Why does northern Japan tend to be so much colder than Ireland, even though its closer to the equator?
It is true that northern Japan is closer to the equator than Ireland. By way of example, Sapporo is at 43°N latitude, while Dublin is around 53°N latitude. It is also true that northern Japan is colder than Ireland, but only in the winter. The average high in Sapporo in January is 31°F, while Dublin averages 46°F. However, the average August high in Sapporo is 73°F, but only 66°F in Dublin. It should be remembered that temperature is not determined solely by average sun angle during the year. Especially in the case of these two island nations, the surrounding ocean temperatures can have a significant influence on air temperature. Ireland is far warmer than locations at similar latitudes in Canada or Russia due to the warming influence of the warm North Atlantic Current. Northern Japan, on the other hand, is influenced by the cold Oyashio Current. Northern Japan can also get reinforcing blasts of continental polar air blowing in from Siberia, located to the northwest. Learn more about t
