Chapter 5 – Earth’s Weather Lesson 3 – Oceans & Air Temperature

How do oceans affect temperature on land? Land heats up faster than water. Think of how the sand is hotter than the water at the beach. So, air over water is cooler than air over land.

How do oceans affect temperature on land? Coastal areas are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. climate: the average weather conditions of an area

What are ocean currents? current: an ongoing movement of ocean water

What are ocean currents? Warm currents heat up the air above the water and the land the currents pass by. Cold currents cool off the land they pass by.

What are ocean currents? During El Niño, storms affect the coasts of North and South America.

All images courtesy of Microsoft Office Online.