Landforms
The land form region for Cochrane is Western Cordillera. This region has lots of mountains, the mountains are separated by valleys and plateaus. The mountains are younger, you can tell by the height and appearance. When the North American and the Pacific plate collided it made the region uplift into mountains (700 Km)..
The Bow River is one of the main land forms of Cochrane, Alberta.
The mountains are not in Cochrane, but you can see them from Cochrane. The mountains are gorgeous, and a very big reason people may move there.
The mountains are not the only blushing view, the tress and grassland are bright. The hills and valleys are a good attraction as well, but put it all together and you have cochrane
Climate
Cochrane's climate region is Cordillera. This region in the winter is mild, wet, and rarely has snow that stays long. It comes in larger amounts of snow when it snows though. In the summer time this region is warmer, and there is less rain. The landscape has mostly high mountains in long chains, but also has some forest.
Cochrane's low temperature is colder in there low winter months (September - May,) and warmer in there summer months (June - August.)
Cochrane's high temperature is warmer in there summer months (June - August,) and colder in there high winter months (November - May.)
Cochrane Alberta's highest rainfall is usually around April - June. The precipitation levels are usually highest in the month of June.
Cochrane has lowest precipitation between the months of October - March. The lowest rainfall months are October - March.
Cochrane has lowest precipitation between the months of October - March. The lowest rainfall months are October - March.
Extreme weather
The Flood of Bow River on June 20, 2013.
The 2013 flood was caused by a low pressure system, warm, and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico was carried to Alberta. The Rocky Mountains, and to the north high-pressure systems causing more than 200 millimetres of rain in only two days. The rain alone would have caused a flood. The warm humid air, and with rain fall on snow in the middle of a melt on the mountain, made the snow packed together, so the frozen ground was unable to absorb any of the extra water.
This video will take you through the Bow river's flood along Cochrane on alive tour.
The major reason why the rivers flood in Alberta is from the snow that collects in the mountains and on the prairies over the winter months. Around 80% of the water is from snow. The melted water from glaciers makes for less than 3% of the Bow’s total flow. When the weather becomes warm enough to melt the snow, the river’s average flow at Calgary is about 300 cubic meters per second.
soil and vegetation
The soil profile in Cochrane, Alberta is a typically cry climate soil profile. The soil is very thick and dark (brown to black). There are organic materials from the decay of plants remain near the surface. In the dry climate soil profile water moves in an upward movement, this dominant process is called calcification.
Cochrane is located in the cordillera vegetation region, it has many different vegetation through out the region. It has different kinds because of temperature, rainfall, the soil, and elevation. There are different soil types through out the region as well. In wetter locations there are a variety of coniferous forest, to drier locations with shorter grasses, and cacti.