Geography · Economic geography
Climate & economy
How weather patterns shape jobs and markets.
Weather shapes what we grow
Climate (long-term weather patterns) decides which crops farmers can grow. Rice needs hot, wet conditions like monsoon Asia. Wheat prefers cooler, drier climates like Canada. Cocoa trees thrive in tropical rainforests near the Equator. Farmers choose crops that suit their local rainfall and temperature. If the climate changes, farmers must adapt or switch crops.
Tourism follows the sunshine
Warm, sunny weather attracts millions of tourists each year. Mediterranean countries like Spain earn billions from beach holidays. Ski resorts in the Alps depend on cold winters and heavy snowfall. Monsoon rains can close tourist sites in Southeast Asia. Extreme weather—hurricanes or droughts—can damage tourism income overnight.
Energy markets and weather
Cold winters increase demand for heating fuel like gas and oil. Hot summers boost electricity use for air conditioning. Wind farms produce more power on breezy coastlines. Solar panels work best in sunny, cloudless regions. Countries invest in energy sources that match their climate patterns.
Fishing and ocean currents
Ocean temperature and currents control where fish swim. Cold currents bring nutrients that attract shoals (large groups) of fish. Warm El Niño events shift fish populations and hurt fishing industries. Fishermen follow seasonal patterns to catch tuna, cod or sardines. Climate change is warming seas and moving fish to new areas.
Worked examples
1. Why do vineyards (grape farms) cluster in southern France and not northern Scotland?
- Grapes need warm summers and mild winters to ripen properly.
- Southern France has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
- Northern Scotland is much colder with shorter growing seasons and less sunshine.
- Climate makes southern France ideal for wine production; Scotland suits different crops like barley.
2. How might a long drought affect jobs in a farming region of Kenya?
- Drought means little rainfall, so crops fail and livestock die from lack of water and food.
- Farmers earn less money because they have less produce to sell at markets.
- Food-processing factories may close or reduce workers because there is less to process.
- Jobs in transport, shops and restaurants also decline as the local economy shrinks.
3. Why does Norway invest heavily in hydroelectric power instead of solar farms?
- Norway has many mountains, glaciers and rivers with fast-flowing water.
- Hydroelectric dams use falling water to generate electricity efficiently.
- Norway's climate is cloudy with long, dark winters, so solar panels produce less energy.
- Matching energy sources to climate and landscape is more reliable and cost-effective.
Try it yourself
Australia's wheat belt is in the south-east. Explain why wheat farming is less common in tropical northern Australia.
Ready to test yourself?
Take a short topic test — every question maps to a syllabus point so you’ll see exactly which parts you’ve mastered.