Chapter 3 - Temperature

monthly mean temperature

how mean monthly temperatures are calculated

annual mean temperature

annual temperature range (northern/southern hemisphere land distribution)

• isotherms
• maximum temperature records
• minimum temperature records

temperature controls

• latitude
  • variations in sun angle & length of daylight
• differential heating of land and water
  • land heats more rapidly and to higher temperatures than water
  • land cools more rapidly and to lower temperatures than water
    • water is highly fluid
    • land is opaque, water is mostly transparent
    • the specific heat of water is much higher than land
• ocean currents
  • Gulf Stream
  • Marine influence
• altitude
• geographic position
  • cold/warm ocean currents
  • altitude
  • continentality
  • prevailing winds
• cloud cover and albedo
  • climate graph
  • monsoon temperature variation