Download ch 13.8

Near Water
• Areas located in the interior away from
large bodies of water have a continental
climate.
• A continental climate is a climate type that
develops away from the influence of the
ocean. The temperature range tends to
be large, meaning there is a big difference
between the hottest temperature and the
lowest temperature. Precipitation also
tends to be lower.
• During the day, the continental climate
causes land masses to be greatly heated
by the sun, thus intensely heating the air
around it. At night the land cools quickly
and the air temperature can drop
dramatically.
• Coastal location have a Maritime
climate. Maritime meaning water.
These areas have a relatively small
difference between their Highest
temperatures and their lowest
temperatures. Large bodies of water
act as a moderating effect on the land
surrounding it.
• Water heats and cools much slower
then land, as a result the oceans and
large lakes tend to be cool when the
land masses are warm. When an air
mass moves inland from a large body
of water, it warms the cold areas in the
winter and cools the warm land in the
summer.
• The maritime climate causes more
precipitation, and influences the east
coast and the west coast.
• Areas near the Great Lakes are a
special case. They are far enough from
the oceans to be classified as
Continental climate, but a large enough
to have a Maritime influence. Climate
in these areas is sometimes called
modified continental.