climatic controls

The relatively permanent factors which govern the general nature of the climate of a portion of the earth, including solar radiation, distribution of land and water masses, elevation and large-scale topography, and ocean currents.

Related terms:

• climatic factor
• climatic forecast
• climatic prediction
• climatic divide
• climatic province
• climatic change
• climatic classification
• climatic zone
• climatic cycle
• solar-topographic theory