The sea surface temperatures and ocean climate zones of western and northern europe are like those of the east coast of the united states, though western and northern europe are located at comparably higher latitudes. what might account for these differences?

Geographic proximity of the gulf stream.

Explanation:

The sea surface temperature of the oceanic climate and the zone of the western and northern Europe are same as that of the eastern coast of the united stated as these are located on the higher latitudes as the climate of the western Europe is similar to that of the subtropical and the semi-arid in the southern parts and that of the Mediterranean humid climate that is induced by the North Atlantic current.  The northern parts are closer to the baltic plains and the mainland of the Greenlands as the entire region climate is mostly impacted by the gulf stream and that brings the cool and cold subarctic and arctic type of climate.  And the presence of the boreal forests that are also found in the tundra region. While that of the eastern coasts of the U.S have a temperate type of climate and the warm summer, cold and snowy winters and mild winters in the southern parts.

There is totally sun all the way down there.