Question

even though they are near the same latitude, st. lous has a 50 degree temperature change between its cold season and warm season, while ponta delgada, a city in the azores in the middle of the atlantic only has a 15 degree temperature change between its cold and warm seasons. why is this?
a the azores get more sunlight because they lie further east on the earth.
b st. louis is much higher in altitude.
c st. louis is severely warmed and cooled by the mississippi river.
d the azores are surrounded by water that has a constant supply of warm water from the south.

Explanation:

Water has a high - specific heat capacity. Bodies of water can moderate temperature changes. The Azores, surrounded by water, experience less extreme temperature variations between seasons compared to St. Louis which is inland. Option A is incorrect as longitude doesn't directly affect seasonal temperature range. Option B is wrong as altitude isn't the main factor here given similar latitudes. Option C is incorrect as the Mississippi River doesn't cause such large temperature differences compared to the moderating effect of a large body of water like the ocean.

Answer:

D. The Azores are surrounded by water that has a constant supply of warm water from the south.