SASS EGeog Weather & Climate Gateway 1

SASS Geography Notes Variable Weather and Changing Climate 1 Geography Variable Weather and Changing Climate Gateway 1: Why do different places experience different weather and climate? A. What is the difference between weather and climate? B. What are the elements of weather? C. What are the climatic types and where are they experienced? A. What is the difference between weather and climate? Weather is the condition of atmosphere at a particular place and particular time. Climate is the average condition of the atmosphere of a particular place over a long period of time, usually 30 years. B. What are the elements of weather? The elements are: 1. Temperature, 2. Relative humidity, 3. Clouds, 4. Rainfall, 5. Air pressure 6. Wind. 1. Temperature - The degree of hotness or coldness of a place in the atmosphere (temperature of the air) - Can be measured in oC (Celsius) or oF (Fahrenheit) - Air is warmed by means of radiation, conduction and convection

SASS Geography Notes Variable Weather and Changing Climate 2 Therefore, the nearer the Equator, the higher the temperatures. The further from the Equator, the lower the temperatures. The South Pole is completely shielded from the sun’s rays and experiences months of darkness without sunlight. As the solar angle is high at the area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, heat from the sun is concentrated on a small area. Temperatures are higher at lower latitudes such as the tropics, which is located between 23.5°N and S of the Equator Temperatures are lower at higher latitudes because the solar angle is lower, which means that rays strike at a lower angle and the solar energy is spread out over a wider area. During summer in the northern hemisphere, the North Pole is completely exposed to the sun’s ray due to the tilt of the earth. This results in the North Pole experiencing months of sunlight. Factors influencing temperature at different locations are 1.1. Latitude – the most important factor affecting temperature 1.2. Altitude – affects temperature of highland 1.3. Distance from the sea – summer temp, winter temp. Overall annual temperature range 1.4. Cloud cover – diurnal temperature range • Latitiude: Distance of any point on the earth measured north or south from the Equator. • Imaginary horizontal lines east to west of Equator. • Equator is at a latitude of 0° ➢ North Pole is 90°N. ➢ South Pole is 90°S. • For example: ➢ Singapore at 1°N experiences summer whole year round with temperature between 23 to 34°C and a temperature range of 11 °C while North pole at 90°N experiences long and cold winters, short and cool summers with temperature between -40 to 10°C and a temperature range of 50 °C *Latitude is the most important factor affecting temperature!* • Altitude: the height of a place in relation to sea level. • There is a general decrease of 6.5°C for every 1,000 m increase in altitude. This