Unit 2 Flashcards
Physical Connections (Physical Geography)
What is weather?
Weather is defined as the DAY-TO-DAY characteristics and readings of temperature and precipitation.
Example: Today’s mainly sunny, with some cloud cover in the afternoon and a high temperature of 20 degrees C.
What is climate?
Climate is defined as the LONG-TERM Patterns of weather (temperature and precipitation).
Example: Baffin Island is generally cold and receives a large amount of snow annually.
How diverse is Canada’s climate and why?
Canada’s climate is very diverse due to its size and geographical features.
Canada is a huge country (east-west & north-south) with varying elevations and coastal versus inland regions.
What are the factors affecting climate (LOWERN)
LOWERN stands for:
* Latitude
* Ocean currents
* Wind and air pressure
* Elevation
* Relief
* Near Water
How does latitude affect climate?
The further away from the Equator you are, the colder the climate is because the sun’s heat is spread over a larger area.
This is due to the curvature of the Earth.
What causes air pressure?
Air pressure is caused by the unequal heating of the earth’s surface.
What happens to temperature as latitude increases?
As latitude increases, the average temperature decreases.
How do ocean currents affect air temperature?
The temperature of ocean currents affects the temperature of the air above it.
* Warm ocean currents warm the air
* Cool ocean currents cool the air
What creates a low-pressure system?
Warm, moist air rises creating clouds
What creates a high-pressure system?
Cool, dry air sinks creating clear skies
How does elevation affect air pressure?
The air preasure goes down as you go higher above sea level
What is relief in terms of geography?
Relief is the difference of elevation in the earth’s surface.
What is relief precipitation?
Relief precipitation occurs when an air mass is forced above a mountain, cools, and condenses, creating clouds.
What happens to air as it descends the leeward slope of a mountain?
As the air descends, it:
* Contracts
* Becomes warmer
* Dries
How do bodies of water affect land temperatures?
Bodies of water moderate land temperatures; warm summers and cool winters
What is a maritime climate?
Areas near large bodies of water which are warm in the summer, cool in the winter and wet.
Fill in the blank: A lake in the summer will be _______ because it heats slower than the land.
cool
Fill in the blank: In winter, areas near large bodies of water are _______ due to the water’s slower cooling rate.
warmer
What is continental climate?
Areas far from large bodies of water that are hot in the summer, cold in the winter, dry and have more extreme weather conditions.
