The Physical Regions of Western Canada

1. The Physical Regions of Western Canada

2. Types of Rock -Igneous -Sedimentary -Metamorphic

3. Igneous Rock • Rock formed from the hardening of molten material (magma/lava) • Intrusive-formed beneath the Earth’s surface (from magma) • Extrusive-formed above the Earth’s surface (from lava)

4. Metamorphic Rock • Rock changed from its original form: • Heat • Pressure • Erosion

5. Sedimentary Rocks • Rock made of sediment deposited in layers which have formed together

6. The Canadian Shield • Shield: large masses of hard rock that other areas of the continents have formed • largest and oldest region of Canada • once as high as the Himalayas; eroded down • Mostly Igneous rock and metamorphic rock • Many minerals (copper, gold, lead and nickel), • not very suitable for agriculture.

7. The Interior Plains • The area between the Canadian Shield and the Rocky Mountains • Sedimentary rock made from eroded material from the Canadian Shield • Other layers were created from deposits of plants and animals • Formed deposits of fossil fuels (oil and natural gas)

8. The Western Mountains The Rockies The Coastal Mountains The Insular Mountains

9. Parallel mountain ranges separated by plateaus and valleys • The Rockies and the Coastal Mountains were formed by plate collision that caused the Earth to rise. • Plate tectonics also created valleys, plateaus, and trenches • River and glacial erosion sculpted the rough landscape • many minerals: copper, gold and coal

10. The Climates of Western Canada • Continental climate: the climate of a continent’s interior • Temperature extremes • Low precipitation • Maritime climate: a coastal climate • Mild temperatures • High precipitation

11. Factors Affecting Temperature • Latitude: determines the amount and intensity of sunlight it receives. • North: sun rays hit the Earth at a lower angle • Length of days vary more from season to season • Higher temperatures in the south than in the north

12. 2. Altitude • The higher the altitude, the colder the temperature • Every 150m rise in altitude = 1 degree drop in temperature

13. 3. Distance from the Sea • Land surface warms up and cools down faster than the water surface • Large land masses has more extreme temperatures • High temperatures in the summer • Low temperatures in the winter • Areas near the water have more moderate temperatures

14. 4. Wind Direction • Winds blowing from the sea have a moderating effect • Winds blowing off the land bring with them the extreme weather • The West Coast of Canada is the only area with temperatures above ‘0’ in the winter

15. 5. Ocean Currents • Ocean currents are warm or cold depending where they come from • Currents warm or cool the air that passes over it • Warm air can hold more water than cold air

16. Precipitation • The amount of precipitation in an area depends on: • its distance from the sea • Prevailing winds • There are 3 types of precipitation: • Orographic • Convectional • Frontal

17. Orographic Precipitation Windward Side • Moist air rises and moves up the mountain • As the air cools, the vapour condenses, forming clouds and then rain falls Leeward Side • As the air descends on the eastern side, it becomes warm and dry (the rainshadow) • The descending air warms and picks up moisture • Very common in the Western Mountains region

18. Convectional Precipitation • Convectional precipitation results from the heating of the earth's surface that causes air to rise rapidly. As the air rises, it cools and moisture condenses into clouds and precipitation. • Very common in the prairie provinces.

19. Frontal Precipitation • Frontal precipitation results when the leading edge( front) of  a warm air mass meets a cool air mass. The warmer air mass is forced up over the cool air. As it rises the warm air cools, moisture in the air condenses, clouds and precipitation result. • This precipitation is common in Atlantic Canada.