What’s the marine climate?

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Marine climate, also known as oceanic climate, maritime climate or west coast marine climate, is a temperate climate that exists on the western coasts of continents. These climates are usually found between latitudes of 45° and 55°, although in Western Europe they extend further north. They are characterized by a mild climate, uniform rainfall levels, and a narrow annual temperature range. Conditions within these regions vary based on location and topography.

The cool summers and warm winters of marine climates are caused by ocean air being blown ashore by westerly winds, the prevailing winds blowing from west to east in mid-latitudes. These areas show a smaller annual temperature variation than areas that receive winds from the mainland. The mitigating effect of large bodies of water on temperatures is due to the high specific heat of water: it takes more energy to raise the temperature of a certain amount of water than an equivalent amount of air or earth. Temperatures above the oceans therefore don’t vary much.

In some cases, warm ocean currents have a mitigating effect on the temperature of nearby land, helping to create marine climate. An example of this effect can be seen with the Gulf Stream, a major current in the Atlantic Ocean that carries warm water north along the coast of North America and around Western Europe. Meteorologists believe that Western Europe’s climate is warmer than it would otherwise be due to the effects of the Gulf Stream.

Ocean air carries moisture, so marine climate areas experience constant precipitation throughout the year, along with heavy cloud cover and high humidity. Snowfalls are also frequent in these areas during the winter. While these climates don’t have a completely dry season, some show a drying tendency during the summer.

Mountain ranges have a major impact on how marine climate is dispersed over land. In North and South America, mountain ranges often run north-south, effectively blocking the path of westerly winds and ocean air. This causes the climate region to spread in narrow bands up and down the coast. In Europe, however, mountain ranges running from east to west allow oceanic air to penetrate further inland, creating an extensive marine climate across much of the continent.

In addition to the temperate marine climate found in mid-latitudes, other varieties exist in higher and lower latitudes. Some areas in the subpolar regions have marine climatic characteristics, making them subpolar oceanic climates. The term subtropical plateau is used to refer to regions that have a marine climate due to the cooling effects of high altitude but are located at lower latitudes, in the tropics.

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