Transcript Weather vs Climate (Day 1)

Introduction to Climate
Change
Global Warming or Climate
Change?
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The terms global warming and climate change are
often used interchangeably. What’s the difference?
Scientists’ initial focus on the changing climate was
the persistent temperature rise over several decades:
hence “warming” was the feature that received major
attention. The more comprehensive term “climate
change” is more common now; it includes the global
warming trend, but also refers to other climate change
linked phenomena such as severe weather, melting
polar ice caps, and high winds.
Weather
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Describes conditions
outside on a particular
day (temp., precip.,
etc.)
Studied by
meteorologists
Very short term
Weather
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Weather terms to know:
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Temperature
Precipitation (type and amount)
Wind speed
Relative humidity (amount of water vapour in air
compared to max. amount of water possible for air
to hold at that temp.)
Atmospheric pressure
Fog, mist or cloud type and cover
Weather
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Agency responsible is
Environment Canada
Gather data used by
meteorologists
Weather stations,
weather balloons,
aircraft, satellites
Satellite Weather
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html?id=WKR
Climate
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Usual pattern of
weather in an area
over a long period of
time (> 30 years)
Use average results
“Climate is what you
expect, weather is
what you get”
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Robert Heinlein
Climate
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Determines types of
flora (plants) and
fauna (animals) a
region has
Flora and fauna adapt
to survive in certain
climates
Climate Zones
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Vladimir Koppen
Early 1900’s
Used temp., precip.
and plants to identify
zones
Had very crooked
beard
Ecoregions
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Updated Koppen’s
method
Focus on ecology of
region
Added landforms, soil
and animals
Over 20 in Canada
alone
Factors Affecting Climate
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Distance from the Equator (latitude)
Large bodies of water
Ocean or air currents
Land formations
Height above sea level (altitude or elevation)
Bioclimate Profile
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http://www.cics.uvic.ca/scenarios/bcp/select.cgi