21.1 Factors That Affect Climate Worksheet Answers
What are the Factors That Affect Climate?
Climate is a complex system that is determined by many different factors. These factors include latitude, elevation, ocean currents, topography, wind patterns, nearby bodies of water, and the amount of cloud cover. All of these factors interact with each other to create Earth’s climate.
Latitude
Latitude is the angular distance from the equator and is measured in degrees. As latitude increases, the average temperature decreases. This is because the sun’s rays hit the Earth’s surface at a steeper angle with increasing latitude. This causes the heat to be spread out over a greater area and therefore results in cooler temperatures.
Elevation
As elevation increases, the temperature decreases. This is due to the decrease in air pressure as altitude increases. As a result, less heat is able to be held in the atmosphere, resulting in cooler temperatures.
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are large bodies of water that flow in a certain direction and carry warm or cold water around the world. These currents can greatly influence the climate of an area. For example, the warm waters of the Gulf Stream can keep the northern U.K. much warmer than it would otherwise be.
Topography
Topography is the physical features of an area, such as mountains, hills, and valleys. These features can have an effect on climate because they can block the sun’s rays or create wind patterns. For example, mountain ranges can block the sun’s rays from reaching certain areas and keep them cooler than other areas.
Wind Patterns
Wind patterns can affect climate because they can move warm or cold air from one area to another. For example, warm air from the equator can be moved north by the prevailing wind patterns, resulting in warmer temperatures in the northern areas.
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