ROBERT SCOTT 8.A1 GEOGRAPHY.

WHAT FACTORS AFFECT TEMPERATURES

ACROSS THE WORLD?

Many factors affect temperatures on different scales. The main factors affecting

the Earth's temperature on a global scale are the Sun, the seasons, air and sea currents, and

latitude. These factors are still important on a smaller scale, even in micro-climates.

There can also be other important factors, such as altitude, land masses, surface

characteristics, aspect, cloud cover and artificially generated heat. These factors affect

temperatures on a more local scale. For example in a house, if the central heating is on,

the house will be warmer. In addition, the Earth's temperature is being affected by global

warming, and the increase of greenhouse gases.

The Sun is obviously the most important factor affecting temperature globally, and

at other levels. It provides the vital heat source, without which we could not survive. The

Sun's rays heat the Earth by a form of heat transfer known as radiation: during the day heat

from the Sun's rays is absorbed by the Earth. When it is cloudy or at night, it is colder
than when the Sun is shining. The heat from the Sun's rays is absorbed by the clouds,

instead of by the land, so it is cooler on the ground.

Night occurs on the far side of the planet from the Sun,as the Earth spins on its

axis. At night, the heat absorbed by the land sometimes the Northern Hemisphere is tilted

towards the Sun; and sometimes the Southern

Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. This

results in the seasons, which are periods of

different weather patterns throughout the year.

However, at the Equator, at 0 ° latitude, for

example, in Equador, the seasons tend to merge.

This is because there is little change in position

relative to the Sun: the Equator is equidistant from the Sun throughout the year. Different

parts of the world get different amounts of sunlight: further away from the Equator,

temperatures are lower.

In areas at higher latitudes, such

as the North and South Poles, the Sun's

rays have a lot further, and a lot more

atmosphere, to travel through. In the

atmosphere, there are tiny dust particles

which reflect the light. When there are

more of these (1/b), more light is

reflected away from the Earth's surface.

At the Equator (1/a), there is less atmosphere for the Sun's rays to travel through, so more

heat is absorbed by the Earth. Also, light rays at the Equator (2/a), have a smaller area to

spread their warmth, and are therefore more concentrated. At the Poles (2/b), there is a lot
more area to cover.

The Earth's temperatures are also greatly affected by world-wide systems of

winds, which carry warm and cold air across the planet. At the Equator, air is warmed by

the high levels of radiation. This warm air rises and flows away from the Equator at high

altitudes. Colder, denser air flows across the surface from the Poles towards the Equator.

This is a form of heat transfer known as convection. These air masses warm up or cool

down the land they pass over. Warm air from the sea can hold a lot of moisture, forming

large clouds which block out the sun.

The sea also greatly affects global temperatures. Whereas the land heats up and

cools down relatively quickly, the sea changes temperature slowly. Because the sea makes

up about 70% of the Earth's surface, it has a great influence on global temperatures. The

sea's currents ferry cool and warm water around the Earth. This is another example of the

process of convection. The major surface currents in the world's oceans are caused by

prevailing winds.

Some of the main warm currents are the Gulf Stream, going north east from the

Caribbean, the Agulhas flowing down the east coast of Africa and the Kuroshio, travelling
up the Japanese coast. All of these warmer currents are moving from equatorial regions.

Colder currents such as the Labrador current, which flows down past Canada, generally

come from the Poles. These currents either warm up or cool down the land masses they

come in contact with.

Other factors which have a minimal impact on global temperatures include

altitude (mountain ranges or large areas of flat land), air pressure, land surface (structure

and colour) and the phenomenon of global warming. Factors such as the Sun and seasons

and sea and air currents, which have an impact on global temperatures, must also affect the

temperatures of continents, countries, and even cities and towns.

Altitude has a big effect on the temperature of continents such as Europe, Asia

and the Americas, which have some of the world's tallest mountains. Mountains divert

warm or cold winds, forcing air upwards. This results in relief rainfall, especially if the

wind has come from over the sea. Relief rainfall is caused when warm moist air

encounters an obstacle and is forced up above dew point. The water condenses and clouds

form. These block sunlight and it is cooler beneath them.

