Ireland's Climate (Junior Cert Geography): Revision Notes

Ireland's Climate

Factors affecting the Irish Climate

The Irish Climate is a cool temperate oceanic climate. This climate is cauased by a variety of factors:

Latitude

• Ireland lies between 51.5° and 55.5° north of the equator.
• This gives Ireland a cool and temperate oceanic climate.
• It's not as warm as countries near the equator, but it's also not as cold as areas closer to the poles.
• The south-east of Ireland is closer to the equator than the north, so it gets more sunshine.
• As a result, the south-east is often referred to as the 'sunny south-east.'

Altitude

• Ireland's landscape is bowl-shaped, with low-lying central plains and surrounding mountains.
• Mountains are highest in the south-west of Ireland, while the lowlands are mostly in the Central Plain.
• Temperature decreases by 1°C for every 150 metres you go up in altitude.
• Higher areas, like mountains in the north and west, are cooler than lower areas.

Time of Year/Seasons

• In winter, Ireland gets more rainfall because of its location and the effects of prevailing winds, which bring rain-bearing depressions.
• In summer, these winds come from the north and bring drier weather.

Ocean Currents

• Ireland's climate is also influenced by ocean currents like the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic.
• This current turns into the North Atlantic Drift, which keeps Ireland's west coast free from ice in winter and warms the air.

Prevailing Winds

• The prevailing winds in Ireland are the south-westerlies, which blow from the southwest.
• These winds come from warmer areas and pick up moisture from the Atlantic Ocean.
• When these moisture-rich winds hit the west coast of Ireland, they rise, cool, and release rain, particularly on the west coast.
• By the time these winds reach the east, they lose much of their moisture, making the east drier than the west.