<p>Vladivostok (this is the spelling I've always seen) is located at 43º08'  N whereas Dalian lies at 38º05' N.   Five degrees make a difference.  Also, Vladivostok gets more influence from the cold Oyashio current than does Dalian.  For these reasons summers are warmer in Dalian and winters are colder in Vladivostok.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-29T01:23:17.773Z
Sorry, I made a typo when I made this map. Whoops!
Astor Florida
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T16:52:50.957Z
2016-07-28T20:38:42.353Z
2016-07-28T20:38:42.353Z
Centaurus
<p>To add to Centaurus's answer, the climate of both cities is strongly influenced by the local sea surface temperatures. Dalian monthly temperatures vary from about -7 to 27 deg C, whereas Vladivostok, less than 500 kilometres further north, varies from -15 to 23 deg C. So the temperature contrast is mainly in winter. During the December-March winter period prevailing cold dry winds from polar areas blow south from Sakhalin Island. There are two consequences, firstly it generates a strong counter-clockwise cold sea current which hugs the eastern coast of Russia. Secondly, there is massive evaporative cooling of the shallow warm surface waters, again, concentrated in winter. This accounts for the cold extremes of Vladivostok (as well as winter snows in Japan).</p>

<p>Dalian is 'warmed' by an offshoot of the Kuroshio current. 'Warmed' being a relative term, since the sea still approaches freezing point in late winter, but it is still warmer than the current near Vladivostok. Also, the Yellow Sea is one of the world's largest areas of continental shelf. That is, relatively shallow, so it warms up more during the summer, and has thermal inertial carry-over into winter. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-29T13:30:28.023Z
Any opinion about [the information in this article about gulf streams](http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/the-source-of-europes-mild-climate/99999)? These guys are saying ocean currents matter very little. Is it just a bunch of BS?
Astor Florida
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-28T02:24:44.187Z
2016-08-28T02:24:44.187Z
Gordon Stanger
<p>Over at <a href="https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/31049/what-made-port-arthur-manchuria-a-better-port-for-russia-than-vladivostok">SE History</a> we're pondering the relation of temperature to Russian motives in establishing its Port Arthur colony in the late 1800's.</p>

<p>Wikipedia says that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladivostok" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vladivostok</a> is cold due to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_High" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Siberian High</a>. Meanwhile, in my answer, I repeated what I learned decades ago in my high school earth science class about ocean currents and why Port Arthur was warmer. (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCshunkou_District" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Port Arthur</a> was located near the modern large city of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalian" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dalian</a>)</p>

<p>Another astute SE member in the comments pointed out that trade winds are more responsible than ocean currents for weather effects.</p>

<p>What is the truth for these two places? (Note that we are asking more about Winter than summer, as both places would make fine summertime 19th century ports) </p>

<p>Also, was Vladivostok significantly colder 120 years ago than it is now?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wj4hr.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wj4hr.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T07:22:12.813Z
Relevant article on the gulf stream / ocean current myth: http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/the-source-of-europes-mild-climate/99999
Denis de Bernardy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T23:44:56.847Z
More to the point, Vladivostok is much colder than say, Seattle, Washington, which is at 47º N. But apparently, Dalian has its own "Gulf Stream" which Vladivostok does not. So the latter gets the worst of "both worlds."
Tom Au
<meteorology><climate-change><ocean-currents>
Why is Vladivostock so cold, while Dalian is so warm?
Astor Florida
# Why is Vladivostock so cold, while Dalian is so warm?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-28)

Over at [SE History](https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/31049/what-made-port-arthur-manchuria-a-better-port-for-russia-than-vladivostok) we're pondering the relation of temperature to Russian motives in establishing its Port Arthur colony in the late 1800's.

Wikipedia says that [Vladivostok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladivostok) is cold due to the [Siberian High](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_High). Meanwhile, in my answer, I repeated what I learned decades ago in my high school earth science class about ocean currents and why Port Arthur was warmer. ([Port Arthur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCshunkou_District) was located near the modern large city of [Dalian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalian))

Another astute SE member in the comments pointed out that trade winds are more responsible than ocean currents for weather effects.

What is the truth for these two places? (Note that we are asking more about Winter than summer, as both places would make fine summertime 19th century ports)

Also, was Vladivostok significantly colder 120 years ago than it is now?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/wj4hr.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/wj4hr.png)

**Tags:** meteorology, climate-change, ocean-currents

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Relevant article on the gulf stream / ocean current myth: http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/the-source-of-europes-mild-climate/99999  
> **username_2**: More to the point, Vladivostok is much colder than say, Seattle, Washington, which is at 47º N. But apparently, Dalian has its own "Gulf Stream" which Vladivostok does not. So the latter gets the worst of "both worlds."  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-07-28. Score: 2

Vladivostok (this is the spelling I've always seen) is located at 43º08' N whereas Dalian lies at 38º05' N. Five degrees make a difference. Also, Vladivostok gets more influence from the cold Oyashio current than does Dalian. For these reasons summers are warmer in Dalian and winters are colder in Vladivostok.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Sorry, I made a typo when I made this map. Whoops!  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-08-28. Score: 2

To add to username_3's answer, the climate of both cities is strongly influenced by the local sea surface temperatures. Dalian monthly temperatures vary from about -7 to 27 deg C, whereas Vladivostok, less than 500 kilometres further north, varies from -15 to 23 deg C. So the temperature contrast is mainly in winter. During the December-March winter period prevailing cold dry winds from polar areas blow south from Sakhalin Island. There are two consequences, firstly it generates a strong counter-clockwise cold sea current which hugs the eastern coast of Russia. Secondly, there is massive evaporative cooling of the shallow warm surface waters, again, concentrated in winter. This accounts for the cold extremes of Vladivostok (as well as winter snows in Japan).

Dalian is 'warmed' by an offshoot of the Kuroshio current. 'Warmed' being a relative term, since the sea still approaches freezing point in late winter, but it is still warmer than the current near Vladivostok. Also, the Yellow Sea is one of the world's largest areas of continental shelf. That is, relatively shallow, so it warms up more during the summer, and has thermal inertial carry-over into winter.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Any opinion about [the information in this article about gulf streams](http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/the-source-of-europes-mild-climate/99999)? These guys are saying ocean currents matter very little. Is it just a bunch of BS?  

---

