These imaginary lines, also called parallels, run horizontally around the globe and help determine a location’s north-south position.

The equator is at 0° latitude, while the North and South Poles are at 90° north and south, respectively.

Latitude affects climate because places near the equator receive more direct sunlight and are warmer, while areas farther from the equator tend to be cooler.

> Altitude is a measurement of vertical distance, usually measured from sea level. It tells us how high something is above a reference point — often used in geography and aviation.

In terms of climate, as altitude increases, the temperature decreases.

This is why high-altitude places like mountain peaks are colder, even if they’re located in tropical regions.

Inland areas, which are farther from the sea, experience more extreme temperatures, with hotter summers and colder winters.

An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of seawater generated by a number of forces acting upon the water, including wind, the Coriolis effect, breaking waves, cabbeling, and temperature and salinity differences.

Warm currents (like the Gulf Stream) make nearby coastal areas warmer.

Cold currents make climates cooler.

Air masses are large bodies of air with similar temperature and humidity, formed over specific areas.

These air masses are moved by high-level winds, which carry them to other regions.

As they move, they interact with other air masses, creating wind patterns and changing weather.

Wind brings these air masses — which may be hot, cold, dry, or moist — affecting a region’s climate.

Example: Monsoon winds bring seasonal rain to Southeast Asia.

It shows how land is shaped and how high or low it is, often through maps or charts that give a kind of "3D view" on a flat surface.

In terms of climate, topography plays a big role: mountains block wind and create a rain shadow effect.

The windward side gets heavy rain, while the leeward side stays dry — often turning into a desert.