Climate FactorsVersion en ligne LOWERN par Miss T Jack 1 Latitude 2 Ocean Currents 3 Winds and Air Masses 4 Elevation 5 Relief 6 Near Water closer to the North Pole it will be colder sun's rays are more direct near the Equator in Canada, it is only a key factor in the far north the further away from the Equator, the more atmosphere the rays need to pass through bring warm or cold temperatures with them to the land out in BC, it is mainly a warming current the Gulf Stream is a powerful warm current that impacts eastern Canada fog is created when warm and cold ones meet tropical ones bring warmth and come from the south polar air brings cool to cold temperatures bring both moisture and temperature to an area continental ones are dry; maritime ones are moist adiabatic lapse rate higher you go up, the colder it becomes the reason there can me snow on top of mountains in the summertime leeward can have a rainshadow because it is so dry windward is the wetter side orographic precipitation ... rains on windward, drier on leeward moist air is forced to rise where it cools, condenses, forms clouds, rains/snows key reason Pacific Maritime climate region is so wet land heats up and cools down more quickly than water places closer to larger water bodies will have a smaller temperature range water MODERATES temperatures on land is a key reason Toronto has a slightly milder climate than Kitchener