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We all know about the gulf stream and its effect on Florida and Northwest Europe. But what are some other examples of climates that are exceptionally warm (or cool) for their latitude (or altitude) and what are the reasons for these anomalies?
Vladivostok has an annual mean of about 4.5 C / 40 F compared to the 10 C / 50 F mean that would be expected at 43 N. This appears to be mainly due to the effect of cold ocean currents.
Wikipedia has an interesting note: "The waters of the Oyashio Current originate in the Arctic Ocean and flow southward via the Bering Sea. The current has an important impact on the climate of the Russian Far East, mainly in Kamchatka and Chukotka, where the northern limit of tree growth is moved up to ten degrees south of the latitude it can reach in inland Siberia."
The other interesting example I came across is Trelew, Argentina and surrounds which are at about the same latitude in the southern hemisphere as Vladivostok in the northern. Climate data here: Trelew Climate Guide, Argentina | World Climate Guide
Trelew, at 43 S, has an annual mean of 13.5 C / 56 F, significantly more than the 10 C that might be expected at its latitude. The only explanation for this I can come up with is the aridity of this climate and the high sunshine hours (about 2900).
Where do you get the numbers for what is expected at a particular latitude? I live at 42°N in New England and the average is about 48°F. On the west coast of the US at the same latitude, the average is about 52-55°F (Southwestern Oregon).
I live at 43 N and our annual mean is 7.5 C. (45.5 F?)
It would be 6.5-7 C without the Great Lakes and/or heat island.
We have no "cold water currents" chilling us.
Though compared to Europe, Toronto is an ice-box for its latitude.
Where do you get the numbers for what is expected at a particular latitude? I live at 42°N in New England and the average is about 48°F. On the west coast of the US at the same latitude, the average is about 52-55°F (Southwestern Oregon).
These numbers are calculated from a formula I found in a climatology text. The values given by this formula tend to be too low for continental climates at lower latitudes and too high at higher latitudes, but seem fairly accurate at the mid-latitudes (30 - 60 degrees). There is also the rule of thumb of subtracting 0.5 C from the mean temperature for every 100 m (328 ft) increase in altitude. These rules tend to give good ball park figures. The values are as follows (latitude - annual mean temp (C)):
I live at 43 N and our annual mean is 7.5 C. (45.5 F?)
It would be 6.5-7 C without the Great Lakes and/or heat island.
We have no "cold water currents" chilling us.
Though compared to Europe, Toronto is an ice-box for its latitude.
You're closer to 44 N and close to 200 m AMSL (at the airport). Compensating for altitude, you're only about 1.5 C lower than would be expected for your latitude. Vancouver, on the other hand, is actually very warm for its latitude (49 N) with a mean of 9.9 C (airport) rather than the 6.2 C expected. It seems to benefit from the Alaska current.
There is a great map to answer this question right in front of me…however I don’t have any way to scan it in right now. I’ll see if I can get the page scanner at work to do this tonight. The map shows positive isanomals (places warmer than they should be for their latitude/extreme month)…and negative isanomals (places colder than they should be for their latitude/extreme month).
According to this map…Northwest Europe has the most extreme positive isanomals on earth: There is a small town on the Norwegian coast at 63 North… that is 26 C (46 F) warmer than the mean for its latitude in winter. The extreme negative anomaly is in northeastern Siberia, which is 24 C colder than the mean for its latitude in winter. A quick scan of the map shows that a few other places on earth (west coastal Canada/Pacific NW…Western Europe…western Mediterranean ) have positive isanomals in winter…and a few areas on the eastern sides of middle latitude mainlands have some modest negative isanomals (East Asia/central/eastern North America). In the southern Hemsiphere: In winter (July) there is a 4 C negative isanomal in a tiny area in interior eastern Australia and a positive +4 C isanomal off the coast of South Africa around Port Elizabeth. Beyond that…in the southern Hemisphere most locations are close to zero in both January and July for positive or negative isanomals.
As far as the Gulf Stream and Florida…despite what it might seem…Florida has close zero positive/negative isanomal in both winter and summer. In other words…despite the proximity of the warm Gulf Stream…Florida is unlike Western Europe…meaning that its seasonal temps are close to the mean for its latitude. This seems to be bear itself out if you look at monthly mean temps in Miami with other locations close to the same rough latitude (23 - 26 latitude): The coldest month at Rio de Janeiro is 21 C (69 F)…the coldest month at Calcutta, India is 18 C (65.8 F) …and the coldest month in Miami is 20 C (68 F). So much of Florida is no warmer or colder than normal for it’s latitude it seems.
There is a great map to answer this question right in front of me…however I don’t have any way to scan it in right now. I’ll see if I can get the page scanner at work to do this tonight. The map shows positive isanomals (places warmer than they should be for their latitude/extreme month)…and negative isanomals (places colder than they should be for their latitude/extreme month).
According to this map…Northwest Europe has the most extreme positive isanomals on earth: There is a small town on the Norwegian coast at 63 North… that is 26 C (46 F) warmer than the mean for its latitude in winter. The extreme negative anomaly is in northeastern Siberia, which is 24 C colder than the mean for its latitude in winter. A quick scan of the map shows that a few other places on earth (west coastal Canada/Pacific NW…Western Europe…western Mediterranean ) have positive isanomals in winter…and a few areas on the eastern sides of middle latitude mainlands have some modest negative isanomals (East Asia/central/eastern North America). In the southern Hemsiphere: In winter (July) there is a 4 C negative isanomal in a tiny area in interior eastern Australia and a positive +4 C isanomal off the coast of South Africa around Port Elizabeth. Beyond that…in the southern Hemisphere most locations are close to zero in both January and July for positive or negative isanomals.
As far as the Gulf Stream and Florida…despite what it might seem…Florida has close zero positive/negative isanomal in both winter and summer. In other words…despite the proximity of the warm Gulf Stream…Florida is unlike Western Europe…meaning that its seasonal temps are close to the mean for its latitude. This seems to be bear itself out if you look at monthly mean temps in Miami with other locations close to the same rough latitude (23 - 26 latitude): The coldest month at Rio de Janeiro is 21 C (69 F)…the coldest month at Calcutta, India is 18 C (65.8 F) …and the coldest month in Miami is 20 C (68 F). So much of Florida is no warmer or colder than normal for it’s latitude it seems.
I think it would be more interesting and accurate to do the anomalys for the year average not winter, as coastal places will always have warmer winters and cooler summers
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