Question

What is meant by an annual range of temperature?
A. Difference in the mean temperature of summer and winter
B. Difference in the maximum and minimum temperature of a year
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Temperature refers to a physical quantity that indicates whether something is hot or cold. It is the manifestation of thermal energy which is found present in all matter which is the source of the occurrence of heat, a flow of energy when a body is in touch with another that is colder.

Complete Answer:
The annual range of temperature refers to the difference between the hottest and the coldest months by taking monthly mean temperatures in each case. This is given according to the difference between the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures of January and the corresponding average of the July month. Different regions experience different temperatures at the same time. The cold temperature experienced during the month of January and the warmest temperature during the month of July can be vice versa with another region. For instance, we can see that some places generally experience a wet season during summer and as a result, cloudiness and rain reduces the maximum temperature. The hottest month there usually falls a month or two before the arrival of the summer solstice when the afternoon sun is near the zenith and the skies are often clear.
So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: Many regions near the west coast are affected by low sea surface temperatures because of the upwelling of deep ocean water during summer as the subtropical ocean current is stronger. As a result, the hottest month here may be experienced a few months after the summer solstice that is around September in the northern hemisphere.