Factors that Influence Climate
Climate is determined by the temperature and precipitation characteristics of a region over long
periods of time. Climate is an average of all of the daily weather phenomena for a region based on
a large number of factors including latitude, elevation, ocean currents, proximity to mountain
ranges, prevailing winds, etc.
The temperature and precipitation characteristics of a region remain relatively unchanged for
thousands of years. Changes in climate are very gradual. Various years throughout history may
be noted for being particularly hot, cold, wet or dry, but when many years are considered, these
wild fluctuations in climate combine with many relatively normal years to develop a picture of the
average climate characteristics of a region over time.
Objectives:


To identify the factors that affect the climate of a region
To identify and analyze the effects the various factors have on the climate of a hypothetical
region.
Important terms: climate; latitude; windward; leeward; elevation; altitude; precipitation; prevailing winds,
global winds, mountain breeze, valley breeze, sea breeze, land breeze, orographic lifting, rain shadow
effect
Procedures:
1. Review the table entitled “Factors that Influence Climate”.
2. Understand the application of important terms above in climate.
3. Use the table of factors to answer questions about the imaginary continent in this packet. Note:
a)
b)
c)
d)
The continent is surrounded by water.
The arrows represent the direction of the prevailing winds.
Two large mountain ranges are indicated by ^ symbols.
Points A, B and E are at sea level. C and D are in the foothills of the mountains; F is high in the
mountains.
4. Use the internet to find cities in similar locations on our planet. Give the name of the city, its continent,
latitude and longitude coordinates, along with a description of the climate and specific factors in that
location that affect the climate.
Analysis and Comprehension
1. What is the direction of the wind in the region above and below 60̊ N and S. latitudes?
2. What is the direction of the wind between 60̊ and 30̊ N and S latitude?
3. What is the direction of the wind between 30̊ N and S and the equator?
4. What could be the reason for the change in wind directions?
5. Give the locations of the 2 mountain ranges including latitude ranges, cardinal directions and
descriptions of windward and leeward sides of the continent.
6. Which city on the imaginary continent probably has the same type of weather year round? Why?
a. Use the internet to find a real city in a similar location on the globe.
City name:
Latitude and Longitude coordinates:
Continent:
Climate:
Factors that affect its climate:
7. What factor would cause location F to have colder yearly climate than any other location? Why?
a. Use the internet to find a real city in a similar location on the globe.
City name:
Latitude and Longitude coordinates:
Continent:
Climate:
Factors that affect its climate:
8. What three factors would cause location E to have the greatest annual rainfall?
a. Use the internet to find a real city in a similar location on the globe.
City name:
Latitude and Longitude coordinates: ___________________________
Continent: _____________________
Climate: ____________________________________________________
Factors that affect its climate:
9. Which location, C or D, would you expect to have the greater annual rainfall?
Why?
10. Which location, A or B, would you expect to have the greater range in temperatures during the year?
Explain your answer.
11. Location A is the center of a large desert. What factor could account for its low annual precipitation?
a. Find a city in the U.S. that experiences that same climate due to the same factors. What is the
name of the city and the state?
b. What are the geographical features that affect its climate?
12. What three factors would cause the climate in location D to be cooler than at location B?
a. Find two cities in the U.S. that experiences that same climates D and B due to the same
factors. What is the name of the cities and the states they are found in?
b. What are the geographical features that affect their respective climates?
13. Imagine that this is an El Niño year and this imaginary continent was in the Western Hemisphere.
Explain how the climate would change and why the changes would occur.
14. Imagine this is an El Niño year and this imaginary continent was in the Eastern Hemisphere. Explain
how the climate would be change and why the changes would occur.
15. Imagine this is a La Niña year and this imaginary continent was in the Western Hemisphere. Explain
how the climate would change and why the changes occur.
16. Imagine this is a La Niña year and this imaginary continent was in the Eastern Hemisphere. Explain
how the climate would be change and why the changes would occur.
Factors that Affect Climate:
Temperature
Precipitation
Latitude
As latitude increases, the average yearly
Belts of low pressure at 0̊ and 60̊N and S
temperature decreases
produce heavy precipitation. Belts of high
pressure at 30̊ N and S produce dry
climates, even deserts
Nearness to centers of large landmasses
Locations near the center of a large
Locations near the center of large land
landmass tend to have wide ranges in
masses tend to have dry climates.
temperatures, between day and night and
seasonally. This is because land heats
and cools faster than water.
Nearness to large bodies of water
Large bodies of water tend to have a
Areas near large bodies of water tend to
moderating effect on the temperatures of
have higher than average precipitation,
coastal areas, producing low ranges in
especially on the leeward side of the
temperature, both between day and night
water.
and seasonally.
Location relative to large mountain ranges
Windward sides are cooled, while
Windward sides of mountains tend to
leeward sides are warmed.
receive higher than average precipitation;
leeward sides tend to receive lower than
average precipitation.
Elevation
As elevation increases, the average
Because air pressure decreases with
yearly temperature decreases
altitude, there tends to be less water
vapor in the air. As a result, precipitation
may decrease seasonally, but will be in
the form of snow.
Ocean Currents
Eastern coastal areas tend to have
Cold ocean currents are claimed to
warmer temperatures, while western
prevent clouds from forming, lowering
coastal areas tend to have cooler
precipitation rates. Warm currents bring
temperatures.
air masses, increasing humidity, which
increases the number of clouds and
hence, precipitation.
Prevailing Winds Direction
Prevailing winds moving from oceans
Wind direction determines windward and
toward land moderate temperatures.
leeward sides of both mountain ranges
Relatively cool summer temps and warm
and larges bodies of water.
winter temps. Winds that originate from
Prevailing winds originating over water
lower latitudes are warm; winds that
are moist, while prevailing winds over
originate from upper latitudes are
land are dry. Winds formed by rising
cool/cold.
warm air bring precipitation; winds formed
by sinking cool air bring dry conditions.