1. Weather refers to the conditions of the atm at a specific place over a relatively short period of time.
Climate refers to the atm conditions of a specific place over a considerable period of time (30-35 years)
Factors affecting temperature Description Example
- In general, temperatures experi- - Singapore, which is located near
enced at a place decreases with in- the equator, has high temperature
creasing latitudes. as compared to Canada, which is
located near the Poles.
- The sun’s rays strike countries
near the equator perpendicularly,
but strike those at the temperate or
polar regions at an angle.
Latitude - As solar radiation is concentrated
over a small area near the equator,
heat is more intense, hence these
countries experience a higher
temperature.
- In addition, the sun’s rays travel a
greater distance through the atmo-
sphere to reach the region near the
Poles, hence are less intense there.
- Temperature generally decreases - Cameron Highlands and Genting
with increasing altitude in the Highlands in Peninsular Malaysia
troposphere, the lowest layer of the experience lower temperatures
atmosphere just above the Earth’s (15-22°C) since they are at higher
surface. altitudes than most cities in Malay-
sia.
- Places nearer the sea level tend to
be warmer as solar radiation is
Altitude
absorbed the Earth’s surface
directly. Air above the surface is
heated up via conduction.
- Air at higher altitudes is thinner
and contains smaller concentrat-
ions of gases, hence heat is less
effectively absorbed or trapped.

2. - Coastal areas in temperate - San Diego in USA experiences
regions tend to experience more moderate winters and
moderate climates due to the summers and has a smaller
difference in the rates of heating temperature range than Winnipeg
and cooling of land and sea. in Canada as the former is near the
coast.
- During summer, air over the land
heats up faster than the air over the
sea as the sea has a higher heat
capacity. The cooler air over the
sea hence lowers the temperature
of areas along the coast.
Distance from sea
- Conversely, during winter, air
over the sea remains warm
compared to air over the land. This
raises the temperature of coastal
areas.
- Due to maritime effect, coastal
areas tend to experience warmer
winters and cooler summers than
inland areas which experiences
continental effect that tends to
have cooler winters and warmer
summers.
- In arid regions with low RH and
relatively cloud-free skies, such as
the Sahara Desert, large amounts
of solar radiation can reach the
Earth’s surface in the day, causing
the temperature to rise quickly.
- At night, lack of cloud cover
allows heat to escape easily into
outer space, leading to a sharp
decrease in temperature.
Cloud cover - Conversely, places with thick
cloud cover reflect part of the --------
incoming solar radiation in the day
back into outer space, hence
decreasing the amount of solar
radiation absorbed by the Earth’s
surface.
- Also, at night, cloud cover
prevents heat from escaping into
outer space, keeping the
temperature of the ground
relatively high.

3. - Warm ocean currents originate - Vancouver, Canada has a
from the Equator while cold ocean generally cooler temperature than
currents originate from the Poles. Brest, France as Vancouver
Ocean currents - Cold ocean currents exert a experiences the cool California
cooling effect on coastal cities Current while Brest experiences
while warm ocean currents exert a the warm North Atlantic Drift.
warming effect in coastal cities.
- A city with buildings with - Temperatures experienced in
concrete walls and little trees are parks and nature reserves in
warmer than a village made with Singapore are generally lower
natural materials and a lot of trees.
than those experienced in the
Microclimatic factors - This is because concrete traps industrial and built-up residential
hear and makes the place warmer or city areas.
while trees release water vapour
thru evapotranspiration that cools
the temperature down.
Formation of convectional rain
1. The Sun heats up the Earth’s surface and this causes the air above it to be heated up as well, causing it
to rise quickly.
2. At high altitudes, temperature drops and condensation occurs after RH exceeds 100% / beyond
saturation point. Clouds begin to form when water droplets merge together.
3. When clouds get too heavy, heavy rain falls and is usually accompanied by thunder and lightning.
4. At the same time, warm air continues rising and condensation continues to occur. However, when
clouds lose their moisture, rain will ease.
Formation of relief/orographic rain
1. When wind blows over a sea or large lake, it picks up large amounts of water vapour from above the
surface of the lake. This increases the RH of the air.
2. Air is then forced to rise up the mountain in the direction of the prevailing winds.
3. At high altitudes, temperature drops and condensation occurs after RH exceeds 100% / beyond
saturation point. Clouds begin to form when water droplets merge together.
4. When clouds get too heavy, relief rain falls mostly on the windward side (the sea side). By the time
the air reaches the leeward side (the not-facing-the-sea side), the air would have lost most or all of it
moisture.
5. The air then descends and is warmed by heat near the Earth’s surface and become a dry wind. Rain
shadow effect occurs.

4. Formation of Southwest Monsoon (June-Sep) Formation of Northeast Monsoon (Oct-Jan)
1. During June-September, the NH experiences 1. During October-January, the NH experiences
summer while the SH experiences winter. winter while the SH experiences summer.
2. Hence, the Asian continent/ Indian sub- 2. Hence, the Asian continent/ Indian sub-
continent is warmed and hot air rises forming a continent is cooled and cold air sinks forming a
region of low pressure. In the Australia region of high pressure. In the Australia
continent, the continent is cooled and cold air continent, the continent is warmed and hot air
sinks forming a region of high pressure. rises forming a region of low pressure.
3. Generally, winds blow from S to N (High  Low) 3. Generally, winds blow from N to S (High 
Low)
4. In SH, winds are deflected to the left and in
the NH, winds are deflected to the right due to 4. In NH, winds are deflected to the right and in
the Coriolis effect. the SH, winds are deflected to the left due to the
Coriolis effect.
TO EXPLAIN RAIN TO INDIA:
5. As the Southwest Monsoon winds pass the TO EXPLAIN RAIN TO MALAYSIA:
Indian Ocean, it picks up large amounts of 5. As the Northeast Monsoon winds pass the
moisture which falls as rain on India esp to cities South China Sea, it picks up large amounts of
on the western coast of India. moisture which falls as rain on India esp to cities
on the eastern coast of Malaysia.