Elevation & Climate
• Understand the relationship between
elevation & climate
Define Elevation
• Elevation = height of a region above sea level
• The figure below shows cross section of Canada
4000 m
Sea Level
Winnipeg
239 m
DID YOU KNOW?
• Air temperature decreases 1oC for every
100m increase in elevation
• IT’S TRUE!! In fact, the higher up we go; the
colder it gets; hence snow on mountain tops
Describe the relationship between the elevation of a
point and its temperature and precipitation.
La Paz & Rio de
Janeiro have
similar dist. from
ocean & similar
latitude. La Paz is
much colder
because of higher
elevation .
•La Paz, Bolivia
•Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
•Elevation = 3600m
•Elevation = 61m
•Coldest month = 9oC
•Coldest month= 25oC
Describe the relationship between the
elevation of a point and its temperature and
precipitation.
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Relief Rainfall
Windward Side of mountain
Leeward Side of Mountain
Rain shadow – What side?
Relief Rainfall – Recap!!!
Elevation and Precipitation
• Windward = side of a
mountain wind blows toward
• Leeward = side of
mountain opposite from
windward
• Rain shadow = region on
leeward side of mountain
that receives little
precipitation because
most rain dropped on
Analyze the relationship between temperature and
precipitation of a point and its location relative to a
mountain system.
• Cities higher up in a mountain have colder temperatures
• Cities on leeward side have little rain
• Cities on windward side have more rain
Match the city to the data
Vancouver
wind
•1113mm rain & 0oC coldest month
Prince George
•628mm rain & -12oC coldest month