Environmental Thematic Maps and Graphics:
Average annual precipitation, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016

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Map: Average annual precipitation, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016

Description for Map

The title of this map is “Average annual precipitation, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016.” This map provides a visual representation of average annual precipitation across Canada.

On the page, there is one large map of Canada, a legend to the upper right and a scale bar below. The map delineates ecoprovinces with a thin black boundary line and ecoprovinces are labeled with a code. Fine black dashed lines show provincial and territorial boundaries. Below the map, ecoprovince codes and their corresponding names are listed for reference.

The map shows varying amounts of annual precipitation symbolized in different shades of blue. The darker the blue the higher the average annual precipitation.

The unit of measurement is millimetres (mm). The legend contains five categories: 1,380 to 2,100 (navy blue), 790 to less than 1,380 (dark blue), 510 to less than 790 (blue), 270 to less than 510 (light blue) and 80 to less than 270 (white).

The map shows that the east and west coasts receive the most precipitation. The Prairie provinces have relatively low average annual precipitation, while the far North receives very little precipitation.

Note: To convert precipitation measured in depth in mm to a volume per area in m3/m2, divide by 1000.

Sources:
Wang, S., Y. Yang, Y. Luo and A. Rivera, 2013, “Spatial and seasonal variations in evapotranspiration over Canada's landmass," Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Vol. 17, no. 9, pp. 3561-3575, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3561-2013 (accessed December 1, 2020);
Wang, S., et al., 2014, “A national-scale assessment of long-term water budget closures for Canada’s watersheds,” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Vol. 119, pp. 8712–8725, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD021951 (accessed February 1, 2021).


Legend
Average annual precipitation
Table summary
This table displays the results of Average annual precipitation. The information is grouped by Colour (appearing as row headers), Average precipitation (mm) (appearing as column headers).
Colour Average precipitation (mm)
Navy blue 1,380 to 2,100
Dark blue 790 to less than 1,380
Blue 510 to less than 790
Light blue 270 to less than 510
White 80 to less than 270
Shape Boundary
Dashed line Province/territory
Black outline Ecoprovince

Data
Average annual precipitation by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Average annual precipitation by ecoprovince. The information is grouped by Ecoprovince (appearing as row headers), Code and mm (appearing as column headers).
Ecoprovince Code mm
Northern Arctic Cordillera 1.1 207.3
Southern Arctic Cordillera 1.2 402.6
Sverdrup Islands 2.1 78.5
Ellesmere Basin 2.2 142.3
Victoria Lowlands 2.3 115.3
Parry Channel Plateau 2.4 173.7
Boothia–Foxe Shield 2.5 271.3
Baffin Uplands 2.6 307.6
Foxe–Boothia Lowlands 2.7 233.3
Amundsen Lowlands 3.1 200.1
Keewatin Lowlands 3.2 244.4
Ungava–Belcher 3.3 489.7
Mackenzie Foothills 4.1 351.0
Great Bear Lowlands 4.2 268.3
Hay–Slave Lowlands 4.3 399.2
Western Taiga Shield 5.1 345.7
Eastern Taiga 5.2 718.6
Labrador Uplands 5.3 906.4
Whale River Lowland 5.4 671.7
Western Boreal Shield 6.1 537.6
Mid-Boreal Shield 6.2 794.7
Eastern Boreal Shield 6.3 1,029.9
Newfoundland 6.4 1,339.1
Lake of the Woods 6.5 700.7
Southern Boreal Shield 6.6 998.8
Appalachian–Acadian Highlands 7.1 1,160.7
Northumberland Lowlands 7.2 1,204.8
Fundy Uplands 7.3 1,382.1
Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands 8.1 1,038.8
Huron–Erie Plains 8.2 937.8
Boreal Foothills 9.1 533.0
Central Boreal Plains 9.2 446.4
Eastern Boreal Plains 9.3 509.5
Eastern Prairies 10.1 535.5
Parkland Prairies 10.2 457.0
Central Grassland 10.3 373.3
Northern Yukon Mountains 11.1 161.1
Old Crow–Eagle Plains 11.2 144.6
Ogilvie Mountains 11.3 166.2
Mackenzie–Selwyn Mountains 11.4 309.5
Wrangel Mountains 12.1 640.0
Northern Boreal Cordillera 12.2 314.2
Southern Boreal Cordillera 12.3 512.8
Western Boreal Cordillera 12.4 217.1
Georgia Depression 13.1 2,036.5
Southern Coastal Mountains 13.2 1,947.0
Northern Coastal Mountains 13.3 1,089.9
Northern Montane Cordillera 14.1 618.1
Central Montane Cordillera 14.2 622.9
Southern Montane Cordillera 14.3 675.1
Columbia Montane Cordillera 14.4 964.6
Hudson Bay Coastal Plains 15.1 502.2
Hudson–James Lowlands 15.2 629.2
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