How Climates Are Affected By…

Bodies of Water- Large bodies of water affect the climate by serving as heat sinks. Oceans and other large bodies of water absorb heat during summer months and radiate it back out during the winter, moderating temperatures for nearby land masses. They also carry heat from tropical regions to other areas via currents.

Altitude- Altitude affects climate in that the higher up you get, the more the temperature drops. The temperature goes down roughly 4 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet you climb. Altitude is the subject's distance from the sea. This is why a lot of high-up places such as mountaintops often get snow for most of the year when other places do not, no matter how low the temperature drops.

Latitude- Latitude affects climate by influencing the intensity of the sun in a region. The angle and duration of the sun's energy determine surface temperature so that higher latitudes receive less heat, but lower latitudes closer to the equator receive significantly more heat.

Wind-Winds affect the amount of precipitation received in an area. In contrast to the temporary effects of daily wind shifts, prevailing trade winds have a direct effect on a region's climate.