THE 7 MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT MODIFY THE CLIMATE - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The factors that modify the climate are conditioned by an order of geographical, environmental and artificial causes. Some of these constituent elements of climate are closely related to the Earth's atmosphere and refer to temperature, humidity, winds, pressure and precipitation.

These components can be measured separately and together. Which will yield various values, determining the climate prediction made by meteorologists, experts on the subject.

Depending on the area where you are trying to determine, the climate can include a specific area, a locality, or it can correspond to the entire world. However, the climate can be affected either by natural factors or by the actions of man.

The main factors that modify the climate

Regarding natural causes, the following changing elements of the climate can be highlighted, such as:

The latitude or distance from the equator

The sun's radiation will affect a territory in a certain way depending on its geographical location. Well, this determines the degree of inclination of the solar rays that pass through the atmosphere. Causing changes in temperatures and, at the same time, being responsible for more or less rainfall.

Latitude corresponds to the distance between the equator (line or plane perpendicular to the Earth's axis) with respect to any other point on the planet. Starting from the equator, or from latitude 0º, the Earth is divided into a northern hemisphere and a southern hemisphere.

Latitude is one of the natural factors responsible for changes in climate because the heat is concentrated at the equator, dissipating towards the poles or hemispheres.

In turn, this affects the amount of solar radiation received, and is the cause of the different weather seasons.

The altitude

Altitude is a vertical measurement that takes as a starting point or altitude 0 sea level. From the altitude with respect to the zero level or sea level, the temperature decreases. In this sense, when climbing to a higher level, it is colder.

Altitude affects the climate by reducing the masses of hot air, consequently decreasing the degree of temperature and the pressure in the air.

Distance or proximity to the sea

The closer to the sea the cooler the climate and vice versa. That is why the presence of the sea is an influential factor in the climatic variations of a place. The proximity of the sea is responsible for moderating temperatures, preventing them from being extreme.

In those areas near the sea, known as coastal areas, the climate is colder and more humid, compared to the remote areas. When the hot air from the latter joins the colder winds from the sea, the heat decreases and precipitation occurs.

Ocean currents

Ocean currents are produced by the force of the winds over the sea And they have an impact on the climate because the water takes longer to warm up than the land.

At the same time, the water takes longer to release the heat present in it, which affects the temperatures of the places closest to the water bodies.

There are cold maritime currents, arising from the rise of masses of deep waters, which also influence the climate. Since they produce high atmospheric pressure, low humidity and a very low or no probability of precipitation.

Land relief

The land relief refers to the different forms existing in the crust of the earth. That is, to the alterations present in it, produced by the displacement and collisions of the terrestrial plates and by the erosion generated by the winds.

The land relief along with the oceans, are responsible for changes in temperature. Maritime climates affect cooler climates in summer and less rigorous in winter.

Differentiating from continental climates, which refer to those where the maritime influence does not reach and where the temperatures are more extreme in both seasons of the year.

The relief orientation is measured based on the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Planetary winds affect precipitation because they favor the rise of hot and humid winds.

At the same time, the action of the winds will be responsible for the amount of solar radiation that is received. What will affect the existing vegetation on earth, being this responsible for the humidity present in the environment.

Mountains or high areas also affect climate change. It is in these areas where there is more rainfall due to the crossing of hot air from the low areas with the cold air, originating from the high areas, which gives rise to the condensation of humid air, producing rainfall.

Humidity

It refers to the amount of vapor in the air and will be influenced by temperature, being more likely to increase when the weather is hot.

Moisture is one of those responsible for precipitation because once it reaches its saturation point, from which it cannot continue to maintain its gaseous state, it will change to a liquid state giving rise to the rains.

Influence of humans on climate change

The activities that human beings carry out on a daily basis is also an influencing factor in climate changes, which can be reduced if the environment is taken care of.

A clear example is the global heat, produced by the so-called hole in the ozone layer, which has been enlarging over the years as a result of environmental pollution.

As a direct consequence of this, they not only suffer higher temperatures, but this affects the environment, melting glaciers, among other effects.

On the other hand, population growth; the felling of trees to use the resources that are extracted from them; the use of different fuels and the lack of care for the environment, have produced an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere.

Due to the long-term consequences of human activities on the climate, many times there is no real awareness of it. But the truth is that climate change today is a fact and continues to rise.