Climate and Factors Affecting it: Latitude, Altitude, Distance from the Sea, and Structure of the Atmosphere
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Climate and Factors Affecting it
Latitude
- Latitude is the distance from any point on Earth to the Equator.
- Latitude determines the level of insolation (amount of solar energy received) at any point. As we move further from the Equator, insolation is less intense.
- Latitude determines the main climate zones:
- Tropical zones: from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. These zones experience high temperatures and abundant precipitation.
- Temperate zones: Temperatures vary depending on the season, and precipitation is more abundant in areas near the sea.
- Polar zones: Very low temperatures and low precipitation.
Altitude
- Altitude is the height of a place relative to sea level.
- Temperature falls 0.6ºC for every 100 m of altitude.
- Relief can also cause precipitation when it causes moist air to rise and condense.
Distance from the Sea
- In coastal areas, temperatures are mild all year round. This is because the seas and oceans regulate temperature.
- There is also more precipitation near the sea.
Structure of the Atmosphere
- Exosphere: Transitional zone between the atmosphere and space. Gases lose their chemical properties and disperse until their composition is like that of space.
- Thermosphere: High temperatures up to 1000ºC. This layer includes the ionosphere where aurora borealis occurs.
- Mesosphere: Coldest layer of the atmosphere with low air density.
- Stratosphere: Air is stratified and stable. The ozone layer, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, is located here, between 20-40km above the Earth.
- Troposphere: The lowest layer. Most of the air we breathe is found in the first 6km of the troposphere, and most meteorological phenomena occur in this layer.