4.8 Earth’s Geography and Climate

Water has a high specific heat capacity, meaning it absorbs and releases heat slowly. Coastal areas have milder climates than inland areas at the same latitude: cooler summers, warmer winters, and less temperature variation. San Francisco is much cooler in summer than St. Louis at the same latitude because of the Pacific Ocean. Ocean currents also redistribute heat: the Gulf Stream carries warm water to Western Europe, keeping the U.K. and France much warmer than equivalent latitudes in Canada.