CLIMATE II 

CONTENT

1. Climatic Factors
2. Types of Climate
3. Characteristics of Climate Types       
4. Geography Distribution of Climate Types

Climate Factors

Climate varies from one part of the world to another due to the effects of the following factors:

1. Latitude

Latitude here refers to the location of a place in question on the surface of the earth in relation to the equator. The altitude of the midday sun is always high in the tropics and hence temperatures are always high. Outside the tropics the altitude is lower and temperatures are correspondingly lower. In general, temperatures decrease from the equator to the poles. Equatorial regions also have a more constant or equable climate because the sun is always near. On the contrary, there is a much greater seasonal variation at the temperate regions and the poles where the sun is near at one season and far away at another.

2. Altitude and Relief

Generally, the higher we go, the cooler it becomes. Therefore the top of plateaux and mountains is usually cooler than their surrounding plains.