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CCEA
Factors affecting climate CCEA
Factors affecting climate
The climate of a place will be different when compared to
another. The reasons for these differences can be quite
complex but there are some general factors that can be
identified as affecting climate.
Part of Geography
Weather and climate
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What factors affect climate?
Factors affecting climate
Factors affecting climate
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3. Altitude or height above sea level - Locations at a higher altitude have
colder temperatures. Temperature usually decreases by 1°C for every 100
metres in altitude. This is because air at higher altitudes is thinner with less
molecules, which makes it very difficult for heat to be transferred between the
molecules as they are further apart.
In summer, latitude is the main factor influencing UK climate because the
Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, which means the UK is closer
to the Sun and therefore, the solar radiation is more directly overhead and
more intense.
However, in winter the UK is tilted away from the Sun, which means it has less
influence. The prevailing winds blowing across the North Atlantic Drift ocean
current have more influence in making the UK warmer than other places on
the same latitude.
4. Distance from the sea – Oceans heat up and cool down much more slowly
than land. This means that coastal locations tend to be cooler in summer and
warmer in winter than places inland at the same latitude and altitude.
Glasgow, for example, is at a similar latitude to Moscow, but is much milder in
winter because it is nearer to the coast than Moscow.
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Weather and climate - CCEA
Weather systems - CCEA
Extreme weather - CCEA
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