Temperature and Coastal Locations

What can we expect in terms of temperature differences between coastal and inland locations?

A) warmer summers and cooler winters
B) cooler summers and warmer winters
C) warmer summers and warmer winters
D) cooler summers and cooler winters

Answer:

A coastal location is likely to have warmer winters and cooler summers compared to an inland location of the same elevation and latitude (B).

The ocean has a moderating effect on temperature, causing coastal areas to have milder temperatures than inland areas. In the summer, the land heats up faster than the ocean, causing warm air to rise and cooler air to flow in from the ocean, resulting in cooler temperatures.

In the winter, the opposite occurs, where the land cools down faster than the ocean, causing warm air to flow in from the ocean and increasing temperatures. This results in warmer winters and cooler summers in coastal locations compared to inland locations at the same elevation and latitude.

Therefore, option A is incorrect, and option B is the correct answer. Coastal locations tend to have a more moderate climate, which can be beneficial for agriculture and other activities that are sensitive to temperature changes.