Eli5: If the ocean moderates temperatures and prevents extreme cold or extreme heat, why is the arctic ocean so cold?

Question

I just find it strange haha

In: 2

Answer 1

The Arctic ocean is much, MUCH warmer than the surrounding land, particularly in winter.

Russia, the far northern reaches of Alaska and Canada, and Greenland are all extremely cold places. The *average* January low in [Deadhorse, Alaska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadhorse,_Alaska), on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, is -42 F (or C, doesn’t really matter at that temperature). Even the average high is well below zero F. The ocean, meanwhile, sits at around -2 C, the freezing point of seawater.