Lesson 3 – Oceans & Air Temperature © Brent Coley 2010 |

Land heats up faster than water. 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. So, air over water is cooler than air over land.

Coastal areas are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Coastal areas are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. climate: the average weather conditions of an area climate: the average weather conditions of an area

current: an ongoing movement of ocean water current: an ongoing movement of ocean water

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

During El Niño, storms affect the coasts of North and South America. During El Niño, storms affect the coasts of North and South America.

All images courtesy of Microsoft Office Online.