What are the climatic controls? Explain
Answers
What are the six major controls of the climate of the world?
- Latitude: Due to the round shape of the Earth, the amount of solar energy received varies according to latitude. As a result, air temperature decreases from the equator towards the poles.
- Altitude: As one moves up to the higher altitudes, the atmosphere becomes less dense and temperature decreases. Therefore, hills are the cooler during summers.
- Pressure and winds: Pressure and wind system of an area depend on the latitude and altitude of the place. Thus, it influences the temperature and rainfall pattern.
- Distance from the sea: If the region is close to the sea, it makes the temperature moderate but if it is away from the sea, it experiences extreme weather conditions.
- Ocean currents: Ocean currents alongwith the onshore winds affect the climate of a coastal area. Any coastal area with warm or cold currents flowing past it, will become warm or cold if the winds are onshore.
- Relief: High mountains act as barriers for cold and hot winds. They may also cause precipitation if they lie in the path of rain-bearing winds. The leeward side of mountains remains dry, whereas the windward side is able to receive rain.
Answer:
The factors affecting the climate of a place are referred to as controls and are latitude, altitude, pressure and wind system, distance from the sea, ocean currents, and relief features.
Altitude is another factor controlling the climate of a place. Altitude refers to the height a place above sea level. The higher one travels into the troposphere, the lower the temperature becomes. The rate at which the temperature drops is known as the lapse rate.
The variations in air temperature control the pressure and wind system of a place. Warm air rises, creating low pressure areas, while cold air sinks, creating high pressure areas. As a result, winds blow outward from a high pressure location towards lower pressures.
The differences in air pressures near the equator and the poles are the main factors that influence global pressure and wind systems. In India, the Tropic of Cancer passes through the central part of the country, from the Rann of Kutch in the west to Mizoram in the east. India has both tropical and subtropical climates.
The distance of a place from the sea is another important factor that regulates the climate of a place.
As the distance from the sea increases the weather conditions become extreme. Places away from the sea have very hot summers and very cold winters. This condition is known as continentality.
Another important control of climate is the circulation of water and air. The air in the atmosphere and the water in the oceans are in constant motion, distributing heat around the world in regular patterns.
Warm air and water move towards the poles, while cool air and water move towards the equator.
Another major control of climate is the relief of a place. Mountains often act as natural barriers for wind and moisture, affecting the climate of the areas around it.