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This is a spin-off from a thread about Antarctica (link below).
In most places (like California) the ocean is cooler than the land. If you're at the beach in LA and drive to Pasadena it might be nine degrees cooler. But during the night, it might be different.
Are there places in the world where the ocean is actually warmer than the land? Antarctica might be one case.
Also, if you go to a lake like the Salt Lake in Utah or the Great Lakes, is it generally cooler right near the lake than, say, 5 miles away from the lake?
Also, if you go to a lake like the Salt Lake in Utah or the Great Lakes, is it generally cooler right near the lake than, say, 5 miles away from the lake?
I can speak regarding a lake(Erie to be exact), it depends on the time of year, in the fall close to the lake is warmer than farther away but in early spring it is colder closer to the lake.
Check any book on microclimates. Ocean/lake/land temperature differentials are created by the water having a much greater specific heat and conductivity than land. There are also complications creared by warm/cold currents and associated external gyres. then there id the solar insolation and energy absorbtion and reradiation.
This is why Boston is great in the Fall and cool, wet and mostly miserable until mid June.
The Gulfstream in the Atlantic moves up the shore of the US and heads over to northern Europe. That is why the winters are more mild there compared to the same latitude in North America.
This is a spin-off from a thread about Antarctica (link below).
In most places (like California) the ocean is cooler than the land. If you're at the beach in LA and drive to Pasadena it might be nine degrees cooler. But during the night, it might be different.
Are there places in the world where the ocean is actually warmer than the land? Antarctica might be one case.
Also, if you go to a lake like the Salt Lake in Utah or the Great Lakes, is it generally cooler right near the lake than, say, 5 miles away from the lake?
Oceans are better heat-sinks than land, but do not confuse that with currents. As Retroit suggests, currents warm the east North American coast, and cool the west North American coast, at least around California.
There is a warm current that starts in the south Chinese sea and moves north through the Pacific, past Japan and through Alaska before heading south (now much cooler) through Washington, Oregon and California.
It is why the coastlines of Washington and Oregon have mild winters, and why the coastline of California is cooler in the summer than the interior. The same current that cools the coastline of California during the summer, warms the Alaska coastline during the winter.
The Gulfstream in the Atlantic moves up the shore of the US and heads over to northern Europe. That is why the winters are more mild there compared to the same latitude in North America.
Same applies to the northwest coast of America, the Pacific current warms that area of North America, also causes Washington's relatively warm and wet climate.
This is a spin-off from a thread about Antarctica (link below).
In most places (like California) the ocean is cooler than the land. If you're at the beach in LA and drive to Pasadena it might be nine degrees cooler. But during the night, it might be different.
Are there places in the world where the ocean is actually warmer than the land? Antarctica might be one case.
Also, if you go to a lake like the Salt Lake in Utah or the Great Lakes, is it generally cooler right near the lake than, say, 5 miles away from the lake?
The ocean off the coast of California is cold because the ocean current there originates off the coast of Alaska. The ocean off the east coast is warmer because the current there originates from the Caribbean.
Lake Effect Snow occurs in Michigan and New York State, because the Great Lakes, at certain times of the year, are warmer than the land downwind. So humid air passes or forms over the Great Lakes, and then precipitation occurs when it reaches the colder land masses.
Similarly, Newfoundland gets very heavy snow in winter, because the land cools to a lower temperature than the surrounding oceans, which are influenced by the Gulf Stream.
Check any book on microclimates. Ocean/lake/land temperature differentials are created by the water having a much greater specific heat and conductivity than land. There are also complications creared by warm/cold currents and associated external gyres. then there id the solar insolation and energy absorbtion and reradiation.
This is why Boston is great in the Fall and cool, wet and mostly miserable until mid June.
Nobody said this was easy.
Ever been to Grey's Beach in Kingston, Ma., Greg? Like bathwater. Lucky them!
Ever been to Grey's Beach in Kingston, Ma., Greg? Like bathwater. Lucky them!
The average water temperate in the oceans around here is 34°F. A bit nippy during the summer, but positively balmy during the winter.
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