Why will coastal areas generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas in winter and coastal areas remain cool in summer?
Water has a higher heat capacity than soil and rock, so the ocean takes much longer to heat and to cool than the land. Coastal areas will generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas because of the heat capacity of the ocean. Coastal areas will generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas because of the heat capacity of the ocean. The specific heat capacity of water is very high. It is about five times that of sand. Hence, temperature change is much less in water than that of land. During summers, high pressure develops over the coastal lands, so the cold winds move from the sea to the land, reducing the temperature of the region. The reverse happens in winters when high pressure develops over the sea. The moderating influence decreases and the people experience extreme weather conditions because of increasing distance from the sea. Places which are located on coastal region experience moderate climate as they are affected by land and sea breezes. Equable type of climate is generally found in areas close to the sea. This climate is also known as a maritime climate. Moderate and well-distributed rainfall throughout the year is found in the equable type of climate.
Naresh,
Coastal areas generally experience more moderate temperatures than inland areas in winter and remain cool in summer due to the moderating effects of the ocean. The ocean has a large thermal mass, meaning it can absorb and store energy from the sun, and the water takes longer to heat up and cool down than land; This means that in winter, the ocean will release heat, keeping the air in coastal areas warmer than inland areas, while in summer, the sea will absorb heat, keeping the air in coastal areas cooler than inland areas. The ocean also affects the climate by influencing air pressure and the wind. In winter, cold air from inland areas is pushed out to sea by a prevailing wind from the land and replaced by warmer ocean air. It keeps the coastal areas warmer than inland areas. In summer, a prevailing wind from the sea pushes cooler air into coastal areas and keeps them cooler than inland areas. The ocean also creates a humid climate in coastal areas. Humidity can trap heat in the air, so in winter, the air in coastal areas will be warmer than inland areas due to the higher humidity. In summer, this high humidity will help keep coastal areas cooler than inland areas by trapping the heat and preventing it from rising. Finally, mountains or hills often sheltered coastal areas from cold winds. It will also help keep coastal areas warmer in winter and cooler in summer than inland areas.
Coastal areas generally experience more moderate temperatures than inland areas in winter and remain cool in summer due to the moderating effects of the ocean, the influence of wind and air pressure, the higher humidity levels, and the sheltering impact of mountains or hills.
References:
Hess, G. D. (2018). The ocean and climate change. In Encyclopedia of physical oceanography (pp. 463–479). Springer, Cham.
Logan, J. A., & McKinley, D. A. (2010). Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Morton, J. M. (2008). Weather and climate: A beginner's guide. London: Dorling Kindersley.
Water has a higher heat capacity than soil and rock, so the ocean takes much longer to heat and to cool than the land. Coastal areas will generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas because of the heat capacity of the ocean. Therefore, coastal climates are much more temperate because a body of water is nearby to regulate the temperature and keep it more constant. This means that coastal locations tend to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter than places inland at the same latitude and altitude. The sea has a moderating influence on the region close to it. Compared to land, water takes longer to heat and cool. Thus, oceans heat up and cool down slower than the land around them. Cool sea breeze keeps the coastal areas cooler in summer and warmer in winter than places far away from the sea. Large bodies of water such as oceans, seas, and large lakes affect the climate of an area. Water heats and cools more slowly than land. Therefore, in the summer, the coastal regions will stay cooler and in winter warmer. A more moderate climate with a smaller temperature range is created. As such, sand gets heated or cooled more rapidly as compared to water under the similar conditions. Thus a large difference in temperature is developed between the land and the sea due to which land and sea breezes are formed. These breezes make the climate near the sea shore moderate. The coastal areas hardly experience any seasonal change in the distribution pattern of temperature due to the moderating influence of the sea and proximity to the Equator. The sea has a moderating influence on the region close to it. Compared to land, water takes longer to heat and cool. Thus, oceans heat up and cool down slower than the land around them. Cool sea breeze keeps the coastal areas cooler in summer and warmer in winter than places far away from the sea. The specific heat capacity of water is very high. It is about five times that of sand. Hence, temperature change is much less in water than that of land. Because the coastal area have surrounded by sea and during summer the cold wind is coming from sea so the coastal area is cool in summer.
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