Page 337 - New Medley 5 Semester 1

Solar radiation

Factors Determining Climate

Different places in the world have different types of climate. A number
of factors determine the climate of a place. It is largely dependent upon

the temperature of air and the amount of rainfall. Some of these factors
are as under:

� Distance from the equator � Height above the sea level

� Distance from the sea � Prevailing winds

� Moisture in the air

Distance from the Equator

The sun is the main source of heat for the Earth. The rays of the sun do
not reach the Earth at the same angle. Near the equator, the sunrays are

vertical, while near the poles they spread over a large area. Therefore, the
land near the equator is hotter than near the poles in the same season.

This phenomenon is called solar radiation.

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