Video
Climate describes an average of weather conditions in an area over a period of time, usually around thirty years.There are many different factors that determine the climate of a place, like…
Latitude. The tilt and curve of the Earth influence how energy from the Sun is distributed north and south of the Equator. It’s hottest at the Equator where the Sun’s rays are more direct and focused. Towards the Poles, the same amount of energy is shared over a wider area, making it cooler.
Elevation. Air temperature decreases with altitude. The higher you go, the colder it gets.
Distance from the sea. Water heats up and cools down slowly, so coastal places tend to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter, than places inland at the same latitude and altitude.
Ocean currents also influence climate as they transport heat around the globe, cooling or warming coastal regions.The world has these main climate zones.
Polar climates are very cold and dry with long, dark winters and short summers. Temperatures rise above freezing for only a few months each year.
Temperate climates, like ours in the United Kingdom, have four clear seasons with warm summers, if we're lucky, and cool winters.
Arid climates are very dry and usually get less than 250mm of rainfall each year, creating areas of hot desert like the Sahara and cold desert like the Gobi. With cloudless skies, daytime temperatures in deserts can be extremely hot and night time temperatures below freezing.
Tropical climates close to the equator have high temperatures and year-round rainfall, ideal conditions for creating rainforests such the Amazon and Congo. Some tropical climates have two distinct seasons, one wet and one dry.
A Mediterranean climate has dry summers and mild, wet winters.
Continental climates are similar to temperate ones but have greater temperature extremes in summer and winter, because they are found inland, far from the ocean.
The climate is something that affects us all, from our economy, to the food we eat, to our leisure activities.
Video summary
Download/print a transcript of the video.
A short animated film for secondary schools describing the factors that determine the climate of a country and the main climate zones of the world.
It also considers climate change and how it will present significant challenges for human, animal and plant life.
The film meets the requirements of National Curriculum physical geography at KS3 with regard to:
- geological timescales and plate tectonics
- rocks, weathering and soils
- weather and climate, including the change in climate from the Ice Age to the present
- glaciation, hydrology and coasts.
Teacher notes
Download/print the Teacher Notes for this episode (pdf).
Before watching the video
Ask students what they believe to be the difference between weather and climate. Go further, and ask what different types of climate there are.
A map of the world could be shown to students whilst asking them how the climate changes as they move away from the equator.
Introduce key terms such as:
Latitude: The angular distance from the equator.
Altitude: Height above sea level.
During the video
You may wish to stop at relevant points during this short film to pose questions and check understanding or wait until the end. Useful questions might include:
- How does latitude affect the climate?
- How does altitude affect the climate?
- How do ocean currents affect the climate?
- What are polar climates like?
- What are temperate climates like?
- What are arid climates like?
- What are tropical climates like?
- What is the Mediterranean climate like?
- What are continental climates like?
After watching
After watching this short film, students could explore the impact of climate change on the different climate zones around the world. They could investigate why we have varying climate zones and which natural processes have led to their creation.
Students could also make links to the different biomes. Show students a climate zone map and overlay this with the different biomes – what do they notice?
Students could then explore how human activity has impacted on climate zones and what might happen if climate change continues at current rates.
Where next?
Ask students to research the different biomes and the climate that those locations experience, for example:
- The tundra
- The taiga
- The temperate forests
- The tropical rainforests
- The semi-arid grasslands.
Students and teachers over the age of 16 can create a free Financial Times account. For a Financial Times article about the climate in El Niño from 2023, click here.
Curriculum notes
This short film is relevant for teaching geography at KS3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 3rd and 4th Level in Scotland.
This short film helps meet the requirement of the Key Stage 3 national curriculum in geography requirement to develop and understanding of:
- physical geography relating to: geological timescales and plate tectonics; rocks, weathering and soils; weather and climate, including the change in climate from the Ice Age to the present; and glaciation, hydrology and coasts.
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