Question

A city located on the coast of North America has warmer winters and cooler summers than a city at the same elevation and latitude located near the center of North America. Which statement best explains the difference between the cities' climates?

A) Wind speeds are usually greater over land surfaces than over ocean surfaces.
B) Ocean surfaces have a lower specific heat than land surfaces.
C) Warm, moist air raised when it meets cool, dry air.
D) Ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly than land surfaces.

Answer 1

The difference in climate between coastal and inland North American cities at the same elevation and latitude is due to the high specific heat capacity of water, which causes ocean surfaces to change temperature more slowly than land surfaces, moderating coastal climates. So the correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best explanation for the difference in climates between a coastal city and one located near the center of North America is that ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly than land surfaces. This phenomenon is a result of the high specific heat capacity of water compared to land, meaning water absorbs and releases heat more slowly. Coastal regions benefit from this moderating effect, leading to milder winters and cooler summers.

During the day, warm land surfaces cause air to rise, creating a low-pressure area that draws in the cooler air from the ocean, known as a sea breeze. At night, the process reverses, as the land cools more rapidly than the ocean, and the flow of air changes direction. This exchange moderates temperatures in coastal areas.

Moreover, ocean currents also play a significant role in transporting heat across vast distances, further influencing the climate of coastal regions and making them differ from the climates of interior locations, which are more subject to more extreme temperatures due to their lack of proximity to large bodies of water.

Answer 2

I don't like any of those choices. But if you absolutely have to pick your answer
from this list, then it has to be 'D'.

The ocean is an enormous storage vessel for heat. It gets heat from the air in
the Summer ... which somewhat cools places near the coast ... and it releases
heat into the air during the Winter ... which warms places near the coast.

So I guess it's true that ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly than
land surfaces do, and they influence the land nearby in the process. But this
ignores the reason for the slow changes in ocean surface temperature. It's a
lot like saying that the loud noise produced by a race car is the result of the
car's ability to appear in a far different location after a short time.