If insolation receipt were the only variable controlling the distribution of tem

Question

If insolation receipt were the only variable controlling the distribution of temperature, then how would the isotherms on a temperature map be oriented? If insolation receipt were the only variable controlling the distribution of temperature, then how would the isotherms on a temperature map be oriented? If insolation receipt were the only variable controlling the distribution of temperature, then how would the isotherms on a temperature map be oriented? If insolation receipt were the only variable controlling the distribution of temperature, then how would the isotherms on a temperature map be oriented?

Explanation / Answer

Isotherms are imaginary lines connecting places having equal temperature. It is useful for representing the global distribution of temperature. The horizontal or latitudinal distribution of temperature is represented by the help of a map with isotherms. Isotherms are drawn after reducing the temperature of the place to sea level to eliminate the effects of altitude. Isotherms is parallel with the latitude mainly because on the same latitude, the same amount of insolation is received by all the points. But, temperatures above the oceans and landmasses vary even on the same latitude due to differential heating of land and water. The characteristics of isotherm are given below

General Isothermal Trend: The highest temperatures occur over tropics and sub-tropics due to the higher amount of insolation is received by all the points. So, the temperature gradient is generally more widely spaced over tropics. The lowest temperatures occur in continents due to the effect of continentality. It is represented by the close spaced temperature gradient over middle and higher latitudes and over the eastern margins of continents. The irregularity of isotherms indicates temperature contrast between land and sea over the northern hemisphere due to predominance of land over water in the north, the northern hemisphere is warmer. Generally the thermal equator lies to the north of geographical equator. The isotherms show a pole-ward shift due to warm ocean currents which is very much marked over the eastern side of the North Atlantic due to the combined effect of North Atlantic Drift and Gulf Stream coupled with the Westerlies. Pole-ward shifting of isotherm is also marked over the North Pacific due to the combined effect of Kuroshio Current and North Pacific Current and the Westerlies. While passing from the continents to the oceans, there is a slight distortion in isotherms because the belt of high temperature widens over the continents. It is more prominent in the northern hemisphere. Mountains has the great role in horizontal distribution of temperature. Such as, the Rockies and the Andes stop the oceanic influence from going inwards into North and South America.

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