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I know that the rule for temp change with altitude is usually between 2 and 3C (3.6 to 5.4F) for every 1000 ft but am wondering if there is such a rule with latitude (assuming elev is same as well as continentality)
How much latitude change (assuming we are talking about the mid-latitudes) does it take to offset a 1000 ft elev change in terms of average temperature. I know it varies a lot, but just a ballpark figure all other things being equal.
For example, is it usually warmer at the summit of Mt Rogers (highest point in Virginia at 5700ft at 36.5 degrees latitude) or on the summit of Coburn Mtn in Northern Maine which is at 45.5 degrees latitude but only 3700 ft??
Too many variables at play for most of the Earth, but I'm sure a temperature average map somewhere big and flat like Siberia would go some way towards answering that. The Lofoten islands off the west coast of Norway at 67N have an average January temperature above freezing despite being in the Arctic Circle, it would be interesting to see where at sea level (or below, say 1000ft) is the lowest latitude you can get with winters just as cold.
Too many variables at play for most of the Earth, but I'm sure a temperature average map somewhere big and flat like Siberia would go some way towards answering that. The Lofoten islands off the west coast of Norway at 67N have an average January temperature above freezing despite being in the Arctic Circle, it would be interesting to see where at sea level (or below, say 1000ft) is the lowest latitude you can get with winters just as cold.
From what I can tell, the lowest sea level location with an average temperature the same as Lofoten in the coldest month (January) would be somewhere between Qingdao, China (36N) and Nanjing, China (32N), perhaps somewhere like Yancheng?
I think it would be more useful to use average annual temperatures instead of coldest month temperatures as a way of measuring isotherms around the globe as ben86 said, there are too many local factors that influence temperatures at different times of the year.
From what I can tell, the lowest sea level location with an average temperature the same as Lofoten in the coldest month (January) would be somewhere between Qingdao, China (36N) and Nanjing, China (32N), perhaps somewhere like Yancheng?
Wow, if it's had an average of 0.5C over the last four years it's quite possible that it's below freezing for the last 30 years, so that will do for me, and at 33N too, unbelievable when you think about what 33N is like at my longlitude.
^^ I don't think there is a pan-European weather office which publishes maps the same way the NWS does for the US but a 0C isotherm in Europe would look pretty odd, roughly running southerly parallel to the west coast of Norway, then right down through Denmark perhaps into central Germany, then southeast towards Romania maybe? The Alps would complicate things further, as would the southern Baltic coast.
How are temperatures in places which are lower than sea level????
To the first question, it depends on lenght of lattitudes. Brazil's highest point it's almost 9000ft and near 0º lat. It's as cold as Cantareira ridge which borders São Paulo and it's only 3600ft, but on 23º27' south, with lows in 40F.
Another peak on 20º lat.south( Bandeira peak) it's 8700 feet tall and sometimes sees temps around 12F in winter. In these cases, latitude plays an important role.
How are temperatures in places which are lower than sea level????
To the first question, it depends on lenght of lattitudes. Brazil's highest point it's almost 9000ft and near 0º lat. It's as cold as Cantareira ridge which borders São Paulo and it's only 3600ft, but on 23º27' south, with lows in 40F.
Another peak on 20º lat.south( Bandeira peak) it's 8700 feet tall and sometimes sees temps around 12F in winter. In these cases, latitude plays an important role.
There are not that many places below sea level, and >100 metres below sea level is extremely rare.
Death Valley is infamous for being below sea level, and temperatures are somewhat of an anomaly, even for the low elevation.
There is only Lake Eyre down under that is below sea level, and there is no weather station there.
On the subject of altitude above sea level, the 1st 300-400 metres seems to make very little difference to temperatures relative to adjacent places at sea level.
Above this, there seems to be as almost linear relationship between temperature and elevation.
Going due south of Toronto at 43.5 N
travelling 9.5 degrees closer to the equator will net a full 20 F (12 C) in annual mean increase.
That difference is staggering imho,
and I can drive that distance within 15 hrs from my house.
It's often frustrating for me "... So close, yet so far..."
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