other factors that affect climate: ocean currents

Other factors that affect Climate:Other factors that affect Climate:Ocean currentsOcean currents

Ocean Currents – sea water flowing from one Ocean Currents – sea water flowing from one place to another. (depth of 100m)place to another. (depth of 100m)

Currents of CanadaCurrents of Canada

Impact on climate – equatorial heat is Impact on climate – equatorial heat is redistributed towards the poles. Cold ocean redistributed towards the poles. Cold ocean currents reduce coastal temperatures and vice currents reduce coastal temperatures and vice versa.versa.

Sea water is heated and moves because of Sea water is heated and moves because of ocean currents, the Coriolis effect, the size and ocean currents, the Coriolis effect, the size and shape of the body of water, and the heat and shape of the body of water, and the heat and salinity of the sea water.salinity of the sea water.

ContinentalityContinentality

Regions that are relatively unaffected by large Regions that are relatively unaffected by large bodies of water.bodies of water.

Impact on climate – regions in the interior of Impact on climate – regions in the interior of continents are hotter in summer and colder in continents are hotter in summer and colder in winter. More extreme temperatures (bigger winter. More extreme temperatures (bigger temperature range)temperature range)

Oceans keep coastal regions cooler in summer Oceans keep coastal regions cooler in summer and warmer in winter because water absorbs and warmer in winter because water absorbs heat more slowly than does land, but it also heat more slowly than does land, but it also takes longer for water to cool downtakes longer for water to cool down

-High temperature range (inland)

Low temperature range (Coastal)

MonsoonsMonsoons Are seasonal changes in wind direction Are seasonal changes in wind direction which bring a sudden wet season in the which bring a sudden wet season in the tropicstropics

Impact on climate – extremely heavy Impact on climate – extremely heavy summer rains in monsoon regions.summer rains in monsoon regions.

MonsoonsMonsoons

In winter, cold temperatures in central Asia In winter, cold temperatures in central Asia result in a high pressure cell so winds flow result in a high pressure cell so winds flow out of Asia towards the Indian Oceanout of Asia towards the Indian Ocean

In summer this flow reverses when a hot In summer this flow reverses when a hot area of low pressure develops in central area of low pressure develops in central India. Hot, moist winds blow from the India. Hot, moist winds blow from the ocean inland bring with it heavy rain for ocean inland bring with it heavy rain for several months of the year.several months of the year.

MonsoonsMonsoons

ElevationElevationThe height above sea levelThe height above sea level

Rain shadow – a dry region on the leeward side Rain shadow – a dry region on the leeward side of a mountainof a mountain

Impact on Climate – temperatures drop as Impact on Climate – temperatures drop as elevation increases. Temperatures drop elevation increases. Temperatures drop because with increased height air pressures because with increased height air pressures lowers. This allows air molecules to spread out, lowers. This allows air molecules to spread out, in which case heat can escape more readily. in which case heat can escape more readily. The higher the altitude, the more distant from the The higher the altitude, the more distant from the heat source.heat source.

Maritime vs Continental ClimatesMaritime vs Continental Climates

Maritime ClimatesMaritime Climates

1.1. Near waterNear water

2.2. Moderating influenceModerating influence

3.3. Summers are cooler Summers are cooler and winters are milder and winters are milder than you might expectthan you might expect

4.4. Cyclonic or orographic Cyclonic or orographic precipitationprecipitation

Ex: NL or BCEx: NL or BC

Continental ClimatesContinental Climates

1.1. Inland Inland

2.2. Extreme influenceExtreme influence

3.3. Warm, hot summers, Warm, hot summers, and very cold wintersand very cold winters

4.4. Convectional Convectional precipitationprecipitation

Ex: Canadian Prairies Ex: Canadian Prairies