ICSE Class 9 Answered
Discuss the ways in which the following factors affect the distribution of temperature of a place:
Latitude
Altitude
Distance from the sea
Direction of the mountain ranges
Soil Cover
Asked by Topperlearning User | 13 May, 2015, 01:24: PM
Expert Answer
- Latitude: The areas lying in the equatorial region receive the direct or vertical rays of the Sun, so the temperatures are high. As we move away from the Sun to the polar regions, the temperature decreases. The polar regionsget the slanting rays of the Sun; therefore the temperature is extremely low. This is the reason why the poles of the Earth are covered with snow.
- Altitude: Altitude means height. Near the surface of the Earth, the air is dense as it contains dust particles and water vapour. These particles absorb more heat and thus the surroundings are warmer. However at high altitude, the air becomes less dense with hardly any dust particles and therefore less heat is absorbed. Moreover terrestrial radiation heats up the lower atmosphere and by the time it reaches the higher altitude it has low energy. Therefore, in summer when temperatures are around 13 ºC - 14ºC in the hills, people from the plains where the temperatures are 35 ºC visit the hill stations.
- Distance from the Sea: The temperature of a place also depends on its distance from the sea. Land has the property of absorbing and releasing heat quickly, while the sea takes relatively longer time to absorb and release heat. Therefore, the land gets heated up during the day time and at night it becomes cooler. On the contrary, the oceans are cooler during the day time and are warmer in the nights. Thus the coastal areas like Mumbai experience cooler winds even in the afternoon, while in the plains, cities like Allahabad experience extremely hot winds during the afternoon affecting its temperature.
- Direction of mountain ranges-The direction of mountain ranges influences the temperature of a place. In the northern hemisphere the Himalayan Mountains stretches from the west to the east. Thus they stop the cold polar winds blowing from the poles. Therefore, the Gangetic plain has relatively moderate temperature and does not freeze. However in North America the mountain ranges stretch in the North- South direction. Therefore, they allow the cold polar winds to blow up to 300N latitude, lowering the temperature of the region resulting in snow formation. Therefore, New Orleans located at around 290N has snow fall in winter.
- Soil cover: We all know that the plant and forest cover helps in reducing the temperature of a place. Now various kinds of soil support various vegetation and plants. As the plant cover affects the amount of rainfall in a particular region, it also defines the climate of the regions.
Answered by | 13 May, 2015, 03:24: PM
ICSE 9 - Geography
Asked by sarojmeena962 | 06 May, 2021, 09:53: PM
ANSWERED BY EXPERT
