Factors Determining Temperature:

The temperature of air at any place is influenced by several factors: (i) the latitude of the place; (ii) the altitude of the place; (iii) distance from the sea and air-mass circulation; (iv) the presence of warm and cold ocean currents; (v) local aspects.

The latitude determines the insolation received by a place, as insolation varies according to latitude, hence temperature also varies accordingly. The altitude affects temperature as places at higher altitudes experience lower temperatures. Distance from the sea influences temperature through land and sea breezes. Air-mass circulation affects temperature as places under warm air-masses experience higher temperature while those under cold air-masses experience lower temperature. Similarly, ocean currents influence coastal temperatures—warm currents raise temperature while cold currents lower it.

Causes for Temperature Variation in Different Months:

In January, the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter as the sun is overhead in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in lower temperatures. May represents the pre-monsoon summer season when the sun is nearly overhead, causing high temperatures. In July, the sun is overhead in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in summer with high temperatures. October represents the post-monsoon transition period with moderate temperatures as the sun shifts towards the Southern Hemisphere. The global distribution of temperature can be understood by studying the temperature distribution in January and July, which represent the seasonal extremes.