight of air. Average Annual Temperature: monthly average temperatures added together and divided by twelve. Carbon Dioxide: greenhouse gas composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms in each molecule, otherwise known as CO2. Carbon Cycle: movement of carbon through plants, animals, water, soil, air and rocks. Carbon Fixation: the process whereby carbon is trapped in fossil fuels or sedimentary rock for millions of years. Fixed carbon does not contribute to global warming if we prevent its release into the atmosphere. Carbon Sink: a reservoir that stores carbon. The build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere is moderated by carbon sinks, which remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it for a period of time. The oceans, growing vegetation, soil, and some sedimentary rock (e.g., limestone) are carbon sinks because more carbon moves into them than out of them. Carbon Source: an activity or location that gives off more CO2 than it absorbs. Examples of carbon sources include volcanoes, decaying organic matter, burning forests, limestone weathering, the burning of fossil fuels, and breathing, all of which release CO2 into the atmosphere. Climate: weather conditions of a place averaged over a long period of time. Condensation: process whereby water vapour is cooled and changes from an invisible gas to liquid water. Condensed water vapour is what forms clouds. Continental Climate: climate type that develops away from the influence of the ocean. The annual temperature range tends to be large and precipitation is low. Convectional Precipitation: precipitation caused on hot summer days, when heated land causes the air above it to rise by convection. As the air rises, it cools and condensation occurs. Rain or hail may fall from thunderclouds that build up. Evapotranspiration: the movement of water into the atmosphere by evaporation from soil and by transpiration from plants. Jet Stream: west to east movement of air in the mid-latitude flowing at speeds of up to 400 km/h at an altitude of between 8,000 and 15,000 m. Maritime Climate: climate type that is strongly influenced by the closeness of an ocean or other large water body. The annual temperature range tends to be small and precipitation is high. Moderating Effect: effect that large bodies of water have on the climate over nearby land areas. Winter temperatures are warmer and summer temperatures are cooler than areas located away from large water bodies. The result is a small annual temperature range. Prevailing Winds: winds that are most commonly found in an area. For example, over most of Canada, the prevailing winds are the westerlies, which blow from west to east. Polar Front: stormy boundary between cold, dry polar air and warm, moist tropical air. Relief Precipiation: precipitation created when an air mass rises to cross a mountain barrier; also called orographic precipitation. Weather: combination of temperature, precipitation, cloud cover and winds experienced daily. Canada's Climate Regions
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Chapters
13 Canada's Climate Connections (p. 145-158)
Factors That Affect Climate
Latitude
Ocean Currents Winds and Air Masses Elevation (Altitude) Relief Near Water Latitude
Ocean Currents
Winds and Air Masses
Elevation
Relief
Convectional Precipitation
Near Water
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