How do large bodies of water influence the climate and weather of a region they are located in?

Question

for a science project! Please don't give bad answers! But anything is helpful!

Answer 1

Sarah is correct.  Short and simple-large bodies of water cool off slower in the winter.  The land surrounding that water is warmed by the water.  Also, large bodies of water are slower to warm up in the summer.  This causes the surrounding land to stay cooler.  Large bodies of water have a mediating effect on the temperature of surrounding land both in winter and summer.

Answer 2

Water is a heat sink, which means that for a large body of water, it takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature and it takes a lot of energy to lower the temperature.  That's why it takes longer for a pond to freeze than a small puddle.  Energy from the sun is stored in a body of water, which can be released from that water when the air temperature drops.  This causes anything from mists and vapors, increase in surrounding air temperature, and on really big bodies of water, it can even create it's own weather system, causing clouds, rain, and high winds (hence why Chicago, which is by Lake Michigan, is called the "windy city").

When you start talking about regions bordering oceans, you have to also start looking at the salinity of the water (which gives it a lower freezing temperature), and the ocean currents caused by that salinity which affects the water temperature.  I live close to the ocean in Rhode Island, which means that it could be snowing at the northen end of the state 30 minutes drive away, it's slushy or raining by the shore where I am.