Mountain Daylight Time (MDT): Daylight Saving Time used for Pacific Standard Time (PST), for details check here. Daylight Saving Time used for Mountain Standard Time (MST), for details check here. Scale: 00:00 00:05 00:10 00:15 00:20 00:25.
Best Answer: Because water heats and cools much slower than air, these large bodies of water have a moderating effect on land temperatures. In spring, when air temps over land are getting warmer, the body of water, which stays cooler much longer, cools the air immediately surrounding it. Likewise, in fall and winter, when cold air spreads over the land mass, these bodies of water retain their warmth, preventing temps from getting as cold around them. That is the effect that lakes have on land temperatures. The prevailing winds are also a large factor. Oceans provide land and sea breezes.
This combination of evaporation, condensation and precipitation is also known as the water cycle. Solar energy also heats the air and warm air can 'hold' more moisture, which increases the rate of evaporation. Wind speed is one example of how wind affects evaporation. Air temperature, water temperature and relative humidity are the other factors affecting the rate of evaporation. Understanding these concepts will provide a background to better understand weather, global warming and the water cycle. slide 4 of 4.