Question

Mowe Bay and Townsville are the same distance from the equator, and they are both near the ocean. Using the information in the map, how does the air temperature of Mowe Bay compare to the air temperature of Townsville? Why?

a) Mowe Bay is hotter than Townsville due to its proximity to the equator.

b) Townsville is hotter than Mowe Bay due to its proximity to the equator.

c) Mowe Bay and Townsville have similar temperatures due to their equal distance from the equator and ocean.

d) The map does not provide enough information to compare the air temperatures.

Answer 1

Mowe Bay and Townsville likely have similar temperatures due to their equal distance from the equator and proximity to the ocean, which moderates the climate.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comparing the air temperatures of Mowe Bay and Townsville, which are the same distance from the equator and both near the ocean, we can infer that Mowe Bay and Townsville likely have similar temperatures. This is because their equal distance from the equator typically grants them the same amount of solar radiation. Furthermore, being near the ocean, their climates are moderated by the sea's influence, which tends to cool air temperatures in summer and warm them in winter compared to inland areas. Important factors like specific heat capacities of water and land, and direction and intensity of ocean currents can cause variations, but the information provided does not specify such details, so we base our answer on the typical influence of latitude and proximity to the sea.