Explain why air temperature measurements must be taken in the ...

[Mr. Wonderful]

Explain why air temperature measurements must be taken in the shade.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Give four reasons why water typically has smaller temperature fluctuations than land.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[jomama]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: A thermometer exposed to direct sunlight will be warmed by absorption of solar radiation and this will cause the temperature to be higher than that in the shade.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 1. The specific heat of water is about five times as great as that of land.
2. Radiation received at the surface of a water body can penetrate to several tens of meters deep and distribute its energy throughout a very large mass. In contrast, the insolation absorbed by land heats only a very thin, opaque surface layer.
3. The warming of a water surface can be reduced considerably because of the vast supply of water available for evaporation. Because much energy is used in the evaporative process, less warming occurs.
4. Unlike solid land surfaces, water can be easily mixed both vertically and horizontally, allowing energy surpluses from one area to flow to regions of lower temperature.