Why does London have a similar yearly average temperature to New York?

Why does London have a similar yearly average temperature to New York?

• A. Ocean currents
• B. Higher elevation
• C. Proximity to the equator
• D. Stronger urban heat island effect

Answer: (A)

Ocean currents transport heat across the globe and strongly shape regional climates. In this case, the Gulf Stream and its extension, the North Atlantic Drift, carry warmth from tropical waters up into the North Atlantic. That heat blends with air over Western Europe, warming London’s winters and moderating its summers. Because of this heat transfer, London’s yearly average temperature ends up similar to New York’s, even though London sits farther north. The other factors don’t fit as the primary explanation. Elevation is not a major difference for these coastal cities at low heights. Proximity to the equator would suggest much warmer conditions overall, which isn’t the case here given their latitudes. Urban heat island effects exist in cities, but they’re local and don’t drive the comparable annual mean temperatures across these two distant cities.

Ocean currents transport heat across the globe and strongly shape regional climates. In this case, the Gulf Stream and its extension, the North Atlantic Drift, carry warmth from tropical waters up into the North Atlantic. That heat blends with air over Western Europe, warming London’s winters and moderating its summers. Because of this heat transfer, London’s yearly average temperature ends up similar to New York’s, even though London sits farther north.

The other factors don’t fit as the primary explanation. Elevation is not a major difference for these coastal cities at low heights. Proximity to the equator would suggest much warmer conditions overall, which isn’t the case here given their latitudes. Urban heat island effects exist in cities, but they’re local and don’t drive the comparable annual mean temperatures across these two distant cities.