Final answer:
Coastal climates are moderated by the ocean's heat inertia, leading to cooler summers and milder winters compared to inland areas. This is due to water heating and cooling more slowly than land, which stabilizes temperatures year-round.
Step-by-step explanation:
Coastal areas tend to experience more moderate weather compared to inland areas due to the influence of large bodies of water like oceans. The heat inertia of water means it heats and cools much more slowly than land does, resulting in coastal climates that are less variable and more moderate, even in places far north that would otherwise experience extreme temperatures. During the summer, one can expect that coastal areas would be cooler than inland regions because the ocean absorbs and retains heat more slowly. Likewise, winters along the coast are typically milder than those experienced inland because the ocean retains heat from the summer longer, releasing it slowly over time.
Facts such as Norway's coastal areas remaining ice-free through winter despite being within the Arctic region, and Canada's west coast receiving significant precipitation, illustrate how nearby water bodies moderate local climates. Similarly, urban areas in Australia like Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide experience moderate Type C climates because they are near the ocean, which tends to stabilize temperatures throughout the year, making them more mild compared to the greater fluctuations found in inland or more extreme latitudinal locations.