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Discuss (and explain) why southern hemisphere summers are not warmer (on average) than the northern hemisphere summers, even though the earth is closer to the sun in January than in July.

User Zaak
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Answer:The reason why southern hemisphere summers are not warmer (on average) than northern hemisphere summers is because of the difference in landmass distribution between the two hemispheres. The southern hemisphere has a higher percentage of ocean surface area compared to the northern hemisphere, which has a higher percentage of land surface area. Water has a higher heat capacity than land, which means that it takes more energy to heat up water than it does to heat up land. As a result, the ocean absorbs more of the sun's energy during the southern hemisphere summer, which helps to moderate the temperature and prevent it from becoming too hot. Additionally, the ocean has a moderating effect on the surrounding land, which also helps to keep temperatures from becoming too extreme. In contrast, the land in the northern hemisphere absorbs more of the sun's energy during the summer, which can lead to higher temperatures. Therefore, the difference in landmass distribution between the two hemispheres is the main reason why southern hemisphere summers are not warmer (on average) than northern hemisphere summers, despite the fact that the Earth is closer to the sun during the southern hemisphere summer.

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User Altercation
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