Final answer:
The two main factors used to determine the climate of a region are temperature and rainfall, which affect biomes and are influenced by geographical features and other conditions such as elevation and ocean currents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two main factors used to determine the climate of a region are temperature and rainfall. These elements are crucial in defining the long-term weather patterns, which include averages of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, and rainfall over long periods. These patterns dictate the type of biome or natural environment in a region. For instance, a desert typically has high temperatures and low rainfall, whereas a rainforest has high temperature and high rainfall.
Temperature influences the amount of moisture that air can hold, with warmer air being capable of holding more moisture, leading to higher precipitation levels in tropical areas. Meanwhile, geographic features such as mountain ranges and large bodies of water also affect both temperature and rainfall. Mountains can block rain, creating what is known as a rain shadow on the leeward side, whereas bodies of water tend to moderate climate, leading to milder temperatures and often more rainfall.
The Köppen-Geiger classification system breaks down climate into six basic types (A, B, C, D, E, and H), reflecting differences in temperature and precipitation. Additional factors like elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, and position on a continent also contribute to the temperature, precipitation, and overall distribution of climate regions.