Question

ocean water temperatures have a major effect on local weather patterns. the suns energy warms up both the water and the land. water warms up and cools off much slower than land or air because it takes more energy to change the temperature of water. as a result, which statement is true? coastal areas tend to have wider yearly temperature variations than inland areas. inland areas have more extreme temperature changes than coastal areas. coastal storms often form when cold, dry air masses from the oceans meet hot, wet air masses from land. inland areas rarely experience warmer temperatures than coastal areas.

Explanation:

To determine the correct statement, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Coastal areas have water that moderates temperature (slower to warm/cool), so they have narrower yearly temperature variations than inland areas (which lack this moderation). Thus, this is false.
• Option 2: Inland areas, without the moderating effect of ocean water, experience more extreme temperature changes (larger swings) than coastal areas (which are stabilized by water’s thermal properties). This matches the concept of thermal inertia in water.
• Option 3: Coastal storms form when warm, wet air (from oceans) meets cold, dry air (from land), not the reverse. So this is false.
• Option 4: Inland areas can experience warmer temperatures (e.g., heatwaves) or colder temperatures (e.g., cold snaps) than coastal areas, depending on conditions. The word “rarely” is incorrect.

Answer:

Inland areas have more extreme temperature changes than coastal areas. (The second option)