Temperature is an important element of the weather since it controls or influences the other elements, for example, humidity, clouds, air pressure and precipitation. Temperature is affected by the following:

1. distance from the equator (latitude) - generally the closer to the equator you are, the warmer it is; the further away, the colder it is. This is because the curve of the Earth's surface affects the angle of the Sun's rays and how much heat is received.

2. Height of the land (altitude) - the higher the land, the lower the temperature. On average temperature falls about 6.5 degrees Celsius every 1,000 metres above sea level.

3. Distance from the sea - land heats up and cools down more quickly than the sea. So places near the sea are cooler than nearby places inland in summer, but warmer than nearby places inland in winter.

4. Aspect (slope) - south-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere (north-facing slopes in the southern hemisphere) are exposed to more direct sunlight than opposite slopes and are therefore warmer for longer.

5. Winds - winds influence the temperature you feel. Generally the greater the wind the cooler it feels. Weather forecasters refer to the ‘wind chill factor'.