Chapter 6. Weather and Climate Weather refers to the day to day conditions of the atmosphere in a...

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Does Weather Follow a Pattern? Chapter 6

Transcript of Chapter 6. Weather and Climate Weather refers to the day to day conditions of the atmosphere in a...

Does Weather Follow a Pattern?

Chapter 6

Weather and ClimateWeather refers to the day to day conditions

of the atmosphere in a specific areaClimate describes the weather conditions

that occur in a specific area over a long period of time.

Meteorologist is a weather specialistHumidity refers to the amount of moisture

in the air and is measured as a percentagePrecipitation is all the moisture that falls

from the sky

Weather and Its Influences

Weather affects our lives dailySometimes the conditions can be extreme

and cause natural disastersImpact of weather is not always dramaticPlants and animals are also influenced by the

conditions of the atmosphere

Humidex used to measure the combined effect of temperature and humidity

Wind Chill factor measures the chilling effect on human skin of the wind combined with cold temperatures

Ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the eyes and burn deeply into unprotected skin

Health Indicators

Humidex

Wind Chill

Weather Patterns across Canada

Geographers search for patterns so that they can predict changes to the Earth’s surface

Identifying weather patterns make it easier to predict tomorrow’s weather

Weather patterns follow a general pattern

Weather Patterns across Canada (cont.)In Canada, places near Atlantic and Pacific

Oceanare wetterPrince Rupert, BC is the wettest, receives

precipitation for over 300 days a yearWinter weather is milderWest Coast temperatures rarely drop below

freezing

Weather Patterns across Canada (cont.)Interior of Canada and far North

Enjoy more hours of sunshineReceive less precipitationReal extreme in temperaturesHot summers and cold winters

How Air Masses Affect the WeatherAir masses are large bodies of air with

particular temperature and moisture characteristics

Warm front is when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico moves north

Cold front is when cold, dry air from the Arctic moves southward

How Air Masses Affect the Weather (cont.)Communities near the Great Lakes have

changeable weatherDifferent types of air masses push into

regions from different directionsWarm front rides up over cooler air in front of

it causing clouds to form and is often followed by precipitation

Cold front pushes warm moist air upward and causes dark clouds to form and is often followed by powerful thunder and lightening storm.

Canada’s “Storm of the Century”Early 1998Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec5 continuous days of freezing rainLarge warm air mass from Gulf of Mexico

swept northeastward by a high speed wind (jet stream)

In southern Canada, it met a cold air mass and rode up over it

Clouds and rain developed, and the water droplets froze wherever they landed

Canada’s “Storm of the Century”Weight of ice caused trees and hydro towers

to breakOver 2 million people left without power in

the middle of winter25 deathsAt least half a billion dollars damageWidespread environmental destruction

How the Oceans affect the WeatherEl Nino

Spanish for “boy child” Warm Pacific Ocean current that reaches the coast

of Peru during December Sometimes the water is warmer than usual and

causes great changes in weather over North and South America

Warm ocean water evaporates more quickly and results in more clouds and precipitation

During El Nino winters Canada has milder conditions and rain often replaces snow

How the Oceans affect the Weather (cont.)La Nina

Spanish for “girl child”Large pool of cold water appears off the Pacific

coast of South AmericaResults in colder and snowier weather in

Western Canada