thereare6factorsthataffectclimate.youcaneasily.docVIP

There are 6 factors that affect climate. You can easily remember them by using the acronym, L.O.W.E.R.N. These 6 factors can be divided into 2 groups – those that affect climates globally and those that affect climate locally. Latitude Ocean Currents Wind and Air Masses Elevation Relief Nearness to Water Global Climate Factors Latitude The distance a place is located from the equator (degrees North or South) The closer you are to the equator, the hotter it is. As you move away from the equator toward the North and South Poles, temperatures become cooler. This is because the earth’s rounded surface (curvature) causes the sun’s energy to be spread out over larger areas towards the poles. Low angle of incoming sunlight Sunlight directly overhead Low angle of incoming sunlight Ocean Currents Ocean waters travel in paths called currents; some are warm and others are cold. The temperature of an ocean current affects the temperature of the air that passes over it. Warm ocean currents raise the temperature of nearby land, while cold currents lower the temperature. Canada’s west coast is greatly affected by the warm North Pacific Current, creating a mild climate in coastal cities such as Victoria and Vancouver. Canada’s east coast is greatly affected by the cold Labrador Current and warm Gulf Stream. The meeting of these two currents often results in damp and foggy conditions – dangerous to ships and freighters. Local Climate Factors Elevation The height above the earth’s surface (or altitude). Mountains influence climate because the higher you go up, the colder the climate is. In dry air, the temperature decreases at a rate of 1(C/100m, and in moist air at a rate of 0.6(/100m. Relief The difference in the height of an area of the earth’s surface. Air condenses as it rises up a mountainside. This causes relief precipitation. The windward side of a mountain receives a lot of precipitation, while the leeward