What geographic factor is crucial in determining climate according to the evidence for continental drift?

Latitude is a crucial geographic factor in determining climate, especially in the context of continental drift. Latitude refers to the distance of a location from the equator, measured in degrees. Because Earth receives sunlight differently at various latitudes, this significantly impacts temperature, weather patterns, and overall climate.

As continents have drifted over geological time, their positions relative to the equator and poles have changed, which in turn has altered their climates. For example, regions near the equator typically experience warm temperatures year-round and have distinct wet and dry seasons, while areas near the poles are much colder and have different climatic traits.

The implications of latitude in climate extend to the distribution of ecosystems and human activities, as different latitudes support diverse types of flora and fauna adapted to the climatic conditions. Such considerations reinforce the importance of latitude in understanding both current climates and historical climate changes that have occurred due to continental drift.