Water tends to moderate climate. Why is it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer in cities located near the ocean or large lakes?
A
Water has a low specific heat and therefore changes temperature faster than most other substances.
B
Water has a low specific heat and therefore changes temperature slower than most other substances.
C
Water has a high specific heat and therefore changes temperature more slowly than most other substances.
D
Water has a high specific heat and therefore changes temperature more quickly than most other substances.
C
Water has a high specific heat and therefore changes temperature more slowly than most other substances.
C
Water has a high specific heat and therefore changes temperature more slowly than most other substances.
The correct answer is C. Water has a high specific heat and therefore changes temperature more slowly than most other substances.
Water's high specific heat refers to its ability to absorb and store a large amount of heat energy. This means that it takes a lot of energy to heat up water and that energy is released slowly when the water cools down. As a result, bodies of water such as oceans and large lakes act as heat reservoirs, moderating the temperature of the surrounding land.
During winter, the water retains some of its heat from the summer months, slowly releasing it into the air. This helps to keep the temperatures in cities located near the ocean or large lakes relatively warmer than the surrounding areas. Conversely, during summer, the water absorbs heat from the warmer air, cooling it down and thus making the cities cooler compared to the inland regions.
So, the presence of water bodies helps to moderate the climate by slowing down temperature changes, making it warmer in winter and cooler in summer in cities located near the ocean or large lakes.