Continentality presentation

1. How does the distance from the
sea (continentality) affect
climate?

2. What is Continentality?

“Continentality, a measure of the difference between
continental and marine climates characterized by the increased
range of temperatures that occurs over land compared with
water. ” (Britannica)

3. Sea heats up slowly
and cools slowly!

4. Land heats up quickly
and cools quickly

5. Heat Capacity
•Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy
required to raise the temperature of one gram of
a substance by one degree Celsius.
•Land has a lower heat capacity.
•The sea has a higher heat capacity.

6. Other Factors
•The ocean like the air but unlike land
is subject to vertical mixing and
convective movements.
•The sun is able to warm only the thin
upper surface of the land.
•Land (solids) is a better conductor of
heat.

7. Coast is
warmer
Winter
Coast is
Colder
Summer
Inland is
colder
Winter
Inland is
warmer
Summer

13. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average Temprature (Celcius)
Month
Brest
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average Temperatue (celcius)
Month
Bratislava
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average Temperatue (celcius)
Month
Volgograd

14. British Isles

15. U.S.A.