Elements of climate and climate factors

O climate meets the conditions presented by the atmosphere in a given region for a period of at least 30 years.

The types of climate present in the world are characterized by climatic elements and influenced by Climatic factors.

climatic elements

Climatic elements are meteorological quantities that can be measured by specific instruments and are responsible for the characteristics that portray the state of the atmosphere. The main ones are:

Temperature: shows the degree of heat in the atmosphere, that is, the heating of the air. The instrument that can be used to measure this magnitude is the thermometer.

Atmospheric pressure: force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere on the earth's surface. The instrument that can be used to measure this magnitude is the barometer.

atmospheric humidity: quantity of water in the form of vapour, that is, in the gaseous state present in the atmosphere. The instrument that can be used to measure this magnitude is the psychometer.

Precipitation: phenomena related to the fall of water from the atmosphere, either in a liquid (rain) or solid (snow and hail) form. The instrument that can be used to measure this magnitude is the rain gauge.

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Wind: movement of air parcels in the direction of a region of higher pressure to one of lower pressure with a certain intensity. The instrument that can be used to measure this magnitude is the weathervane.

Radiation: energy propagated in the atmosphere, most of which comes from the sun. The instrument that can be used to measure this magnitude is the pyranometer.

Climatic factors

These are geographic factors capable of modifying the climate, as they influence climatic elements. The main ones are: altitude, latitude, continentality, maritime nature, air masses, sea currents, relief, vegetation and urbanization.

Altitude

This determining factor is related to the verticalization of several points in relation to sea level and, therefore, its height.

To do so, just think about the mountains and/or mountain ranges and the decrease in temperature that increases as the altitude increases.

It is worth remembering that the atmospheric pressure in these places is lower than those that are close to sea level. In short, the higher the altitude, the lower the pressure and temperatures.

Latitude

Represents the distance from the Equator Line, an imaginary line that runs through the middle of the globe in a horizontal direction.

Therefore, the greater the distance from this point, the lower the latitude and, therefore, the temperature. As an example, we can mention the places that are close to the equator and that receive a greater incidence of sunlight and, therefore, have higher temperatures.

Continentality

The name already indicates that this concept is associated with the locations of the continental portion. In the same way as maritime life, it is influenced by water bodies, however, which are located within continents (rivers, lakes, etc.).

However, regions influenced by continentality have lower rainfall and greater thermal amplitudes (difference between the highest and lowest temperature), that is, temperature variations, either between the seasons of the year or between the days and the nights.

Maritime

This climatic factor directly influences the climates of regions that are close to the sea. Influenced by water masses (seas and oceans), the places that are closer to the coastal regions are wetter and have higher rainfall (rain).

The thermal amplitude is smaller than those that are influenced by the continentality factor, that is, the temperature variation is low.

air masses

Designate the portions of air that move around the planet directly influencing the region's climate. They can be continental, maritime, hot and cold, depending on their location and temperatures.

Thus, warm air masses form in tropical and equatorial regions, while cold air masses form in polar regions. In addition to this basic classification, latitude directly influences air masses that are classified as: equatorial, tropical, arctic and antarctic and polar.

Also read about the phenomenon El Niño.

Ocean currents

They represent the water flows that occur in the sea, being one of the important factors of climatic influence. They can be cold (deeper) or warm (more shallow) and determine the formation of climatic categories, since they transport moisture and heat.

They are influenced by air masses (winds) with hot water masses occurring from the equator towards the poles, and cold water masses occurring from the poles towards the equator.

Relief

Physical landscapes of planet Earth that directly influence the region's climate. The main types of relief are plains, plateaus, mountains and depressions.

We know that in places with higher altitudes, for example, the mountains, the climate is always colder. Another example is the mountain ranges that block humidity in places, significantly altering the climate and humidity in the region.

Vegetation

The vegetation cover of the planet, as well as the relief, directly influences the climate that develops locally, for example, local forests that retain great moisture just like the Forest Amazon. This provides a higher rainfall in the region and milder temperatures.

Urbanization

Of human actions, the expansion of urbanization has been one of the biggest problems of climate change, as it directly influences the local climate. It results in an increase in temperature in the biggest centers.

The most significant examples arising from the high pollution of large cities are the Heat Islands.

Climate changes

At climate changes correspond to climate changes in certain regions of the globe. It is worth remembering that human action has intensified these changes, such as the emission of gases and toxic products, deforestation, fires, excessive hunting, among others.

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