Distribution of Temperature

Distribution Of Temperature
Prepared By Prof. M.R

Difference between heat and temperature
• The interaction of incoming solar radiation (insolation) with the atmosphere and the
earth’s surface creates heat. This is measured in terms of temperature.
• While heat represents the molecular movement of particles comprising a substance,
the temperature is the measurement in degrees of how hot (or cold) a thing (or a
place) is.
• So, heat is the energy which makes things or objects hot, while temperature
measures the intensity of heat (degree of hotness/coldness).
• Heat and temperature are closely related to each other because gain or loss of heat is
necessary to raise or lower the temperature.
• The Celsius scale is the internationally accepted scale for reporting air temperature.
• Fahrenheit scale and Kelvin scales are other scales used to measure temperature.
• The Fahrenheit temperature scale is based on 32 °F for the freezing point of water
and 212 °F for the boiling point of water, with the interval between the two being
divided into 180 parts.
• On the Kelvin scale, 0 K represents absolute zero (-273 °C), the temperature at
which the molecules of a substance have their lowest possible energy.
Distribution of Temperature
• Distribution of temperature varies both

horizontally and vertically. Let us study it
under
• A) Horizontal Distribution of Temperature

• B) Vertical Distribution of Temperature
A) Horizontal Distribution of Temperature
• Distribution of temperature across the latitudes over

the surface of the earth is called its horizontal
distribution.
• On maps, the horizontal distribution of temperature is
commonly shown by isotherms.
• Isotherms are line connecting points that have an
equal temperature.
• When we analyse an isotherm map, it can be seen that
the horizontal distribution of temperature is uneven.
Horizontal Distribution of Temperature
Controlling Factors for the uneven horizontal distribution of temperature
• LATITUDE
• In the previous article, we have studied that the
angle of incidence of sun’s rays goes on
decreasing from the equator towards the poles.
• Higher the angle of incidence, higher is the
temperature. Similarly, lower the angle of
incidence, lower is the temperature.
• This is why the temperature is higher near the
tropical regions and decreases towards the poles.
Controlling Factors for the uneven horizontal distribution of temperature
• ALTITUDE
• As we all know, the temperature in the
troposphere goes on decreasing with increase
in height.
• Temperature decreases at an average rate of
nearly 6 degree Celsius per 1000 m altitude,
which is known as Normal Lapse Rate.
Controlling Factors for the uneven horizontal
distribution of temperature
• LAND AND SEA CONTRAST

• Compared to land, the sea gets heated slowly and
loses heat slowly. Land heats up and cools down
quickly.
• As a result, the temperature is relatively higher on
land during day time and it is higher in water during
the night.
• Also, the places situated near the sea come under
the moderating influence of the sea and land breezes
which moderates the temperature.
• There are also seasonal variations in the temperature of land

and sea. During summer, the air above land has a higher
temperature than the oceans. But the air above oceans gets
higher temperature than landmass in winter.
• Notwithstanding the great contrast between land and water
surfaces, there are differences in the rate of heating of
different land surfaces. A snow-covered land as in polar
areas warms very slowly because of a large amount of
reflection of solar energy. A vegetation covered land does
not get excessively heated because a great amount of
insolation is used in evaporating water from the plants.
• Ocean Currents are of two types – warm and cold.
• Warm currents make the coasts along which they flow warmer, while
cold currents reduce the temperature of the coasts along which they
flow.
• The North-Western European Coasts do not freeze in winter due to

the effect of North Atlantic Drift (a warm current), while the Quebec
on the coast of Canada is frozen due to the Cold Labrador Current
flowing along it, though the Quebec is situated in lower latitudes than
the North-West European Coast.
Ocean Currents
Controlling Factors for the uneven horizontal distribution of
temperature
• AIR MASSES
• Like the land and sea breezes, the passage of
air masses also affects the temperature.
• The places, which come under the influence of
warm air masses experience higher
temperature and the places that come under the
influence of cold air masses experience low
temperature.
Controlling Factors for the uneven horizontal distribution of
temperature
• VEGETATION COVER
• Soil devoid of vegetation cover receives heat more rapidly than the soil under
vegetation cover. Because vegetation cover absorbs much of sun’s heat and then
prevents quick radiation from the earth whereas the former radiates it more rapidly.
• Hence the temperature variations in densely forested areas are lower than those in
desert areas.
• Note: Along with these, the other factors which are responsible for the uneven
horizontal distribution of temperature are winds, nature of the soil, slope and aspect of
the surface, relief features, etc.
• The horizontal distribution of temperature over the globe can be studied easily from
the isotherm maps of January and July months since the seasonal extremes of high and
low temperature are most obvious in both northern and southern hemispheres during
these months.
Horizontal Distribution of Temperature in January
• In January, the sun shines vertically overhead near

the tropic of Capricorn. Hence, it is summer in
southern hemisphere and winter in the northern
hemisphere.
• A high temperature is found over the landmasses
mainly in three regions of the southern hemisphere.
These regions are North-West Argentina, East and
Central Africa, and Central Australia.
• Isotherm of 30°C closes them.
Horizontal Distribution of Temperature in January
Horizontal Distribution of Temperature in
July
• In July, the sun shines vertically overhead near the
Tropic of cancer. Hence, high temperatures are
found in the entire northern hemisphere.
• The regions having high temperature include South
Western USA, the Sahara, the Arabia, Iraq, Iran,
Afghanistan, desert region of India and China.
• However, the lowest temperature of 0°C is also
noticed in the Northern Hemisphere during
summer in the central part of Greenland.
Horizontal Distribution of Temperature
in July
Horizontal Distribution of Temperature in
July
• During summer in the northern hemisphere,
isotherms bend towards the equator while
crossing oceans and towards the poles while
crossing landmasses.
• Isotherms are wide spaced over oceans while
they are closely spaced over landmasses.
• In July, the deviation of isotherms is not that
much pronounced as in January.

Distribution of Temperature

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Distribution Of Temperature

Prepared By Prof. M.R

• Distribution of temperature varies both

• A) Horizontal Distribution of Temperature

• Distribution of temperature across the latitudes over

• LAND AND SEA CONTRAST

• There are also seasonal variations in the temperature of land

• The North-Western European Coasts do not freeze in winter due to

• In January, the sun shines vertically overhead near

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