I chose to compare and contrast Cannon Beach with Sydney, Australia. Both cities are located on the coast; however, Cannon Beach is located on the west coast of the North American continent and Sydney is located on the east coast of the Australian continent. Cannon Beach is in the Northern Hemisphere whereas Sydney is in the Southern Hemisphere. As a result of the hemispheric difference, the seasons are reversed; for instance, the meteorological winter in Cannon Beach is December to February in contrast to Sydney’s meteorological winter of June to August.
Both cities experience moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall due to their common coastal locations. In addition, topographical similarities include mountain ranges located inland; that is, Cannon Beach has the Coastal Range located inland to the east of the city and Sydney has the Blue Mountains located inland to the west of the city.
There is a contrast in air masses between Cannon Beach and Sydney. Cannon Beach is mainly effected by Maritime Polar air masses, followed by Continental Polar (winter) and Maritime Tropical (summer); whereas Sydney is mainly effected by Maritime Tropical air masses (both from the North Tasman Sea and from the Coral Sea/Western Pacific Ocean), followed by Modified Polar Maritime, Southern Maritime and Continental Tropical.
The latitude and longitude of Cannon Beach is 45.89 Degrees North, 123.97 Degrees West. The latitude and longitude of Sydney is -33.87 Degrees South, 151.21 Degrees East. So, Sydney is closer to the equatorial circle and the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone). Although the ITCZ usually affects only within 3 to 10 degrees latitude north/south of the equator, the ITCZ does migrate and by having a closer location be more likely to affect Sydney than Cannon Beach.
El Nino and La Nina both have affects on Cannon Beach and Sydney because both locations are on Pacific Ocean coastlines where the ocean water either becomes warmer or cooler as a result of this phenomenon.
Sources: http://www.theweatherprediction.com
http://www.weather.com
http://www.meteorology.com
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
http://www.sydney.com/au/weather.htm
http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/430445
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertropical_Convergence_Zone
http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/severe-weather/elnino-and-lanina.aspx
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