Final answer:
Climate and weather variations at different latitudes and microclimates are influenced by factors such as latitude, elevation, wind systems, ocean currents, geographic position, and mountain barriers. Changes in these factors affect temperature, precipitation, and climate region distribution. Events like El Nino also contribute to global weather pattern changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Variations in climate and weather at different latitudes and microclimates are driven by several important factors including elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, the geographic position on a continent, and mountain barriers. Each of these factors contributes to the temperature, precipitation, and the distribution of climate regions globally.
For instance, the tilt of the earth on its axis by 23.5 degrees causes variations in the direct angle of sunlight received, particularly at polar regions which leads to a cooler climate due to more reflected sunlight. Places at lower latitudes that receive more direct sunlight experience a warmer climate.
Additionally, events such as El Nino, a warm ocean current that flows along the west coast of South America, leads to changes in weather patterns across the globe, possibly resulting in extreme weather in some zones. Furthermore, global precipitation and climate patterns are affected by the size and position of continents, major ocean currents, and mountain ranges.
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