Question: why are some places hot and some places are cold

Ceri-Wyn Thomas answered on 24 Jun 2010:

The climate of any place is controlled by many factors. Probably the most important
one is the
distance we are from the sun. The equator, the ‘fattest’ part of the earth, is
nearest to the sun,
so it gets more of it’s heat. As you go north or south, the sun is further away, so
it is cooler, until
you reach the poles, which are the coolest. Additionally, as you go towards the
poles the curve of the
earth means that the sun’s rays arrive at a greater angle, so they have to get
through more atmosphere,
and are cooler by the time they reach us.

Another important control is the circulation of the oceans. For example the
Gulfstream current brings
warm water from the Caribbean across the Atlantic to us, meaning that we are much
warmer in winter than
places in Canada, which are just as far North as us. It is this Gulfstream current
that means that
we are not totally frozen over all winter like Canada, so we get to play football
and rugby rather than
ice-hockey.

Thanks for a really good question, there are loads of things that control regional
climates, some of
which scientists are still trying to fully understand.