What Is Life? 2nd Edition by Jay Phelan

Exercise 28

Why do beaches on the west coast of the United States have colder water than beaches on the east coast?
A) The ocean currents in the northern hemisphere rotate in a clockwise direction, so water off the coast of California has just come from the cold north, while water off the coast of New York has just come from the warm south.
B) West coast beaches are not colder than east coast beaches. Ocean temperatures depend only on latitude.
C) The Pacific Ocean is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean, so more of the sun's heat is absorbed by the colder, deep water, reducing the water temperature at the west coast beaches.
D) Trade winds blowing north from the Tropic of Cancer in the Pacific Ocean sweep the warm air away from the west coast, taking with it much of the warmth of the water.
E) Deep water upwellings bring cool water to the west coast beaches, while the surface currents on the east coast cause downwellings, sending warm surface water to depths where it is less likely to be lost through evaporation.