Climate and Proximity to Water

Which factor most likely causes two cities at the same elevation and latitude to have different yearly average temperature ranges?

• rotation of Earth 
• distance from a large body of water 
• duration of insolation 
• direction of prevailing winds 

Springfield, Missouri, and San Francisco, California, are at similar latitudes, but they have very different climates. Springfield has very hot summers and cold winters, while San Francisco has the same temperatures all year. What is the most likely reason these two cities have such different climates?

• the amount of sunlight on each city 
• the distance of each city from an ocean 
• the elevation above sea level of each city 
• the distance of each city from the equator 

Compared to an inland location, a location on an ocean shore at the same elevation and latitude is likely to have 

• cooler winters and cooler summers 
• cooler winters and warmer summers 
• warmer winters and cooler summers 
• warmer winters and warmer summers 

Large oceans moderate the climatic temperatures of surrounding coastal land areas because the temperature of ocean water changes....

• rapidly, due to water's low specific heat 
• rapidly, due to water's high specific heat 
• slowly, due to water's low specific heat 
• slowly, due to water's high specific heat 

A city located on the coast of North America has warmer winters and cooler summers than a city at the same elevation and latitude located near the center of North America. Which statement best explains the difference between the climates of the two cities?

• ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly than land surfaces 
• warm, moist air rises when it meets cool, dry air 
• wind speeds are usually greater over land than over ocean water 
• water has a lower specific heat than land 

The graph below shows the average temperatures for cities A and B for 1 year. 

• Both cities are in the Northern Hemisphere, with city A inland and city B on the coast
• Both cities are in the Southern Hemisphere, with city A inland and city B on the coast.
• Both cities are in the Northern Hemisphere, with city A on the coast and city B is inland.
• Both cities are in the Southern Hemisphere, with city A on the coast and city B is inland.

When comparing temperatures of two California regions on the same latitude, students found that the nighttime temperatures dropped significantly at the desert site but only slightly at the coastal site. This difference is most likely caused by

• Lower wind speeds in the desert that at the coast

• Less water vapor in the desert than at the coast

• Lower carbon dioxide levels in the desert than at the coast

• Less vegetation in the desert than at the coast

In most areas of Ohio, the frost-free growing season is 150 to 180 days. Farms close to Lake Erie has a growing season closer to 200 days. One explanation of this facts is that

• crops grown around the lake are frost resistant
• industries around the lake prevent early freezes
• irrigation water from the lake freezes at a lower temperature
• heat given off by the lake extends the number of frost-free days

City Y is near an ocean. City X is 200 kilometers inland. The average temperature of City X is hotter than the average temperature of City Y during the summer, but colder than City Y in the winter. Which statement best explains the milder weather in City Y?

• Warm winds from the land keep the temperature mild all year long. 
• The ocean water warms the air in winter and keeps it cooler in summer.
• The ocean always floods City Y keeping it near 75˚F all year.
• City Y is to the south of City X

Which statement best explains why climates at continental shorelines generally have a smaller yearly temperature range than inland climates at the same latitude?

• Land is a poor absorber and a poor conductor of heat energy
• Land changes temperature rapidly, due to the low specific heat and lack of transparency of land
• Ocean water is a good absorber and a good conductor of heat energy
• Ocean water changes temperature slowly, due to the low specific heat and transparency of water