Temperature

Temperature patterns on the earth's surface vary with lattitude and with altitude. Altitude is the vertical distance below or above sea level. The temperature pattern of a region may also be affected by the presence of nearby major geographic features, such as a mountain or an ocean.

The warmest average temperature on the earth's surface occur around the equator. Travelling north or south of the equator, the average temperatures drop. The North and South poles are the coldest regions on earth. Temperatures also drop with increasing altitude. Thus, the tops of high mountains may be snow-covered even at the equator.