Lecture Notes: Factors Affecting Climate

Introduction

Topic: Factors affecting the climate
Learning Objective: Explain how different factors affect the climate of an area.

Weather: Condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time.
- Example: A sunny day when you wake up in the morning.
- Changes frequently, can be measured daily.
Climate: General pattern of weather over a long period (e.g., 30 years).
- Example: Average weather conditions in a region over decades.

Temperature
- Defined as degrees of hotness or coldness.
- Affected by solar radiation; measured with a thermometer.
Wind
- Movement of air; measured with a wind vane (direction) and anemometer (speed).
Air Pressure
- Force by the weight of air; measured with a barometer.
Humidity
- Amount of water vapor; measured with a hygrometer.
Precipitation
- Water falling from the atmosphere (rain, snow, hail); measured with a rain gauge.

Latitude
- Distance from the equator; affects climatic zones (tropical, temperate, polar).
- Lower latitudes (near equator) have higher temperatures.
- Higher latitudes (far from equator) have lower temperatures.
Altitude
- Height above sea level; higher altitudes have colder climates.
- Example: Baguio City in Philippines, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
Bodies of Water
- Influence the climate due to proximity; coastal areas have more moderate climates.
- Example: British Isles vs. Moscow.
Topography
- Features like mountains can cause rain shadows on leeward sides.
- Windward side receives more precipitation.
Ocean Currents
- Warm currents increase temperature, cold currents decrease it.
- Influence coastal climate based on the temperature of the water they carry.

Key Climate Factors: Latitude, altitude, bodies of water, topography, ocean currents.
Recommendations: Check previous lessons for more context; stay updated with the channel for future lessons.