What influences the UK climate?
The main influence of the British climate is our close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, our northern latitude, and the warming of the waters around the land by the Gulf Stream (a warm current of the northern Atlantic Ocean).
What has the greatest influence on climate?
On the surface, the greatest factor affecting Earth is sunlight. Sun provides energy for living organisms, and it drives our planet’s weather and climate by creating temperature gradients in the atmosphere and oceans.
What is Britain’s climate?
The UK has a temperate climate. In general, this means that Britain gets cool, wet winters and warm, wet summers. It rarely features the extremes of heat or cold, drought or wind that are common in other climates. The weather conditions are also very changeable.
What effect does UK weather have?
One of the main drivers of our weather is the temperature difference between the equator and the North Pole, which is in balance with the prevailing westerly winds. Cold European winters occur when the NAO is negative and the usual westerly winds weaken or even reverse.
What are the 4 major factors that influence climate?
Although many factors combine to influence weather, the four main ones are solar radiation, the amount of which changes with Earth’s tilt, orbital distance from the sun and latitude, temperature, air pressure and the abundance of water.
What are some factors that influence climate?
Factors that Influence Climate
- Elevation or Altitude effect climate. Normally, climatic conditions become colder as altitude increases. …
- Prevailing global wind patterns. …
- Topography. …
- Effects of Geography. …
- Surface of the Earth. …
- Climate change over time.
What are the 5 major factors that affect climate?
LOWERN
- Latitude. It depends on how close or how far it is to the equator. …
- Ocean currents. Certain ocean currents have different temperatures. …
- Wind and air masses. Heated ground causes air to rise which results in lower air pressure. …
- Elevation. The higher up you are, the colder and drier it will be. …
- Relief.
Is the UK getting wetter?
UK observations
The latest State of the UK Climate report indicates the UK has become wetter over the last few decades, although with significant annual variation. 2011-2020 was 9% wetter than 1961-1990. … Both these trends point to an increase in frequency and intensity of rainfall across the UK.
Why does the UK weather change?
The weather of the UK is very changeable because it is affected by a number of different air masses. Britain is under an area where five main air masses meet. An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture properties throughout.
What caused the UK weather?
Air rising causes the formation of clouds, which brings rainfall. Depressions often move eastwards across the UK, bringing changeable weather as they travel. … The diagram below shows the changing weather that the warm and cold fronts bring as they move towards the east.
Flooding and extreme heat can cripple the infrastructure making it difficult to move people and goods around the country; this not only has a social impact – people trying to get to work, to get to schools or to visit friends and family or access public services – but there’s also an economic impact: running a business …