EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Land has a higher specific heat than water. Therefore, the temperature of the landmass does not rise as much as the water.

Detailed explanation-2: -Usually when we talk about uneven heating of the Earth’s surface we are discussing convection. The uneven heating results in some of the atmosphere to be warmer than other parts and changes in volume and pressure which result in updrafts and can cause thunderstorms and other violent weather.

Detailed explanation-3: -The heat capacity is the product of the specific heat and the mass (in g) of the material. Oceans have a greater heat capacity than land because the specific heat of water is greater than that of dry soil and because a mixing of the upper ocean results in a much larger mass of water being heated than land.

Detailed explanation-4: -Because water has a much higher heat capacity, or specific heat, than do sands, soils or other materials, for a given amount of solar irradiation (insolation), water temperature will increase less than land temperature.

Detailed explanation-5: -Changes in the surface temperature heat or cool the air above, which leads to air movement called wind. Solar heating of the Earth’s surface is uneven because land heats faster than water.