factors affecting temperatures

• latitude


  as you travel towards the poles from the equator latitude increases. as latitude increases temperature falls. there are 2 reasons:

  • the sun's rays have a greater distance to travel to the poles compared to the equators, so heat is lost on the way.
  • due to the curvature of the earth as you travel towards the poles, the sun's rays are spread over a wider area making the temperatures colder.
• altitude

  for every 100 metres you climb in altitude the temperature drops by 1 degrees.
• aspect 


  slopes that face north in the northern hemisphere never face the sun, so are colder than south facing slopes that do face the sun.
• distance from the sea

  in winter the sea releases heat it has stored up from the summer. this means coastal areas in winter are warmer than inland areas due to 'warm' sea breezes. this helps explain why coastal schools rarely close due to snow, whereas inland schools do.

  in summer land heats up quicker than the sea. this means inland areas in summer are warmer than coastal areas as the breeze that blow off the sea feels cooler in comparison