Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
west coast of North America are warmer than in the continental
interior in winter. This pattern is represented by the variation in
temperature between San Francisco and Topeka, as illustrated in
Figure 5.6.
Although the Northern Hemisphere pattern may seem
logical, you might also ask yourself the following (and very
good) question: Why do the high latitudes in the Southern
Hemisphere not experience the same extreme temperature range
as those in the Northern Hemisphere? To answer this question,
note the size of the Southern Hemisphere continents compared
to those in the Northern Hemisphere; they are much smaller
than their Northern Hemisphere counterparts. In other words,
the Southern Hemisphere is covered more by water than the
Northern Hemisphere. Thus, more of a maritime effect occurs
in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere,
where the continental effect dominates. A good example of the
continental effect in the Southern Hemisphere, however, is the
core of Australia, where the annual range shows more variabil-
ity due to the relatively large landmass of that country.
KEY CONCEPTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT
SURFACE AND AIR TEMPERATURES
1.
Air temperature is a measure of the warmth or coolness
of a portion of the atmosphere.
2.
The surface air temperature is closely related to the
temperature of the ground.
3.
Air temperature has a close relationship with several
factors, including seasonality, angle of incidence, lati-
tude, and proximity to large bodies of water or cities.
Global Temperature Patterns
In an effort to better visualize temperature geography on Earth,
go to the
Geo Media Library
and select
Global Temperature
Patterns
. This animation examines specific regions on Earth,
such as the tropics and large landmasses, and how airflow
influences seasonal temperature changes. After you interact with
the animation, answer the questions at the end to ensure you
understand this concept.
VISUAL CONCEPT CHECK
5.3
This image shows global temperature
at a particular time of year, with
the key showing the range
of temperature in degrees
Celsius. Given your un-
derstanding of the fac-
tors that influence tem-
perature, which one of
the following choices
best explains the pat-
tern you see?
a)
It must be summer
in the Northern Hemi-
sphere.
b)
The Northern Hemisphere
must be tilted away from the Sun.
c)
The interior of North America and Asia is influenced significantly
by the maritime effect on temperature.
d)
The Southern Hemisphere is receiving the most insolation.
