Download Distance from the equator

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Distance from the equator
Ocean currents
Distance from the sea
Aspect
Orientation of mountain ranges
Altitude
Distance from the equator
TITLTED RAYS
VERTICAL RAYS
• The hottest place on the earth's surface at the equator.
• Equatorial regions receive more sunlight and heat energy.
– Smaller surface that receive the heat.
– Sun rays more vertically
• The coldest place on the earth's surface, the poles. Polar regions
receive relatively less sunlight and heat energy.
– Larger surface to heat.
– sun rays are more diagonally.
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Thus:
– With change in latitude temperature decreases towards the poles.
– The further one moves from the equator to the poles the greater
the temperature range between summer and winter is.
Ocean Currents
HOT
AGHULAS
CURRENT
COLD BENGUALA
CURRENT
HOT MOZAMBIQUE
CURRENT
• Ocean currents can influence the temperature of a
particular place.
• Next to the east coast of South Africa flow two
warm currents; Mozambique and Aghulas currents.
– The currents help the ocean to keep warm, so that
winds that blow over this ocean to the land, be warm
and humid.
– Keep temperature high.
– Promote air circulation.
– Facilitate the arrival of rain carrying clouds from the
east.
• Next to the west coast of South Africa, flows the
cold Benguel current.
– The ocean current helps to keep the ocean cool, and winds
blowing across the ocean to the land, is cold and dry.
– Chill temperature remarkably
– Making a contribution to the drought and stability of air
masses (less rain)
EAST COAST
WEST COAST
DISTANCE FROM THE SEA
• Near the sea
- Smaller temperature difference between winter
and summer.
– Smaller temperature difference between Maximum and
minimum
• Far from the sea
- Larger temperature difference between winter
and summer
– Larger temperature difference between Maximum and
minimum
ASPECT
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
LESS HEATING
LESS HEATING, GREATER Area
GREATER Area
VERY HEATING, SMALLER Area /
SMALLER Area, KLEINER OPPV
• Overhead rays of the sun is always between the Tropic of Cancer
and Tropic of Capricorn.
• Sun will always shine from the north in places located south of the
Tropic of Capricorn.
• Sun wil always shine from the south to places located north of the
Tropic of Cancer.
• Southern Hemisphere: mountain slopes pointing North is warmer
than mountain slopes pointing South.
• Northern hemisphere: mountain slopes pointing South is warmer
than mountain slopes pointing North.
• Local example. The Magaliesberg's northern
mountain slope is warmer than the southern slope,
so it is one of the factors that affect our
temperature north of the mountain.
ORIENTATION OF MOUNTAIN RANGES
Mountain ranges that stretch from west to east, prevents the
cold winds in winter and prevent the cold air reaching some
places. Eg. Alps
• Mountain ranges stretching from North to South, in
the Winter lets cold winds through to reach areas
further South. Eg. Rocky Mountains
Altitude
• Solar radiation will begin heating the land and
oceans when it hits the Earth's surface. Once the
land and oceans is heated, heat transfers to the air
directly above the soil surface. Air is thus heated.
Heat is not transferred evenly. There are more air
molecules concentrated in the air near the Earth's
surface. The gases in the air absorb heat at this level
and the transfer of heat is easy. Air is thinner at
higher altitudes. This means there are fewer air
molecules. Heat transfer is less efficient, so
temperatures are cooler at higher altitudes.