Factors that Affect Climate- Social Studies Pd. 1

What are the 6 factors that affect climate?

Answer explanation

Latitude, winds, ocean currents, proximity to water, elevation, and mountains

How does latitude affect climate?

Answer explanation

Places with latitudes closer to the Equator have hotter climates. Places with latitudes closer to the Poles have colder climates. This happens because the Sun's rays hit them more or less directly.

How do winds affect climate?

Answer explanation

Winds move the Sun's heat across Earth's surface.

How do ocean currents affect climate?

Answer explanation

Warm and cool currents change temperatures where they meet land. Warm currents flow towards the poles, cool, and flow back to the Equator to be warmed again.

How does proximity (nearness) to water affect climate?

Answer explanation

The colder the water, the colder the climate. The hotter the water, the hotter the climate.

How does elevation affect climate?

Answer explanation

Higher elevation has colder temperatures. That's why Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is in Africa, can have snow at its peak even when the temperature at its base is 90 degrees. For every 100 feet you go above sea level, the temperature drops about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do mountains affect climate?

Answer explanation

The windward side of a mountain (wind-facing slope) is wetter than the leeward side which is drier because it receives no rain. The windward side has the wet winds go up it and deposit their precipitation, and by the time they reach the windward side they are dry.