SSC
The condition in which places far from the sea experience extreme weather, with very hot summers and very cold winters, is called:
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Answer: Option C — Continentality
Detailed Solution
Continentality is the effect of distance from the sea on climate. Places located deep in the interior of large landmasses have a large range of temperature between summer and winter, and between day and night. Their climate is described as continental or extreme.
Why continentality occurs:
- Land heats up and cools down much faster than water.
- Water has a higher specific heat, so it absorbs and releases heat slowly.
- Sunlight penetrates deeper into water, and water is constantly mixed by currents and waves, spreading heat through a larger volume.
So, the sea keeps nearby coastal areas cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This moderating effect is called the maritime (or oceanic) influence.
Places far from the sea do not get this moderating effect, so their temperatures become extreme.
Features of a continental climate:
- Large annual range of temperature (difference between the warmest and coldest months).
- Large daily range of temperature.
- Generally low rainfall, as moist sea winds lose their moisture before reaching the interior.
Examples:
- Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon in Siberia (Russia) have some of the largest temperature ranges on Earth, from about minus 60 degrees Celsius in winter to above 30 degrees Celsius in summer.
- In India, Delhi, Amritsar and places in Rajasthan have extreme climates: hot summers above 45 degrees Celsius and cold winters with temperatures near freezing.
Equable climate:
- In contrast, places near the sea, such as Mumbai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, have a small range of temperature and are said to have an equable or maritime climate.
- For example, the difference between summer and winter temperatures in Mumbai is only a few degrees.
Related terms:
- Insolation is the incoming solar radiation received by the Earth.
- Temperature inversion is a condition in which temperature increases with height, instead of decreasing.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Maritime influence is the moderating effect of the sea, the opposite of continentality.
- ✗Insolation and temperature inversion are different concepts.
Quick tip
Remember: Continentality = extreme climate away from the sea (e.g. Delhi, Siberia); maritime/equable climate = near the sea (e.g. Mumbai).
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This question tests your understanding of Atmosphere, Weather & Climate, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
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