Introduction

Relevance of the Theme

Climatic factors are fundamental elements to understand the complexity and diversity of climates around the globe. They are the variables that influence the action and characteristics of the atmosphere in different regions of the Earth, shaping life on the planet. Recognizing these factors is essential to discuss climate change and meteorological phenomena, as well as having direct implications on economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Contextualization

Within the Geography curriculum, the discussion on climatic factors lies at the interface between climatology and physical geography. It is part of a broader study on ecosystem functioning and Earth dynamics, which also includes discussions on relief, soils, hydrography, among other aspects. The review of climatic factors comes after the study of climatology, which involved the definitions and impacts of the main types of climate on the planet, as well as their variations on a global, regional, and local scale. Now, the focus shifts to understanding the forces driving these variations.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Latitude: Direct impact on the amount of solar energy received in a region. The closer to the equator, the greater the incident solar radiation, resulting in higher temperatures. The farther from the equator, the lower the solar radiation and, therefore, lower temperatures.

• Altitude: Effect on temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and soil maturity. As altitude increases, temperature decreases, atmospheric pressure decreases, and humidity can condense, forming rain.

• Air Masses: Large portions of the atmosphere that have the same characteristics as the location where they form, in terms of air temperature and humidity. They can be warm, cold, dry, or humid, and move due to wind action, directly influencing the climatic characteristics of the regions they pass through.

• Ocean Currents: Influence temperatures and relative air humidity. Warm currents tend to raise air temperature, while cold currents tend to lower it.

• Relief: The shape and orientation of the relief can influence wind direction and speed, as well as provide physical barriers that act on precipitation, temperature, and air humidity.

• Distribution of lands and waters: Oceans, for example, have a high capacity to store thermal energy, which tends to smooth out temperature variations throughout the year. Lands, on the other hand, with low heat storage capacity, present more extreme temperature variations.

Key Terms

• Climate: Set of meteorological conditions that characterize a specific region throughout the year, such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, winds, among others.

• Climatic Factor: Natural or anthropic element that influences the climate characteristics of a specific region. The main climatic factors are latitude, altitude, air masses, ocean currents, relief, and distribution of lands and waters.

• Ecosystem: Set of living beings (flora, fauna, humans) and inorganic elements (air, water, soil) that interact with each other and with the environment in which they live.

Examples and Cases

• Influence of Latitude: For example, the equatorial region receives the highest amount of solar radiation, resulting in high temperatures throughout the year. In contrast, the polar region receives low solar radiation, leading to low temperatures that can reach -50ºC.

• Influence of Altitude: In high-altitude areas, such as the Andes, for instance, temperatures are lower than in low-altitude areas at the same latitude. This occurs because in these locations, the atmosphere is less dense, facilitating heat loss to space.

• Influence of Air Masses: The phenomenon called 'El Niño' is an example of the influence of air masses and oceans on the global climate. When it occurs, the temperature of the tropical Pacific Ocean surface rises, causing imbalance in the atmospheric-oceanic system, leading to significant climatic changes in various parts of the world.

• Influence of Relief: The Serra do Mar, in Brazil, is an example of how relief can affect the climate. Due to its orientation, it blocks the moisture coming from the ocean, contributing to the formation of drier climates in the Atlantic Plateau to the east, and intense rainfall on the slope facing the sea.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points:

• Latitude: The distance from a point on the Earth's surface to the Equator directly influences the amount of solar radiation it receives, determining local temperatures. The farther from the Equator, the lower the received solar radiation and the lower the temperatures.

• Altitude: The elevation of a location relative to sea level influences temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and rain formation conditions. Regions at high altitudes tend to have lower temperatures due to the lower air density.

• Air Masses: Large air masses that have the same temperature and humidity characteristics as the location from which they originate. Their movement and interaction determine local and regional climate patterns.

• Ocean Currents: Flows of seawater that transport heat around the globe. They influence the temperatures and humidities of coastal regions, being able, for example, to moderate temperatures in areas near cold currents.

• Relief: The configuration of the Earth's surface, such as mountains and plains, influences air circulation, cloud formation, and precipitation, generating drier or rainier regions.

• Distribution of lands and waters: Oceans, with their high heat retention capacity, act as thermal regulators, making coastal areas milder. Lands, with low heat retention capacity, make continental regions more extreme in terms of temperature.

Conclusions:

• Climatic factors are fundamental in the study of Geography, as they are the basis for understanding different types of climates and their characteristics.

• Changes in climatic factors, whether natural or caused by human activities, have significant impacts on global and local climates, with direct consequences for biodiversity and the lives of populations.

• Understanding climatic factors is an important tool to comprehend the distribution of ecosystems and the geography of life on Earth.

Exercises:

1. Latitude: Explain the influence of latitude on the definition of terrestrial climates, including examples of regions with different climate types.

2. Altitude: Describe the relationship between altitude and temperature. Provide examples of areas where this relationship is evident.

3. Air Masses and Ocean Currents: Write a text discussing the interaction between air masses and ocean currents and their impact on the formation of regional climates, citing examples.