The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason/reasons? 1. Thermal difference between land and water 2. Variation in altitude between continents oceans 3. Presence of strong winds in the interior 4. Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The primary reason for the high annual temperature range in continental interiors compared to coastal areas is the thermal difference between land and water [1]. Land has a lower specific heat capacity, meaning it heats up and cools down much faster than the ocean, which acts as a thermal buffer [2]. While altitude affects absolute temperature, the variation in altitude between continents and oceans is not a significant driver of the annual temperature range. Similarly, while winds and precipitation patterns exist, they do not fundamentally cause the continental-maritime temperature discrepancy. Coastal regions benefit from maritime moderation, where water's high specific heat and mixing processes result in a narrow annual range [2]. In contrast, the lack of oceanic influence in the interior leads to extreme seasonal variations, a phenomenon known as continentality [1].

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > ity (far from the moderating effect of the seas). > p. 288
2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 33: Ocean temperature and salinity > Range of Ocean Temperature > p. 517