Why is Europe warmer than Northern Canada?

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Why is Europe warmer than Northern Canada?

• By Rebecca S.

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Introduction

• Northern Canada and Europe are located on the
  same line of latitude, but they have completely
  different climates and weather patterns. Did you
  ever wonder why this was? It all has to do with
  a very important current, the Gulf Stream.

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What is the Gulf Stream?

• The Gulf Stream is the second largest current
  system in the world, and the largest system in
  the Atlantic Ocean. It is formed off the coast
  of Florida and ends in northwest Europe. The
  average temperature of the Gulf Stream is 77
  degrees Fahrenheit, which keeps the air
  temperature of the earth warmer in some places.

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How does the Gulf Stream work?

• Winds from the Artic cool the surface water in
  the Atlantic. The cool water becomes denser and
  saltier, so it sinks to the ocean floor. Then,
  the new surface water begins to warm as it moves
  to the equator. The Gulf Stream moves the warm
  water in the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic to
  replace the cold water that moved toward the
  equator. The Gulf Stream is classified as a
  convection current because the cold water sinks
  and the warm water rises.

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What is a Convection Current?

• Convection currents are caused by the expansion
  of a liquid (or gas or solid) as its temperature
  gets higher. The less dense, warmer liquid rises
  and the denser, cold liquid sinks. The Gulf
  Stream is a convection current.

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Specific Heat Capacity of Water

• The quantity of heat required to raise the
  temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius
  is known as the heat capacity of water. Every
  substance has a different heat capacity however,
  water has a very high heat capacity. Water takes
  a long time to warm in the sun, but it also takes
  a long time to cool during the night. Water
  resists change in temperature because of its high
  heat capacity. The Gulf Stream keeps the water
  warm, which helps the climate in some parts of
  the world

Water stays hot for a long amount of time.
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How does the Gulf Stream impact the Climate in
Europe?

• The Gulf Stream carries warm waters to the
  Atlantic near Europe and stays warm until it
  starts to cool. The Gulf Stream plays a major
  role in warming France, England, and other
  European countries. The warm waters keep the air
  warm in Europe. This Gulf Stream is a huge heat
  generator that enables the coasts of Europe to be
  decked in eternal greenery Jules Verne

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Why is Europe warmer than Canada?

• Part of Canada and Europe are on the same line of
  latitude, but Canada is much colder than Europe.
  Why is this? It is because of the Gulf Stream.
  The Gulf Stream does not go near Canada, so the
  warm waters do not make the air warm, but the
  Gulf Stream does go towards Europe, which makes
  it warmer over there.

Snow covered mountains in Canada.
Eiffel Tower in Paris.
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The Gulf Stream is shown in this picture in the
lighter blue, green, yellow, and red. You can
see that it goes up the east coast and cuts
across the Atlantic and goes over to Europe
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• On the next slide I have my graph. I asked 20
  adults why Europe is warmer than Canada, then
  graphed their responses as either correct,
  incorrect, or dont know.

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Vocabulary Words

• Convection current caused by the expansion of a
  liquid (or gas or solid) as its temperature gets
  higher
• Temperature The property of a material that
  tells how warm or cold it is relative to some
  standard. In an ideal gas, the molecular kinetic
  energy per molecule
• Specific heat capacity quantity of heat required
  to raise the temperature of a substance by one
  degree Celsius
• Current A current is the rate of fluid flow,
  especially water in a river or ocean. A current
  can be any continuous, directed movement of a
  fluid.

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Related Links The following sites were used to
gather information and images.
NASA Observtory From this website I used a good
image of the Gulf Stream
CNES I got some really good information from
this site.
The Cooperative for Marine and Atmospheric
Studies I got some very useful information from
this site.
California State University This website had
very useful information and it was very easy to
understand.
BBC Weather Center This website had very good,
through information about the Gulf Stream.
Mrs. Pecks Physics Homepage
Other Students Biggie Question projects
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The End