Barrons AP Environmental Science

nearer to the poles and are consequently much warmer. These latitudinal
differences in surface temperature create global-scale flows of energy within the
atmosphere, giving rise to the major weather patterns of the world. Without
convection and the transfer of energy, the equator would be about 27°F (15°C)
warmer and the Arctic would be about 45°F (25°C) colder than they actually are.

TIP

Several different   factors influence   climate:

•   Air mass

•   Albedo

•   Altitude

•   Angle   of  sunlight

•   Carbon  cycle

•   Clouds

•   Distance    to  oceans

•   Fronts

•   Greenhouse  effect

•   Heat

•   Human   activity

•   Land    changes

•   Landmass    distribution

•   Latitude

•   Location

•   Moisture    content of  air

•   Mountain    ranges

•   Pollution

•   Precession

•   Rotation

•   Solar   output

•   Volcanoes

•   Wind    patterns

Factors That Influence Climate

Evidence for changes in the climate comes from data used to measure climate
(which is available for only the last few hundred years), written accounts