Question

critical thinking...
compared to land surface temperature changes, water surface temperature changes occur
a. more slowly because water has a lower specific heat.
b. more slowly because water has a higher specific heat.
c. faster because water has a lower specific heat.
d. fast because water has a higher specific heat.
what is the reason why the waters temperature is colder than the lands temperature,
though the water has more sun light on it?
a. water takes longer to heat up and cool down than land.
b. land takes longer to heat up and cool down than water.
c. water heats quicker and cools quicker than land.
virginia beach experiences cooler summers and warmer winters than springfield
because virginia beach
a. is located closer to the atlantic ocean.
b. is located closer to the equator.
c. has a greater albedo
d. has no snow

Explanation:

• First Question: Specific heat is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance. Water has a higher specific heat than land. This means it takes more energy to change the temperature of water. So, water surface temperature changes more slowly than land surface temperature. Option b is correct.
• Second Question: Due to water's high specific heat, water takes longer to heat up and cool down than land. So, even if water has more sunlight, its temperature can be colder than land (e.g., during the day - land heats up faster). Option a is correct.
• Third Question: The moderating effect of water (due to its high specific heat) causes coastal areas (like Virginia Beach near the Atlantic Ocean) to have cooler summers (water absorbs heat) and warmer winters (water releases heat). Option a is correct.

Answer:

1. b. more slowly because water has a higher specific heat.
2. a. Water takes longer to heat up and cool down than land.
3. a. is located closer to the Atlantic Ocean.