During summer, the continents in the Northern Hemisphere are typically what compared to the oceans?

• A. Cooler
• B. Warmer
• C. Similar
• D. Colder

Answer: (B)

During summer, the continents in the Northern Hemisphere generally experience higher temperatures compared to the oceans. This is due to the different heat capacities of land and water. Land heats up more quickly and to higher temperatures than water does, because it has a lower specific heat capacity.

As the sun's rays heat the Earth's surface during summer, land areas absorb the energy and warm up significantly, whereas large bodies of water absorb heat more slowly and retain it for longer periods. This difference in heating causes the heating of the continents to result in warmer air temperatures compared to the surrounding oceans. This dynamic plays a crucial role in weather patterns, influencing phenomena such as land breezes, sea breezes, and intra-continental weather variations. The temperature contrasts can also lead to the development of high and low-pressure systems, affecting summer weather conditions across various regions.