Factors That Influence Air Temperature

Question 1

What is latitude and what does it dictate

Answer 1

Latitude refers to the distance from the equator and it dictates how hot or cold a place may be

Question 2

Latitude. Why are equatorial areas hotter than the poles

Answer 2

Due to the curvature of the earth at the equator the suns rays are more directly overhead and have less distance to travel in the atmosphere so less energy is lost through absorption, scattering and reflection. The heat is concentrated on a small spot so it gets very hot

Question 3

Latitude. Why are polar areas colder

Answer 3

At the poles it is colder as there is more curvature to the earth and the sun shines more at an angle and heat is spread out over a wider area and temperatures are lower

Question 4

Examples for latitude

Answer 4

London cooler at 51N 23 degrees
Malaga hotter at 36N 29 degrees

Question 5

What is seasonality

Answer 5

Refers to the changes in temperature and weather throughout the year

Question 6

What is seasonality influenced by

Answer 6

The tilt of the earths axis which causes different parts of the planet to receive varying amounts of sunlight at different times (seasons)

Question 7

Seasonality. Where has significant variation in temperatures between seasons

Answer 7

High latitudes like Canada and Russia, they have colder winters, shorter days and the sunlight is less direct

Question 8

Seasonality. What creates a summer season

Answer 8

The Northern hemisphere being tilted towards the sun for 6 months means there is a rise in the solar radiation producing a summer season

Question 9

Seasonality. What creates a winter season

Answer 9

The Northern hemisphere being tilted away from the sun for 6 months means the suns rays are less direct producing lower temperatures and a winter season

Question 10

What is continentality

Answer 10

Continentality refers to the distance from the sea

Question 11

Continentality. Describe waters ability to hold and absorb heat on coastal areas

Answer 11

Water has a high heat capacity as it can retain and release heat more slowly than land. This means that coastal areas have a more milder and stable temperature than inland areas. During the day the ocean absorbs heat, keeping coastal areas cooler in the day and at night the ocean releases this heat preventing the area from getting too cold

Question 12

Continentality. Describe lands ability to hold and absorb heat on inland areas

Answer 12

The land has less ability to absorb, transfer and radiate heat energy than the sea so it has a lower heat capacity. So in the summer the ground heats up faster making it warmer but in winter and at night inland areas are cooler than coastal areas

Question 13

What is altitude

Answer 13

Altitude refers to the height above sea level

Question 14

Altitude. What happens with increasing height

Answer 14

Temp decreases with height 1 degrees every 100m this is called the lapse rate