Climates

• Factors that influence global climates

  • Latitude
  • Distance from the sea
  • Prevailing winds and air masses
• Latitude


  The distance of a place north or south of the equator, measured as an angle in degrees
• Areas closer to the equator

  Are warmer because the sun's energy is greatest at the equator
• The further you travel from the equator

  The cooler it gets because the sun's rays are at an angle to the Earth's surface
• Distance from the sea

  The sea takes longer to heat up and cool than land, so areas close to the sea have cooler summers and milder winters than areas far away
• Prevailing winds that influence Ireland's climate

  • South-westerly
  • Northerly and polar
  • Southerly
  • Easterly
• South-westerly winds

  • Mild in winter, cooler in summer, absorb moisture and often bring precipitation
• Northerly and polar winds

  • Cold, can bring snow in winter
• Southerly winds


  • Warm, lose moisture as they travel away from the equator so may bring some rainfall
• Easterly winds


  • Warm in summer, cold in winter, dry because they travel over land
• It is possible to find variations of climate within a region due to local factors
• Aspect


  The direction a slope faces in relation to the sun
• South-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere


  Are warmer than north-facing slopes
• Altitude


  The height of an area above sea level
• As altitude increases

  Temperature decreases
• Upland areas are more exposed to wind and experience more rain than lowland areas
• Factors that influence climate globally

  • Latitude
  • Distance from the sea
  • Prevailing winds and air masses
• Factors that influence climate locally

  • Aspect
  • Altitude
• The higher a place is above sea level, the colder it is because the air is thinner and holds less heat</b>
• Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area
• The three broad climatic zones

  • Hot climates
  • Temperate climates
  • Cold climates
• Hot climatic zones

  • Equatorial climate
  • Savannah climate
  • Hot desert climate
• Temperate climatic zones


  • Cool temperate oceanic climate
  • Warm temperate oceanic climate
• Cold climate zones


  • Boreal climate
  • Tundra climate
• Each climatic zone contains a number of natural regions where the climate, vegetation, wildlife and human activities are similar
• Ireland has a cool temperate oceanic climate
• Factors influencing Ireland's climate

  • Latitude
  • Distance from the sea
  • Atlantic ocean currents
  • Prevailing winds
• Areas close to the sea


  Are cooler in summer and warmer in winter than inland areas
• North Atlantic Drift


  A warm ocean current that keeps Ireland's temperatures warmer and influences rainfall
• Ireland's prevailing winds are south-westerly, which contribute to the high rainfall on the west coast
• Distance from the sea

  Areas close to the sea are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than inland areas
• The average January temperature in Cork is 6 °C. Berlin, which is at the same latitude, the average January temperature is 0 °C.
• Ocean currents


  They are caused by the unequal heating of the Earth. There are only two types of ocean currents-warm currents flowing from the equator and cold currents flowing from the poles.
• North Atlantic Drift

  A warm current from the Gulf of Mexico that keeps our temperatures warmer and influences rainfall
• Prevailing winds


  Ireland's prevailing winds are south-westerly. They bring warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean and contribute to the high amount of rainfall we experience in Ireland, especially in the mountainous areas of the west coast
• Current that flows along the west coast of Ireland

  North Atlantic Drift
• Ireland's prevailing wind is south-westerly
• The west coast of Ireland gets more rainfall than the east coast

  It is closer to the warm North Atlantic Drift current
• How currents affect climates

  Currents that flow along coasts can keep temperatures warmer and influence rainfall patterns
• Factors influencing Ireland's cool temperate oceanic climate

  • Distance from the sea
  • Ocean currents
  • Prevailing winds