Chapter 14, Problem 29Q

To determine

To Explain:

Why cities situated by the ocean tend to have less extreme temperatures than inland cities at the same latitude.

Answer to Problem 29Q

Solution:

Cities situated by the ocean tend to have less extreme temperatures than inland cities at the same latitude due to sea breeze and land breeze.

Explanation of Solution

In warm season, the land mass heats up more easily and quickly than the water. The air above the land warms and rises. The cool air over and above the ocean rushes in. The oceans absorb thermal energy from the surrounding areas, moderating the temperature. This is sea breeze.

In winters, the land remains cooler, the thermal energy released by ocean moderates the temperature of the nearby landmass. This is land breeze. Cities situated on the ocean have less extreme temperatures because the oceans are a heat reservoir. Due to ocean currents, the temperature of the ocean in a locale will be fairly constant during a season.