Factors that affect climate definitions

weather

describes the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere. It might be sunny, hot, windy or cloudy, raining or snowing.

climate

means the average weather conditions in a particular location based on the average weather experienced there over 30 years or more.

meteorology

the science of monitoring and studying the atmosphere and predicting its weather and climate. 

meteorologists

People who study the weather and climate.

latitude or distance from equator

Temperatures drop the further an area is from the equator due to the curvature of the earth. In areas closer to the poles, sunlight has a larger area of atmosphere to pass through and the sun is at a lower angle in the sky. As a result, more energy is lost and temperatures are cooler. In addition, the presence of ice and snow nearer the poles causes a higher albedo, meaning that more solar energy is reflected, which also contributes to the cold.

altitude or height above sea level

Locations at a higher altitude have colder temperatures. Temperature usually decreases by 1°C for every 100 metres in altitude.

distance from the sea

Oceans heat up and cool down much more slowly than land. This means that coastal locations tend to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter than places inland at the same latitude and altitude. Glasgow, for example, is at a similar latitude to Moscow, but is much milder in winter because it is nearer to the coast than Moscow.

ocean currents

Britain has a maritime climate. A warm ocean current called the North Atlantic Drift keeps Britain warmer and wetter than places in continental Europe.

prevailing winds

The prevailing wind is the most frequent wind direction a location experiences. In Britain the prevailing wind is from the South West, which brings warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean. This contributes to the frequent rainfall. When prevailing winds blow over land areas it can contribute to creating desert climates