why are ocean coastal areas warmer than the more inland areas?
98332
It depends: in the USA the west coast is colder than inland areas because the ocean temperature is relatively cold whereas the east coast is warmer than the inland areas because the gulf stream (a current that flows up the east coast from the warm Gulf of Mexico). So, it all depends upon the temperature of the water bordering the coastal area: for the west coast the ocean cools down the coastal area but on the east coast the ocean warms the coastal area. Obviously this all depends upon the time of year and the air temperature compared to the water temperature.
298429
That isn't always the case. On the Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, and Washington) there are cold currents so the beach is colder than the land. On the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast (Texas, Luisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Deleware) The Gulf of Mexico (which has many warm currents) or the Gulf Stream (the warm water coming from the Gulf of Mexico that passes by the mainland U.S. turning twards Europe after Deleware) Causes the Beach to be warmer than about 20 miles inland. I live in Charleston, SC and can relate to this.
447836
The coastal areas are temperate and dry.  The Andes prevents moister air from the inland jungles from reaching the coast.  Ocean currents keep weather systems moving northward so away from the coast.
931932
According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth's surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades.  As the earth grows warmer and more greenhouse gases are trapped in the atmosphere we will see changes in weather patterns and average seasonal temperatures.  Coastal flooding and severe storms will happen more often.\n\nThese sites should help you.
1084244
It is because of the sea currents of the Pacific.\nThey are cold and generate dryness conditions.\nThe same effect happens in the South Hemisphere.\nThis effect, disappears the more you go east after the mountains.\nIt is very dry on the coast until the 42-45° parallel, and then, going norther in the case of North America or souther in the case of South America, becomes a lot more humid.\nThat's the difference between California and the British Columbia for example.\nAnd between north Chile and south Chile.
600123
Because climate isn't just determined by latitude, but by distance from the sea, if there are mountains near by, weather patterns and a lot of other things.
596282
Because theres so much water thats constantly moving that the sun can't warm it all up. The ocean is so deep, and that water is about 30 degrees (yes farenheit, which doesnt freeze because of the salt in it) that it continusoly gets mixed up and remains a constant tempertature that seems cold to us. =)
794519
Atlantic coasts have Nimbus clouds and hence they appear to be more cloudy
569016
Warm ocean water and warm air over the ocean are the source of a hurricane's energy. The warmer the water the stronger a hurricane can be. The water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting much warmer in the last few years, and Hurricane Katrina and the others last summer were a result of that.
587505
There are a number of currents in the ocean in which the water temperature is different from the surrounding area.  The most famous of these is the Gulf Stream that brings warm water from the tropic areas north off the East Coast of the United States and then across the Atlantic to Europe.\n\nNote that this movement is clockwise if you look at it from space.  Of course, this also means that on the other side of the ocean, cold water will move south to complete the circuit.\n\nNow we go to California.  There is a cold current called the California current that brings water from the area off Alaska in the same manner.  This cold water is also full of nutrients which is why there are the kelp forest and abundant wildlife.  It moves in the same manner as the Atlantic Ocean example.\n\nHope this answers your question.
314413
THE CLIMATE IN GEORGIA IS WARMER THAN IT IS HERE, THEY DONT HAVE THE SNO THAT WE DO HERE. YES IT IS WARM
158964
Water retains temperature more than air, so the oceans stay warm in winter and cool in summer. They cool air currents that blow around the continents.
426088
actually, water heats up and cools off slower than soil.  Water takes more energy to heat up and once it gets the energy it takes time for it to lose it. Citys near water have a more constant temp. than cities that arent near water. It can be 80 one morning in Kansas then 10 degrees that night
1149050
The predominant wind patterns are from the Ocean to land. The water is relatively cold off the shores of all California due to the Japan current. The energy to create storms that move inland are not there. Storms brought in from the East are often dissappated by the high mountain ranges along the California shore, in OC, as little as 10 miles away. The tremendous, fast uprise of wet air moving west dumps the water in the mountains and leaves little to effect the California shore. Due to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic, East Coast storms are much more dangerous and prevalent. The Great Planes have storms generated by massive cold 'bubbles' of artic air hitting the moist air from the Gulf or Atlantic...California is not positioned to have these effects...we have Earthquakes and threat of Tsunamis instead.
875269
The density is different - sea water being more dense than fresh.\n\nFreezing point (lower for sea water) and boiling point (higher for sea water) would be slightly different.\n\nElectrical conductivity would be different (higher for sea water).\n\nAll these things are different - but the differences are also all due to the salinity difference that you mentioned.
578581
The East Coast is relatively warmer than the West Coast.\nThus being more conducive to crustacean / mollusck habitation at sea
193750
This is due to the seawater having a greater heat capacity than the land, thus they heat and cool off at different rates, causing pressure differentials in the air above them. See the source for details.