Latitude of the Place
- The temperature of a place depends upon the solar radiation received.
- The insolation varies according to the latitude, so the temperature also varies accordingly.
- The solar radiations pass vertically along the equator.
- The angle of incidence decreases from the equator towards the poles.
- The area heated by the solar radiation increases towards the poles, therefore temperature decreases from the equator to the poles.
Altitude of the Place
- The temperature decreases with the increase in height.
- The vertical decrease in temperature of the troposphere is called the “normal lapse rate” or “vertical temperature gradient”.
- The temperature reduces at the rate of 6.5°C per km of ascent.
Distance from the Sea
- The location of a place with respect to the sea also influences the temperature of a place.
- The variation of temperature over the sea is less compared to the land because the land heats up and cools down quickly, while the sea gets heated up slowly and also loses heat slowly.
- The places near the sea come under the moderating influence of the sea and land breezes which moderate the temperature.
Air Mass
- The places which come under the influence of warm air masses experience higher temperatures and the places that come under the influence of cold air masses experience low temperatures.
Ocean Currents
- The places located on the coast where the warm ocean currents flow experience higher temperatures than the places located on the coast where the cold currents flow.
