Factors controlling temperature

  1. Latitude: annual energy input from the sun decreases with distance from the equator, so mean annual temperatures also decrease; seasonal differences increase towards the poles.
  2. Winds: winds that have blown from a warm area will increase the temperature, and winds that have blown from a cool are will decrease it.
  3. Distance from the sea: land heats and cools faster than the sea, so coastal areas have a lower temperature range than inland areas.
  4. Altitude: temperatures decrease with height, at about 1°C per 100m.
  5. Aspect: slopes facing the sun are warmer than those that are not.

Factors controlling the amount of precipitation

  1. Air humidity: sea air generally has a higher humidity than air that has blown across ice or dry land.
    2. Temperature: warm air contains more water vapour than cold air of the same humidity.
  2. Cooling and warming: when air cools down past its dew point (100% humidity), water vapour condenses into small droplets or ice crystals that can form fog or clouds, rain or snow.

The role of ocean currents

Sea surface temperature has an impact on the climate of nearby land masses. The air above warm water contains more heat and water vapour than the air above cooler water. Land that lies downwind of a warm current will therefore often have warmer winter temperatures and higher rainfall than land near cold currents.