Question
Explain three ways in which lakes influence the climate of the surrounding areas.
Answer
- Large lakes contribute large quantities of moisture which aids in the formation of convectional rainfall.
- Lakes increase the absolute humidity of the surrounding area by adding extra moisture through evaporation.
- Lakes facilitate the development of land and lake breezes through the creation of pressure differences between water surface and the land surface. Air currents from lakes lower the temperature of the surrounding regions during the hot/summer season.
- During winter, lake breezes may bring a warming effect to adjacent regions e.g. The Great lakes of North America.
- Land and lake breezes may strengthen or reverse the pattern of prevailing winds over adjacent regions.
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