The document discusses the key factors that affect climate, dividing the world into three main zones - the tropical zone near the equator with warm temperatures, the temperate zone between 23.5° and 66.5° with cooler temperatures, and the polar zone above 66.5° with the coldest temperatures. It also identifies several other factors that influence climate such as latitude, elevation, topography, proximity to large bodies of water, wind patterns, and vegetation cover.

1. Factors that Affect Climate 21.1

2. Tropical Zone Region between 23.5˚ north and 23.5˚ south of the equator; the sun’s rays are most intense and the temperatures are always warm.

3. Temperate Zone Region located between 23.5˚ and 66.5˚ north and south of the equator; the sun’s rays strike the Earth at a smaller angle in the temperate zone than near the equator.

4. Polar Zone The region between 66.5˚ north and south latitudes and the poles; the sun’s rays strike at a very small angle in the polar zone.

5. Key Concept As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases.

6. Key Concept The higher the elevation is, the colder the climate.

7. Key Concept Topographic features such as mountains play an important role in the amount of precipitation that falls over an area.

8. Key Concept Large bodies of water such as lakes and oceans have an important effect on the temperature of an area because the temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above it.

9. Key Concept Global winds are another factor that influences climate because they distribute heat and moisture around Earth.

10. Key Concept Vegetation can affect both temperature and the precipitation patterns in an area.