Factors Influencing Temperature Essay
Temperature is one of the weather elements and measures the degree of hotness and coldness in a place. The temperature of a place is affected by a number of factors such as latitudinal location, seasonal variations, albedo of the place, contrasts between land and sea and elevation. Latitudinal location has the strongest influence on the climatic conditions on a macro/global scale. The rest of the factors then serves to modify these influences and are secondary, operating at a smaller scale.
Latitude affects the temperature of a place as it affects the amount of insolation received by the location. Latitude refers to the location of a place in terms of distance(in degrees) to the north and south of the equator. Higher amount of incoming short wave radiation(SWR) received will lead to higher amount of outgoing longwave radiation (LWR) released and higher temperature. Places are close to the equator(lower latitudes) receive more insolation than areas closer to the poles(higher latitudes). For example, comparing the city of Singapore to Harbin(China), Singapore is located near the equator (1˚N) and Harbin is located at higher latitudes of (45˚N). At 27.5˚C, Singapore has a higher mean annual temperature than Harbin (3.6˚C). Thus, latitude is an important factor in influencing the temperature of a place because it determines the amount of SWR received from the sun.
P (Relationship between factor and temperature + Definition) * Distance from sea affects temp of a place as it affects amt of heat gained & lost by the location. * It is the difference in the rate of heating & cooling of the land & sea. The ability of an area to gain heat faster will lead to high temp while the ability of an area to lose heat faster will result in lower temp.
E (Explain) * Water gains and loses heat more slowly, thus it exerts a moderating influence on the temp of places nearer to the sea. Coastal areas will be under maritime influence, which leads cooler
Latitude affects the temperature of a place as it affects the amount of insolation received by the location. Latitude refers to the location of a place in terms of distance(in degrees) to the north and south of the equator. Higher amount of incoming short wave radiation(SWR) received will lead to higher amount of outgoing longwave radiation (LWR) released and higher temperature. Places are close to the equator(lower latitudes) receive more insolation than areas closer to the poles(higher latitudes). For example, comparing the city of Singapore to Harbin(China), Singapore is located near the equator (1˚N) and Harbin is located at higher latitudes of (45˚N). At 27.5˚C, Singapore has a higher mean annual temperature than Harbin (3.6˚C). Thus, latitude is an important factor in influencing the temperature of a place because it determines the amount of SWR received from the sun.
P (Relationship between factor and temperature + Definition) * Distance from sea affects temp of a place as it affects amt of heat gained & lost by the location. * It is the difference in the rate of heating & cooling of the land & sea. The ability of an area to gain heat faster will lead to high temp while the ability of an area to lose heat faster will result in lower temp.
E (Explain) * Water gains and loses heat more slowly, thus it exerts a moderating influence on the temp of places nearer to the sea. Coastal areas will be under maritime influence, which leads cooler