Map Chart
Some European countries are further north, but are (much) hotter than the USA
It’s all due to the Gulf Stream, which carries hot air to Europe (with other factors in the mix). And the USA and Canada are the ones who are cold.
New York is further south – closer to the equator – than Madrid or even Porto. Paris is further north than Toronto, Canada. However, while in North America the winter is harsh, with heavy snowfall and constantly freezing temperatures.
In these European countries, Winter temperatures rarely drop below 8ºC in Madrid and Porto or 3ºC in Paris. Why does this occur?
The answer lies in the Gulf Stream. The ESA describes it as “a warm, fast-flowing current that forms the western boundary of the North Atlantic Gyre. During its course, the temperature gradually drops as the current releases heat into the atmosphere.”
O hot air rising from the Gulf Stream crosses the European continentand it is responsible for the temperate climate that characterizes Portugal, Spain, and other countries in Western Europe.
A study by NBC in 2011 showed how atmospheric circulation it also contributes to cooling the eastern margins of mid-latitude continents.
Warm water off an eastern coast heats the air above it and leads to the formation of so-called atmospheric waves, which attract cold air from polar regions – which is why the US and Canada are hit hard by bad weather.
Carolina Bastos Pereira, ZAP //
