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- Latitude refers to a location’s distance from the equator, measured in degrees north or south of it.
- The amount of sunlight an area receives is strongly influenced by its latitude.
- Areas near the equator receive more direct sunlight throughout the year, leading to a hotter and more humid climate.
- As you move away from the equator and towards the poles, the angle of the sunlight hitting the Earth’s surface becomes more oblique, resulting in cooler temperatures.
- The seasons also play a role in how latitude affects climate. At higher latitudes, the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes more extreme seasonal temperature changes.
- At the equator, there are no distinct seasons, while at the poles there are periods of continuous daylight and darkness.
- Climate patterns such as trade winds, ocean currents, and prevailing winds are also influenced by latitude.
- Areas near the equator experience more rain due to high levels of evaporation and moisture in the atmosphere, while areas at higher latitudes experience less rainfall.
- Climate zones are defined based on latitude, with the tropics, temperate zones, and polar regions being the three main categories.
- Human activities, such as deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, can also impact the climate in different latitudes, leading to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns.
Foto de NASA en Unsplash