Your Turn
The Seasonal Temperature Learning Tool. shows some interesting differences in the effects of proximity to the two different oceans.
- Use the tool to compare Victoria and St. John's, and also Edmonton and Timmins. What do you observe?
- Given that the Pacific Ocean near Victoria is typically at least 5 oC warmer than the Atlantic near St. John's, speculate as to why you see this effect.
Click here to show answer
- Victoria and St. John's are the same distance from their respective oceans, but St. John's displays a significantly higher seasonal temperature variation. The same is true of Edmonton and Timmins.
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Recall from our earlier discussions that
. This equation shows that the greater the temperature change involved, the more heat that is transferred. Thus, in winter, a warmer ocean transfers more heat to the land, raising its temperature more. In the summer, the ocean also accepts less heat from the land, lowering the land's temperature less, but this effect is less marked.
Overall, therefore, a warmer ocean can moderate land temperatures more efficiently.