Places near the sea have a more moderate climate than inland areas on the same latitude due to the influence of the ocean. The direction of winds also affects climate, with winds from cold regions making places cooler and winds from hot deserts making them warmer. Winds from the sea bring humidity. Higher altitude locations are cooler than lower altitudes due to decreasing temperature with increasing elevation. Areas closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight and are generally hotter than locations at higher latitudes further from the equator. Temperature and rainfall amounts help determine a place's climate.