Q28Q Explain why cities situated by t... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 14: Q28Q (page 390)

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

Short Answer

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In winter, the temperature of the cities is cooler than the ocean. The temperature of the oceans remains above the freezing point. Oceans will moderate the temperature and release their thermal energy to have less extreme temperatures than the inland cities.

Step by step solution

Understanding the temperature variation in the oceans

The ocean is considered as a heat reservoir source. The temperature of the ocean remains constant because of the ocean currents. The ocean temperature is above the freezing point in the winter season. Due to the temperature variation, the heat interaction takes place in the ocean.

Explanation for why cities situated nearby oceans tend to have less extreme temperature than inland cities at the same latitude.

If the surrounding air near the ocean gets colder than the ocean, then, there will be a release of thermal (heat) energy. The ocean will maintain the temperature of the surrounding.

Similarly, in the warmer seasons, the ocean's temperature will get colder than the air around it.

The surrounding air and cities will heat the environment more as compared to the ocean water. The absorption of thermal energy from the atmosphere by the ocean takes place. This leads to a moderate temperature at that place.

In the daytime, a slow temperature rise in the oceans compared to inland cities takes place. Inland cities are hotter during the daytime due to sun鈥檚 heat energy. However, at night, the oceans cool slowly as compared to the inland cities.

The temperatures of the nearby cities around the ocean will not decrease. This will result in less change in the daytime and nighttime temperatures of the nearby cities. So, the nearby cities have less extreme temperatures than the inland cities.

Thus, from the above explanation, it can be stated that the cities near the ocean tend to have less extreme temperatures than the inland cities situated at the same level of latitude.