Canada’s Climate Regions
8.2.1 Demonstrate an
understanding of the
basic features of
Canada’s landscape
and climate
 identify and locate major
climatic regions of Canada
 explain the characteristics
of Canada’s climatic
regions and account for
the variation among them
Dry Climates
 amount of evaporation &
transpiration may exceed
amounts of precipitation
 some are warm, and some
are cool (annual temp.
less than 18ºC)
 characterized by little
rain and a huge daily
temperature range. Two
subgroups, S - semiarid
or steppe, and W - arid or
desert
Warm, Moist Climates
(Maritime/Marine West Coast)
 warm, humid summers
and mild winters
 in Humid Middle
Latitude Climates
land/water differences
play a large part
 these climates have
warm, dry summers and
cool, wet winters.
Cool, Moist Climates
(Temperate continental)
 over 70% of Canada
 warmest version (humid with
warm summers)
 Subarctic zone (short, cool
summer & only 1-3 months
over 10ºC)
 found in the interior regions
of large land masses
 total precipitation is not very
high and seasonal
temperatures vary widely.
Polar Climates
 very cold and dry
 Tundra zone and Ice
Cap area
 permanent ice and
tundra are always
present
 only about four months
of the year have above
freezing temperatures
Polar Climates continued
(High Latitude Climates)
• Subarctic
• Tundra
• Ice Cap
Elements of Climate
• Latitude (sunshine)
• Air Masses and
Winds
• Ocean Currents
• Clouds and
Precipitation
• Altitude
• Bodies of Water
• Mountain Barriers
Bibliography
 http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm
 Canadian Identity (p.31-37)
 http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/uwsp_
lectures/climates_toc.html
 http://www.worldclimate.com/