Influences Varying the Local Climate
| Latitude | – Average temperature decreases as we move further from the equator due to the Earth’s shape. – At the poles, sunlight passes through a larger portion of the atmosphere, and the sun is at a lower angle. – Therefore, the sun’s heat spreads over a greater surface area on Earth, resulting in cooler temperatures. |
| Location (relative to continents and oceans) | – Water has a moderating effect on temperature. – Compared to land, water takes longer to heat up but it also stays warmer for longer. – In summer, coastal areas are kept cool. In winter, coastal areas are warmer as the water stores heat longer – As a result, temperature fluctuations, from season to season or annually, are less drastic in coastal regions. |
| Altitude | – The measure of the height of the land relative to the sea level. – The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature. – As a result, most mountain ranges are topped with snow. |
| Local Geographical Features | E.g. proximity to rivers, lakes and oceans, and elevation, the rain shadow effect of mountains etc. |