Why is there in Florida more rain than in Israel although the north part of Israel is in a higher latitude (closer to the north pole to be more accurate) than the north part of Florida? The north end of Florida is in latitude 30° 45′ N and the north end of Israel is in latitude 33° 12′ N.

Another question: Why is Montreal (Canada) colder than Zurich (Switzerland) although Zurich's latitude is higher (or closer to the north pole to be more accurate) than Montreal's? Shouldn't a place of a higher latitude be colder than a place of a lower latitude?

many many factors,not just latitude.

I know there's been some debate about this since the issue of climate change but generally, one of the main factors of the warmer climate in Europe is the Gulf Stream. I would suggest you try to look it up. It's a current in the Atlantic ocean that gets warmed at the equator to eventually head towards Europe and provide a milder weather.

Why is there in Florida more rain than in Israel although the north part of Israel is in a higher latitude (closer to the north pole to be more accurate) than the north part of Florida? The north end of Florida is in latitude 30° 45′ N and the north end of Israel is in latitude 33° 12′ N.

Another question: Why is Montreal (Canada) colder than Zurich (Switzerland) although Zurich's latitude is higher (or closer to the north pole to be more accurate) than Montreal's? Shouldn't a place of a higher latitude be colder than a place of a lower latitude?

As has already been mentioned, there are many more factors than just simple latitude. There is altitude, ocean currents, air currents like the jet streams, and topographical features like mountains and deep valleys.

For two good examples, consider the effects of the Gulf Stream on Europe (as was mentioned) and the backbone of mountains in Peru. In the case of the latter, it causes all the rain to fall on one side of the mountains and that causes the other side - at exactly the same latitude - to be a dry, parched desert.

I know there's been some debate about this since the issue of climate change but generally, one of the main factors of the warmer climate in Europe is the Gulf Stream. I would suggest you try to look it up. It's a current in the Atlantic ocean that gets warmed at the equator to eventually head towards Europe and provide a milder weather.It's just the Coriolis Force. Water and air rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere in reaction to the earth beneath them rotating the other way.

So the Gulf Stream actually rotates in the opposite direction from what you suggest. It picks up warm water in the tropics and rotates it clockwise along the Atlantic coast of the USA. Then it continues north and picks up cold water in the arctic region, and carries that water down along the coastline of Europe.

This is why the seawater off the coast of Florida is rather balmy for swimming, whereas at the same latitude off the Pacific coast of southern California, where the water has come down from Alaska, it's downright cold.

It's just the Coriolis Force. Water and air rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere in reaction to the earth beneath them rotating the other way.

So the Gulf Stream actually rotates in the opposite direction from what you suggest. It picks up warm water in the tropics and rotates it clockwise along the Atlantic coast of the USA. Then it continues north and picks up cold water in the arctic region, and carries that water down along the coastline of Europe.

This is why the seawater off the coast of Florida is rather balmy for swimming, whereas at the same latitude off the Pacific coast of southern California, where the water has come down from Alaska, it's downright cold.

Fraggle, I cannot tell for sure but I think you've fallen in the trap of a very common misconception. For instance, your first paragraph about water and air moving in the opposite direction of the Earth's rotation is a fallacy. The jet streams move from West to East in BOTH hemispheres. And the warm water in the Gulf Stream moves from Southwest to Northeast - you will note that all of that is moving in exactly the same direction that the Earth is rotating - West to East.

If the world was a perfectly smooth sphere and nothing impeded the flow, warm air and water would flow directly North. And cold air and water would flow directly South. But the surface is irregular so that those currents cannot just follow their "natural" heat-driven path.

Now... the Coriolis effect does come into play in the case of the jet streams. And there are boundaries that keep them more or less in place. The primary factors that determine their location are called "hydrostatic" and "geostropic." The latter is the one in which the Coriolis force is a factor. They also meander North and South by what is called a Rossby wave.

I won't fault you for it because few people study such things in college (I did mine years ago) and it's all covered in Meteorology-102.:)

latitude cant be the only thing involved in climate. Look at sydney compared to alice springs or melbourne (and the whole of victoria) compared to perth. Its much hotter on the west coast than it is in vic and sydney has ALOT more rain in an hour than alice springs has in a few years

Double post

latitude cant be the only thing involved in climate.

Yeah I agree. It simply can't be the only controlling factor. For example Florida is colder and has more rain than in Israel although the north part of Israel is in a higher latitude (closer to the north pole to be more accurate) than the north part of Florida. The north end of Florida is in latitude 30° 45′ N and the north end of Israel is in latitude 33° 12′ N. Does it have to do with the jet stream and Florida's proxmity to the atlantic ocean?

Yeah I agree. It simply can't be the only controlling factor. For example Florida is colder and has more rain than in Israel although the north part of Israel is in a higher latitude (closer to the north pole to be more accurate) than the north part of Florida. The north end of Florida is in latitude 30° 45′ N and the north end of Israel is in latitude 33° 12′ N. Does it have to do with the jet stream and Florida's proxmity to the atlantic ocean?

Uhh. It seems to me you are under the false impression that northern latitudes have more rainfall than the tropics. WTF?

It is true that in the midlatitude highs you don't have as much rain as say when you get to 50N or so (Low pressure latitudes). That being said, the tropics have much more rainfall than higher latitudes!!!

I was shocked to hear you think northern latitudes should have more rainfall. Also, don't forget coastal areas will see lower temperatures in the summer compared to same latitude but more inland areas. And coastal areas will have warmer winters, compared to inland areas of the same latitude (generally).

This is because water as a high latent heat of vaporization and can absorb quite a lot of thermal energy which then takes a long time to give off the heat as winter approaches. It's a moderating influence on the climate in these areas...

Yeah I agree. It simply can't be the only controlling factor. For example Florida is colder and has more rain than in Israel although the north part of Israel is in a higher latitude (closer to the north pole to be more accurate) than the north part of Florida. The north end of Florida is in latitude 30° 45′ N and the north end of Israel is in latitude 33° 12′ N. Does it have to do with the jet stream and Florida's proxmity to the atlantic ocean?

Have you actually read all the responses you received in this thread?? It doesn't seem so...

I think its the other way around, climate determines latitude.... You live in a hot desert, you want to go somewhere better, so you move somewhere "better." K sorry, that was dumb....

Have you actually read all the responses you received in this thread?? It doesn't seem so...

Yes i did. Thanks for the reply. But i still don't understand why Florida is colder than Israel although Israel's latitude is higher?

I think its the other way around, climate determines latitude.... You live in a hot desert, you want to go somewhere better, so you move somewhere "better." K sorry, that was dumb....

Even if you live in the Sahara desert, you can't just move to anywhere you like. There are laws which control movement, especially immigration laws. I want to move to Canada (a cold country) but i can't because there are immigration laws which control the movement of people into Canada.