Climate Factors
(LOWERN)
Latitude
Ocean Currents
Winds and air masses
Elevation
Relief
Near water
(LOWERN)
Latitude
- The further away from the equator you go, the more seasonal variation there is (and the colder it gets).
- Locations near the equator are warm.
- This region receives the most direct sunlight and energy all year long.
- Warm currents heat, and cold currents cool, the air above water.
- Cold currents from the Arctic cool the air and reduce the amount of precipitation in a region (cold air doesn’t evaporate as easily as warm air does).
- When cold and warm currents meet, they can create fog.
- Air brings climate conditions from where it came.
- Winds move air masses over land.
- Climates get colder as elevations get higher.
- As warm air rises, it expands and loses heat.
Relief
- Mountains form a natural barrier that causes air masses to rise.
- As air rises, it expands and becomes less dense, causing it to cool.
- Therefore, the leeward side of the mountain is colder and has less precipitation.
- Water bodies have a moderating affect on climates of land masses near them.
- Water cools & heats slower than land.
- Therefore, the land near water remains cooler or warmer.
- This also means there is less temperature range from season to season.
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