What is one effect of the Gulf Stream?
A: Summers in Spain are hotter than summers in Maine.
B: Summers in Florida are hotter than summers in Sweden.
C: Winters in Iceland are colder than winters in Georgia.
D: Winter days are shorter in England than in New Jersey.
B: Summers in Florida are hotter than summers in Sweden.
The correct answer is C: Winters in Iceland are colder than winters in Georgia.
Explanation:
The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico, flows along the east coast of the United States, and eventually reaches Europe. It has a significant impact on the climate of the regions it influences.
The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes. As it moves across the Atlantic Ocean, it releases heat into the atmosphere, making the climate milder in Europe, particularly in the northern countries like the United Kingdom, Norway, and Iceland.
Due to the Gulf Stream's influence, the winters in Iceland are actually much milder than they would be without it. Iceland is located relatively close to the Arctic Circle, which would generally result in extremely cold temperatures. However, the warm water from the Gulf Stream helps keep Iceland's winters somewhat tempered compared to other places at similar latitudes.
On the other hand, Georgia, a state in the southeastern United States, lies at a lower latitude compared to Iceland. It is further south and closer to the equator, which generally leads to milder winters. However, because it is not influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, winters in Georgia can still be relatively colder compared to places that benefit from the current's warming effects, such as some parts of Europe.
Therefore, the Gulf Stream has the effect of making winters in Iceland colder than winters in Georgia, which is option C.