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Water’s Influence on Weather & Climate

Water’s Influence on Weather & Climate. Water’s Influence on Weather & Climate. Weather vs. Climate Think/Pair/Share Weather – The condition of the atmosphere at a specific time during the day. Climate – A region’s generalized weather patterns, averaged over several decades.

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Water’s Influence on Weather & Climate

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  1. Water’s Influence on Weather & Climate

  2. Water’s Influence on Weather & Climate • Weather vs. Climate • Think/Pair/Share • Weather– The condition of the atmosphere at a specific time during the day. • Climate – A region’s generalized weather patterns, averaged over several decades.

  3. The Moderating Effect • Large bodies of water have a moderating effect on the climate of the nearby region • Timmins, ON - 17°C in Jul, -18°C in Jan • Victoria, BC - 16°C in Jul, 5°C in Jan • What do you notice about the temperature in Timmins vs. BC? • *note – they are along the same line of latitude

  4. The Moderating Effect • Water has a higher heat capacity than land or air – takes longer to absorb heat, and longer to release heat • Heat capacity – Ability of a material to absorb heat

  5. The Moderating Effect • Effect: • Day & Summer: Land gets hotter than water; warm air on land rises, cooler air from water blows in to replace it • Result: Cooler summers

  6. The Moderating Effect • Effect: • Night & Winter: Water cools slower than land; warm air over water rises and cooled air over land moves in • Result: Milder winters

  7. The Moderating Effect • A helpful hint: • At your cottage, which way does the fire blow during the day? At night?

  8. Microclimates • A microclimate is an area with a localized climate variation that differs from the larger climate around it • Ex. Point Pelee, ON – Sticks out into Lake Erie • Ex. A greenhouse

  9. Microclimates & Farming • Farmers living close to the Great Lakes experience a much longer frost-free period than farmers in other parts of Ontario • The warmer air from the lakes keeps nighttime temperatures on the shore above freezing longer into the fall

  10. Water & Global Climate • Northern hemisphere - 39% land, 61% ocean • Southern hemisphere - 19% land, 81% ocean • Greater moderating effect on southern hemisphere’s climate

  11. Water and Precipitation • Coastal regions and other regions located near a large body of water tend to have more precipitation than regions further inland. • Why? • As air travels across the water, it picks up a large amount of moisture (water vapour) • Results in more precipitation (rain & snow) • Coastal Storms – Hurricane Katrina

  12. Water’s Influence on Weather & Climate • Read and complete workbook pages 158-160 • In-class Assignment – Tuesday, October 25th

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