Our seas heat up slowly in summer. But they also cool down slowly in winter. Because of this, Irish coastal areas with sea winds (e. g. western Mayo) tend usually not to get very hot in summer or very cold in winter.
Land heats up quickly in summer and cools down quickly in winter. This sometimes causes inland Irish areas to have slightly colder winters and slightly warmer summers than Irish coastal areas.
4. The mean average daily temperature across Ireland in January and July
Managing information and thinking:
The average yearly temperature across Ireland is about 9°C. However, in the midlands and east of the country, temperatures can be more extreme than in other parts of the country.
1. Using figure 4, calculate the approximate average temperature in your local area in January and July.
2. Identify County Mayo and County Longford on figure 4.
3. Estimate in degrees Celsius the approximate temperature range (difference) between January and July at northwest Mayo and at Longford.
4. Does northwest Mayo or Longford experience a great January–July temperature range?
If distance from the sea can affect temperatures in a small country such as Ireland, imagine its effect within a large landmass. Valentia in County Kerry and the city of Tomsk in central Russia are each located in the great landmass of Eurasia (Europe and Asia). They are also at similar latitudes (distance from the equator). Now look at the summer and winter temperatures at Valencia and Tomsk.
Valentia Tomsk
July temperatures 15°C 19°C
January temperatures 8°C
-19°C
Calculate the July–January temperature range for Valentia and for Tomsk. Explain the great difference in temperature ranges between the two places.
