Although most parts of Alberta could be classified as semi-arid, its climate varies considerably. Daily mean temperatures range in January from −8°C in the south to −24°C in the north, and in July from 24°C in the south to 16°C in the north.
Arctic air masses in the winter can produce extreme minimum temperatures, varying from -54°C in northern Alberta to -46°C in southern Alberta. However, in the summer, continental air masses produce maximum temperatures ranging from 32°C in the mountains to over 40°C in southern Alberta.
Annual precipitation ranges from less than 350 mm/year in the southeast to over 450 mm/year in the northwest, except in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where rainfall can exceed 600 mm/year. It should be noted that precipitation in any month can be extremely variable with the variability of precipitation being greater in southern Alberta than in the Peace River Region and central Alberta [4] (p.6-7).
The south and east-central portions are prone to drought-like conditions, sometimes persisting for several years, although even these areas can receive heavy precipitation.
Note that the information presented above is based on data collected from 1971-2000. However, the climate in Alberta is changing. As per a 2019 report, Alberta’s Climate Future [5], little change is expected in Alberta’s average annual precipitation. However, the timing and nature of that precipitation is expected to change with more precipitation arriving in the form of rain and earlier in the year.
Statistics Canada, 2019, Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census: Province of Alberta. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-pr-eng.cfm?LANG=Eng&GK=PR&GC=48&TOPIC=1. Accessed 2023-08-02.
Britannica, 2023, Alberta. https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province. Accessed 2023-08-02.
Government of Canada, 2019, Canada’s Changing Climate Report. https://changingclimate.ca/CCCR2019/chapter/4-0/. Accessed 2023-07-26.
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, 2005, Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta, 2nd Edition. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/agricultural-land-resource-atlas-of-alberta-2nd-edition. Accessed 2023-07-26.
Hayhoe, K. & Stoner, A., 2019, Alberta’s Climate Future. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/albertas-climate-future-final-report-2019. Accessed 2023-07-26
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.