World Mean Sea-Level Temperatures in January

Human perception of temperature
Anything that influences the rate of heat loss from the body also influences the sensation of temperature
Important factors are
Air temperature
Relative humidity
Wind speed
Sunshine

Temperature variations
Receipt of solar radiation is the most important control

Temperature maps
Isotherm – a line connecting places of equal temperature
Temperatures are adjusted to sea level
January and July are used for analysis because they represent the temperature extremes

Global temperature patterns  
Temperature decreases poleward from the tropics
Isotherms exhibit a latitudinal shift with the seasons
Warmest and coldest temperatures occur over land

Global temperature patterns  
In the Southern Hemisphere
Isotherms are straighter
Isotherms are more stable
Isotherms show ocean currents
Annual temperature range
Small near equator
Increases with an increase in latitude
Greatest over continental locations