Weather systems

Local weather in the UK is affected by various factors including latitude and relief, the five main air masses and depressions and anticyclones which produce distinctive weather characteristics.

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Physical environments

Weather

Our weather is affected by a number of factors: latitude, relief, aspect and distance from the sea.

Images showing how weather is affected by factors such latitude, relief, aspect and distance from the sea

Latitude - places closer to the equator are usually warmer, and places nearer to the North Pole and South Pole are colder.
Relief - places located on flat low-lying land are warmer and places higher up, ie mountains, are colder and wetter.
Aspect - places which are south-facing are warmer and places which are north-facing are colder.
Distance from the sea - places nearer to the sea are mild and wet, and places further from the sea are drier, but temperatures are more extreme.