Why is the higher specific heat of water as compared to rock or ...

[gonzo233]

Why is the higher specific heat of water as compared to rock or soil an important factor in determining temperature characteristics and changes?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Why is a lag found in daily temperature patterns? Discuss the roles of different sources of surface heating.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[mistyjohnson]

Answer to Question 1

The energy needed to increase the temperature of water is greater than that for increasing the temperature of an equal volume of land. Additionally, water can hold more heat than soil. In general, the specific heat for water is about four times that as soil and, as a result, a given volume of water represents a more substantial energy reservoir. It therefore heats and cools more slowly than land.

Answer to Question 2

The warmest time of the day occurs after insolation has been absorbed and emitted to the atmosphere from the ground, not at the moment of maximum insolation. As long as the incoming energy exceeds the outgoing energy, air temperatures continue to increase until incoming energy begins to dissipate.