The main climate factors
Several factors determine the temperature and rainfall of an area. Latitude affects temperature because areas near the Equator receive more vertical sunlight and are therefore hotter; temperature falls towards the poles. Altitude (height) is also important – temperature falls by about 6.5°C for every 1000 metres of ascent, making highlands such as Cameron Highlands cooler.
Key idea
The higher the latitude or altitude, the lower the temperature. Areas near the Equator and at sea level are the hottest.
The influence of sea and wind
- Distance from the sea (continentality) – coastal areas have a small (moderate) temperature range, while inland areas experience scorching heat and extreme cold.
- Monsoon – the north-east and south-west monsoon winds bring the wet and dry seasons to Malaysia.
- Ocean currents – warm currents warm nearby coasts while cold currents cool them.
Relief
Relief, or the shape of the land, affects rainfall. When moist wind is forced to rise by a mountain range, it cools and drops relief (orographic) rainfall on the windward slope, while the leeward slope receives little rain. The combination of all these factors produces the different climate patterns found around the world.