Factors that influence global climates The characteristics of any global climate type are influenced by a number of factors. These include:
Latitude Distance from the sea Prevailing winds and air masses Latitude Slanted rays of sunlight Direct rays of sunlight
Latitude is the distance of a place north or south of the equator. It is measured as an angle, in degrees.
Areas closer to the equator are warmer because the sun’s energy is greatest at the equator. The sun is closest to the Earth here, so its rays shine directly upon it and are concentrated on a smaller area.
: Figure 14.3 The sun’s rays
The further you travel from the equator, the cooler it gets because the sun’s rays are at an angle to the Earth’s surface, so its heat is spread over a wider area. Sunlight also has to travel further through the atmosphere, so more light and heat are absorbed or scattered.
Distance from the sea Atlantic Ocean Moscow Shannon Berlin
The sea takes longer to heat up and cool than land.
January Temp (°C)
July Shannon
15 8
: Figure 14.4 Average winter temperatures in Europe Berlin
18 –1
Moscow 21
–15
During the summer, seawater is cooler than land. During the winter, seawater is warmer than land because it loses heat more slowly. This means that areas close to the sea have cooler summers and milder winters than areas that are far away from the sea.
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Climates: Classifying climate types and Ireland’s climate
