How can the water masses of seas and oceans influence the climate of a region? Through two climatic factors: maritimeity and continentality.
What is maritimeness and continentality?
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A seafaring is a climatic factor related to the proximity of a region to the seas and oceans. How much more next of the ocean, the greater the humidity of the air (amount of water in the atmosphere) and the pluviometric index (amount of precipitation). Due to the presence of a large volume of water, which takes longer to lose heat than the earth, the thermal amplitude – the variation between the maximum and minimum temperature – is smaller.
Just like seafaring, the continentality it is also a climatic factor defined by proximity to seas and oceans. How much more distant of the ocean, the lower the humidity of the air and the rainfall, in contrast to the thermal amplitude, which is greater.
Difference between maritime and continental
| Maritimeness | Continentality |
| Bigger air humidity | Smaller air humidity |
| Bigger rainfall index | Smaller rainfall index |
| Smaller temperature range | Bigger temperature range |
How do maritimity and continentality interfere in the climate?
The process of heating the water causes evaporation, which condenses and precipitates, usually in the form of rain.
In coastal regions, with greater proximity to the seas, due to the volume of water masses in the oceans, there is a greater amount of water that evaporates and is precipitated. Therefore, in regions under the influence of the sea, there is higher air humidity and rainfall.
In addition to the presence of large volume, water has a greater capacity to conserve and retain heat, which makes temperatures more stable.
In continental regions, where the distance from the sea is greater and the nearest water is in smaller quantities, in rivers or lakes, this process occurs with a smaller volume of water. This results in less air humidity and precipitation.
Land loses heat faster than water, which causes temperatures to fluctuate more.
The influence of maritime continentality on the Brazilian climate
As Brazil has a vast coastline, the climate is greatly influenced by these climatic factors. Coastal cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, for example, have high air humidity and more stable temperatures. The capital Brasília, located in the interior of the country, is the opposite and has a very dry climate, with low air humidity.
However, it is necessary to remember that in addition to maritime and continental characteristics, there are other climatic factors that also interfere with the climate. Therefore, the Amazon region, even far from the sea, has high air humidity, due to the vast vegetation and a large hydrographic basin.