Latitude and altitude Flashcards
1
Q
Why are higher latitudes colder? 2
A
Receive less solar radiation because the sun is lower in the sky
Receive less solar radiation because there are fewer hours of daylight in winter
2
Q
Why are higher altitudes colder?
A
Earth’s surface heats the atmosphere through conduction, so the temperature is greatest close to the heat source and decreases away from it
Air pressure decreases with altitude - there are fewer air molecules and they move more slowly. So they create less heat, which means lower temperatures
3
Q
What is latitude?
A
The distance (in degrees) north or south of the Earth’s Equator