Also on the top of mountains, at high altitudes, it is a lot colder – stronger winds,

more clouds and less artificially generated heat help create this effect. For example,

Cayambe, a 5790m volcano in Equador, has a permanent snowcap, even though it is on the

Equator.

However, in general, latitude does affect the temperatures of continents quite

noticeably. The far north or the far south is much colder than near the Equator. The

continent with the most marked difference in latitude is Asia, which spans from south of

the Equator all the way to the North Pole. For example, Cape Chelyuskin in Siberia,

which is at 77°43' North, has an annual average temperature of -15°. Thousands of miles
further south, Palawan, in the Philippines, at latitude 10°00' North has an annual average

temperature of 26.5°C.

The sea temperature affects continents as well. The sea warms up and cools down

more slowly than the land, thereby moderating temperature changes all round the coasts of

continents.

Air currents also affect continental temperatures. They carry warm or cold air

across the continent, warming or cooling the land they pass over, and sometimes forming

clouds.

These factors – the Sun, wind, sea, latitude,and altitude all affect temperatures of

individual countries. For example, in the northern hemisphere, a country just north of an

mountain will get colder weather. This is because the mountains block the warm

equatorial wind. Countries to the south will be warmer, as the mountains block cold

weather blowing from the north. Those southerly countries would also be quite wet as

they would get both relief and convectional rainfall.

In Britain there are four main temperature regions – the southeast is warm and dry;

the northeast is cold and dry; the northwest is cold and wet; and the southwest is warm and

wet. This is largely due to three factors – air masses (winds) , latitude, and sea currents.

Britain is affected by four main air masses: Polar maritime (Pm), which is cold,

and, because it has come from across the Sea, moist; Polar continental (Pc), which is cold

and dry; Tropical maritime (Tm), which is warm and very wet, because warm air holds

more moisture than cold air; and Tropical continental (Tc), which brings heat waves from

the Sahara.

The British Isles lie between 50° and 60° North. This latitude results in very

distinct seasons and significant change in day length between summer and winter.
However, parts of Canada are also in the same latitude as Britain, but they experience

much colder weather. This is due to sea currents. The warm Gulf Stream current transfers

warm tropical waters into higher latitudes, increasing temperatures in England, while the

Labrador current brings cold polar water to the coast of Canada.

Australia has a unique climate due to its positioning, shape, and size. Because it is

such a large country, temperatures vary enormously from the north (at latitude 12° south)

to the south (at latitude 42° south).

In the north there are subtropical regions, which have a wet season and a dry

season. The wet season is extremely hot because the high levels of atmospheric water

vapour trap the heat. Central Australia is hot and dry. These arid regions lie between 15°

and 35° latitude, as do most deserts. During the daytime, in the desert, temperatures rise to
40°C or above, as the red soil and rocks absorb all the heat from the Sun's rays. At night,

temperatures drop to freezing, as the warmth radiates straight back out to space: there is no

moisture in the air to hold the heat. Inland from the east coast lie the highest mountains.

Relief rainfall forms along the mountain ranges, and clouds which block out lots of the

Sun's rays. Around the coasts of Australia it is colder , due to the proximity of the sea. On

the south east coast of Australia it is cold and wet, as both cold sea currents and cold air

currents from the arctic hit the coast there. As well as these factors, it is so much further

south that the weather changes considerably due to latitude. The Sun has to travel through

much more atmosphere, bouncing off tiny particles and losing energy.

In total, 97 % 1 of the population of Australia live in just 30 % of the land, because

high temperatures and lack of water make habitation difficult or impossible inland.

Factors which may have a minimal impact on a global scale an have a far greater

effect locally. A small region with a particular climate is called a micro-climate. There

are millions of microclimates in the world: Cambridge is a micro-climate; a house is a

micro-climate; two places right next to each other can have a different micro-climate.

Cities have a particular micro-climate; temperatures are affected by by many

factors. Trees use up heat energy through evapotranspiration, which results in cooler

temperatures. However, cities tend to have fewer trees, so less cooling takes place. On

the other hand, urban areas do have more surfaces such as tarmac and buildings, which

absorb lots more heat. These factors combine to push up temperatures in built up areas.

