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.
Tweed Water Spaniel
A pygmy hippopotamus rests in some water to help prevent its skin from cracking at Ueno Zoo in Japan
Earth, water, air
Ripples in Water
Using Soil Nails to Stabilize Slopes
The aquaporin water channel