Final answer:
Ocean currents affect air temperature by bringing warm or cold water from different regions, with warm currents usually raising and cold currents lowering local temperatures. Buenos Aires is warmed by the Brazil Current, while Cape Town is cooled by the Benguela Current.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ocean currents significantly influence the air temperature of coastal cities like Buenos Aires and Cape Town. Warm currents, such as El Niño, can increase temperatures by bringing warm water from lower latitudes towards the pole, affecting weather patterns globally. Conversely, cold currents can lead to a cooling effect in nearby regions. In the case of Buenos Aires, located on the east coast of South America, the influence of the warm Brazil Current helps to moderate temperatures.
Cape Town, located on the southwest coast of South Africa, can be influenced by the cold Benguela Current, which can cool the air temperature. The complexity of oceanic and atmospheric interactions like the Coriolis effect and convection further illustrates the dynamic relationship between oceanic currents and regional climates, contributing to patterns such as sea breezes that affect the daily temperatures of coastal cities.