Population density is another important factor : bodies radiate heat. High

population density is also linked to high use of computers, fridges, and other electronic

appliances which radiate heat. Underground train systems also generate heat. The large

numbers of people generate higher levels of water vapour. This condenses above the city,
forming cloud cover and trapping heat. Smog creates another large impact, especially in

industrial cities such as Bradford. Smog blocks out rays of sunlight, and stops warmth

escaping overnight. Consequently, urban areas with lots of smog tend to have cooler days

and warmer nights than the surrounding countryside. The warmer area directly over the

centre of a city is called a heat island.

Another interesting micro-

climate is a house, where even the

slightest changes, such as having

the central heating on, can make a

big difference. In the winter, in a

house, not only a room with the

heating on, but the rooms around it will be warmer, as the heat is transferred about the

house. If a house has for instance, nine rooms, with the heating on in three, it will warm

the entire house. Population density (on a smaller scale) affects house temperatures as

well. If there are many people in the house, their bodies will radiate more heat into the

surrounding atmosphere.

The impact of external features, such as the Sun and the wind, depend on the

positioning of the house.

Positioning of the house

affects the temperature for

many reasons. If the house is

next to others, in a city, it will

be warmer than one in the

countryside. Its positioning

affects how much direct sunlight it receives. Houses with two large sides facing the Sun

have a warmer temperature. The wind can carry warm or cold air into the house, and

could blow rain onto the house if there is no shelter. Other external factors, such as

surface texture and colour will affect how much heat is absorbed by the building.

Global warming is an ongoing factor. The Sun emits energy, which travels to the

Earth, warming the surface. This energy radiates back out to space but some is trapped by

gases in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm. This is known as the greenhouse effect.

Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Natural

phenomena can contribute to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. For example,

erupting volcanoes spew carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as ash into the atmosphere.

But man made gases are increasing, concentrating the greenhouse effect. This is

warming up the planet. There are many causes for this.

CO2 is released through the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used in
factories, airplanes, and other motorized vehicles. Airplanes produce over 3 % of all CO2

emissions in the atmosphere. Since 1765, CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has

increased by 27 % 2.

Methane (CH4) comes from modern farming methods and landfill sites. High

levels of CH4 are generated by rice fields, and in the gut of cows and sheep. CH4

concentration has risen by over 100 % since 1765! 2

Nitrous Oxide (NO4) comes from the production of fertilizers and nylon, and from

the burning of fossil fuels.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFOs) are used in air fresheners and aerosols. Even though

they have a very small concentration in the atmosphere, their effect is significant because

they trap more radiation than other greenhouse gases.

Climate change is having a huge impact on the Earth. Ice caps are melting,

causing rising sea levels. At first the cold water will bring colder winters to lower

latitudes, but then the Earth may warm up more and many places will become infertile.

Because of this, efforts are being made to reduce global warming. Many countries have

initiated cleanup projects, and are working to recycle CO2 emissions. With a little luck

and a lot of effort we may be able to reduce the effect of global warming.

In conclusion, although many factors affect the Earth, some are definitely more

important than others. The sun is the most important factor. How the sun affects us is

affected by the rotation of the Earth, latitude, and cloud cover. Cloud cover is affected by

the wind, another important factor, and the wind is effected by what it has passed over,

and by altitude. Mountains redirect wind, or force it up to form clouds. If the wind has

passed over a warm sea, it will be warm and wet, and if it has passed over a cold land

mass, it will be cold and dry. The seas have a huge impact on the land masses. Minor
factors, such as population density, can have a big impact in smaller areas. And all of these

factors are affected to some extent by global warming.

References:

1. www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian_deserts.

2. Ace Information Programme, Weather and Climate Teaching Pack KS4 , Lesson 12.3

geog.2 Gallagher and Parish Oxford 2005

www.metoffice.gov.uk.

www.bom.gov.au.

www.en.wikipedia.org

www.physicalgeography.net