Factors affecting Climate - made by teacher

What are the Factors Affecting Climate?

Latitude, elevation, topography, distance from sea, ocean currents and prevailing winds.

Latitude

Position in relation to equator either north or south affects the angle of the suns rays. This has the biggest effect on climate.

Elevation

The altitude of a place above sea level. Low altitudes have warmer temperatures. Higher altitudes are colder.

Topography

The shape of the landscape. Mountains act as barriers to the movement of air causing different temperatures on both sides of the mountain. Coast = Cool. Inland = Warm

Distance from the Sea

A place's distance from sea influences rainfall. Coastal Places receive mild weather while inland places receive extreme weather. The ocean moderates the temperature of coastal places.

Prevailing Winds

Direction from which the wind commonly blows. Temperature of the winds affect climate of the particular place. The jet stream is a fast moving air current that blows west to east around the globe.

Ocean Currents

Movement of the oceans and seas. Transports warm water and precipitation from the Equator toward the Poles and cold water from the Poles back to the Tropics. The Gulf stream is a warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico northward through the Atlantic Ocean.