If you can take a trip around the world studying the climate of different areas, you will notice that there are a lot of different factors that can affect the climate in one way or another. Due to these factors, different parts of the world usually experience or rather have different climates. The patterns are also affected as well.
Among these factors that affect the climate include; ocean currents and the distance from the sea among others. Also, research has shown that some human activities can also lead to climate change.
But, with different impacts in different parts of the world. For instance, it has been found that changes occur rapidly near the poles as compared to most places.
With that being said, let us look at some of the factors that are said to have an impact on the climate. To know more about weather and climate, check out Austin, TX weather radar.
- Distance from the sea
For those who had no idea, the sea usually affects the climate of a given geographical location. Well, coastal areas are always known to be cooler and wetter compared to the inland areas.
For this reason, clouds will always form as the cool air from the sea meets the warm air coming from the inland regions. This often leaves the continent situated at the center with a large range of temperatures.
During the summer, these areas become very hot due to high temperatures and dry air. This is mainly because all the moisture coming from the sea will evaporate even before reaching the landmass at the center
- The ocean currents
If you were really keen during your high school geography lessons then you already know how ocean currents can affect the climate. They can regulate temperatures either by increasing or reducing it.
For those residing in the UK, the ocean current that is usually responsible for climate modification in that region is, the Gulf Stream. This is a warm ocean current that originates from the North Atlantic straight to the British Isles Through the US Coast.
The Gulf of Mexico in the North Atlantic usually has higher air temperatures than the UK since it has close proximity to the equator. This implies that the air coming from that region is also warm as well. However, since it travels over the ocean, the air becomes quite moist. This explains the wet weather experienced in Britain.
The Gulf stream is also responsible for keeping ice away from the west coast of Europe during the winter and keeps the region warm in the summer. See this link if you want to know how to read weather maps https://www.thoughtco.com/symbols-on-weather-maps-3444369
- The direction of the prevailing wind
In geography, you probably also learn about breezes and how they can affect the climate, right? Well, the winds blowing from the sea are always responsible for the rains experienced in the coastal regions.
At the same time, it also causes dry weather in the inland regions. Winds coming from the warm inland regions such as Africa will always be warm and dry as they blow towards Britain. But, winds blowing from the inland areas like central Europe will definitely be dry and much cold during the winter.
The prevailing winds that are frequently experienced in Britain usually come from the south-west direction, just over the Atlantic. The winds are usually cool during the summer and mild during the winter. For this reason, it brings wet weather in the region.
- Land topography
Land topography or relief can also have an impact on the climate. When talking about relief, we usually refer to the mountains and other higher areas in a place. As we all know, the mountain regions always receive more rainfall as compared to the low-lying or the plain regions.
This is because the air is usually forced to go over the higher areas where it cools and condenses back to the ground as rainfall. You’ve definitely heard people talk about the higher you go the cooler it becomes, right?
This always happens because the air gradually becomes thinner with the rise in altitude and therefore cannot retain or absorb any more heat. This explains why you always see snow on the mountain peaks throughout the year. Click here to find out what are some of the factors that can affect weather radar.
- Distance from the equator
As mentioned before, the climate of a region can be affected by how far the region is from the equator. Looking at the poles, you will notice the sun always reaches the surface at lower angles. This also happens after going through a very thick layer of atmosphere at the equator.
For this reason, you will always find that areas that are farther away from the equator tend to have a cooler climate compared to the regions that are close. Also, those living at the poles often experience a large difference when it comes to the day lengths of winter and summer.
If you read about the poles, you will find out that there are days when they experience total darkness for some time during the winter and during the summer, the sun doesn’t even set. In the equator, however, people also experience varying day lengths.
- The El Nino
El Nino happens when the surface water in the pacific gets warmed up irregularly. For the countries around the Pacific Rim, El Nino does play a major role in their climate.
It often affects the rainfall and wind patterns along the region and is always blamed for the floods and droughts in the region.
The atmosphere around this region is always filled with moisture and energy coming from the warmer water. This changes the rainfall and the global wind patterns and is often responsible for causing forest fires, tornadoes, and smog.
Conclusion
As we have seen, there are a lot of factors that can affect the climate of a place. The above factors that have been mentioned affect the climate naturally. However, human activities such as cutting down trees can also be included among the fastest affecting the climate of a place. Other activities include running industries and vehicles which always lead to the emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere. It’s better to conserve the environment and make it better so that the coming generation can also find a better place to live in. Do your part and leave the world a better place.
