14. Why is the range in temperature so large in the center of the United States?

Question

Investigation II - Heating Matter

Lesson 6 - Hot cement

Answer 1

eg's explanation was pretty good,  listen to her and do the research about weather conditions.  Some sites are wonderful and cover about every conceivable weather related issue.

Answer 2

Because of its distance from the moderating influence of the sea.

Answer 3

There are several things to consider, to start with how one defines the center of the US. If you consider a central zone extending from say the Rio Grande to Canada, indeed you are moving accross a huge range of latitude to explain the wide range of temperature.

However, latitude is not the only factor, altitude is another, although it is not because mountains are not in the center. So we should consider the fact that it is a "continental" sort of weather, with no oceanic influence which means a strong difference between winter and summer.

To summarize, the center of the US is a huge space expanding from subtropical to desertic, to mediterrannean , to temperate, to continental, to septentrional. Look at the map and quote each state involve in your report looking for average temperature, max and min, seasons, rain fall to show how big the variety is and that it can be accounted for mainly because of the huge size of the area.

Answer 4

Here in the Midwest we don't have large bodies of water to provide temperature control like they do on the coasts. Also the Rockies change the weather patterns as systems move over the mountains, and so the weather systems gain or lose energy differently than they would if they were moving across flat land.

Answer 5

Look at an elevation map of the  U.S. and note that there are no mountain ranges (West: Rockies & Cascade; East: Piedmont & Appalation) nor proximity to oceans.  Without these factors, the temperature ranges will be quite large.  Another factor is the jet stream, colder air coming South from Canada and warmer air coming North from the Gulf.