Climate is affected by Earths Features Latitude affects

Climate is affected by Earth's Features

Latitude affects Temperature. Latitude is the distance of a place north or south of the equator. Temperatures are generally lower as you get farther away from the equator. For example: It is warmer in Singapore because it is closer to the equator, and cooler in Moscow because it is further from the equator.

Latitude affects Temperature

Major Climate Zones There are three major climate zones. Polar Zone Temperate Zone Tropical Zone

Polar Zone Polar climates are near the North and South Poles. Between 90 degrees(the poles) and 60 degrees latitude. They are affected by the Polar Easterlies. It is always cold with an average yearly temperature below 0 degrees (freezing) and snowy weather.

Temperate Zone Temperate climates are between 60 degrees and 30 degrees latitude. This zone is affected by the Prevailing Westerlies. Temperate climates can have mild summers and winters, or warm summers and cold winters with seasonal swings in temperatures. There are inland deserts with very hot temperatures during the day and cold temperatures at night.

Tropical Zone Tropical climates are located close the equator, from 0 degrees to 30 degrees latitude. This zone is affected by the Trade Winds. Temperatures are usually hot with high humidity. There are no 'winters', temperatures stay warm year round due to the year round supply of direct sunlight.

Elevation affects Temperature Elevation or altitude of an area is the distance above sea level. Air thins as you climb up in the atmosphere, thin air holds less heat. Temperatures decrease as elevation increases. For Example, it gets cooler in Asheville, NC because of the higher elevation in the mountains; than in Wilmington NC, which is at sea level.

Elevation affects temperature

Water affects Temperature Water changes temperature much more slowly than land does. This causes the temperature of the water in the oceans to be fairly constant. Areas close to the oceans experience constant temperatures as a result, called 'oceanic climates. '

Water affects Temperature Land changes temperature much faster than water. This causes areas far from large bodies of water to have greater ranges in temperature called 'continental climates. '

Water affects Temperature

Mountains affect Precipitation Mountain ranges alter the flow of prevailing winds. Air must rise to get over a mountain, and rising air cools and becomes incapable of holding as much water. Therefore the side of the mountain facing the prevailing wind (the windward side) will get a lot of precipitation.

Mountains affect Precipitation The side of the mountain not facing the prevailing winds (the leeward side) gets sinking air that has lost its moisture. This results in a desert in the mountain's rain shadow.

Mountains affect precipitation