Europe’s climate

Western Europe has a much warmer climate than its latitude might suggest that it should. England, for instance has winter temperatures that are 10-15 degrees warmer than those on the Eastern seaboard of the United States. There are several theories as to the source of this but both involve the high heat capacity of the ocean.

The first theory involves the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is a massive current that flows from the Caribbean across the Atlantic Ocean and into Europe. This water is notably warmer than the water around it and can, at times, be seen as a distinct “river” through the ocean.

This river of warm water carries heat to Northwestern Europe and makes the climate there warmer than that of Northern North America.

The other theory also involves the Gulf Stream, but argues that much of the heat that the water carries is lost before the current reaches Europe. This heat is lost primarily through evaporation. This process transfers the heat into the air and that air carries the heat to Northern Europe, warming it.

Regardless of which theory is correct, both rely on the immense ability of water to store and carry vast amounts of heat.