which is greater, the heat capacity of the oceans or heat capacity of the land? course hero

by Amir Spinka Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago 9 min read

What heats faster land or water?

Heat capacity

Simple physics suggests that when you put more heat into the climate system, land should warm more quickly than oceans. This is because land has a smaller “heat capacity” than water, which means it needs less heat to raise its temperature.Sep 1, 2020

Why does land heat and cool faster than water?

Since land absorbs more solar radiation the land surface retains more heat as do the vegetation for energy. Thus, land surfaces warm more quickly than water.

Why does water heat up and cool down slower than land?

Compared to air or land, water is a slow conductor of heat. That means it needs to gain more energy than a comparable amount of air or land to increase its temperature. Also, water's fluid structure means its molecules are in a constant state of motion.

Does water heat up or cool down faster?

Answer. Water cools down and heats up at exactly the same rate under ideal conditions. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/KG/C. That is, it takes 4200 Joules to raise the temperature of 1Kg of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Why is the land warmer in the daytime when compared to the ocean?

During the day, the sun heats up both the ocean surface and the land. Water is a good absorber of the energy from the sun. The land absorbs much of the sun's energy as well. However, water heats up much more slowly than land and so the air above the land will be warmer compared to the air over the ocean.

How do ocean affect temperature on land?

Ocean currents act as conveyer belts of warm and cold water, sending heat toward the polar regions and helping tropical areas cool off. The world's ocean is crucial to heating the planet. While land areas and the atmosphere absorb some sunlight, the majority of the sun's radiation is absorbed by the ocean.Oct 18, 2016

Is there more ocean than land?

The more granite there is, the more continent there is, and the more of the Earth's surface rises above the ocean basins. Water fills the basins. Right now, there is more basin than continent, and so more ocean surface than land surface.Apr 25, 2013

How much of the Earth's water is in our oceans?

97 percent

Over 97 percent of the earth's water is found in the oceans as salt water. Two percent of the earth's water is stored as fresh water in glaciers, ice caps, and snowy mountain ranges. That leaves only one percent of the earth's water available to us for our daily water supply needs.

How much heat gain is there in the ocean?

Averaged over Earth's surface, the 1993–2020 heat-gain rates were 0.37–0.41 Watts per square meter for depths from 0–700 meters (down to 0.4 miles), depending on which research group's analysis you consult. Meanwhile, heat gain rates were 0.15–0.31 Watts per square meter for depths of 700–2,000 meters (0.4–1.2 miles). For depths between 2000–6000 meters (1.2–3.7 miles), the estimated increase was 0.06 Watts per square meter for the period from June 1992 to July 2011. According to the State of the Climate 2019 report, "Summing the three layers (despite their slightly different time periods as given above), the full-depth ocean heat gain rate ranges from 0.58 to 0.78 W m -2 applied to Earth’s entire surface."

What are the two things that affect the ocean?

Additionally, clouds, water vapor, and greenhouse gases emit heat that they have absorbed, and some of that heat energy enters the ocean . Waves, tides, and currents constantly mix the ocean, moving heat from warmer to cooler latitudes and to deeper levels.

How can ocean temperature be deduced?

As water warms, it expands, so estimates for ocean temperature can be deduced from sea surface heights. To get a more complete picture of ocean heat content at different depths, scientists and engineers also use a range of in situ temperature-sensing instruments.

How do scientists measure ocean temperature?

To get a more complete picture of ocean heat content at different depths, scientists and engineers also use a range of in situ temperature-sensing instruments. Among these are a fleet of more than 3,000 robotic “floats” that measure ocean temperature around the world. Known as Argo floats, the sensors drift through the ocean at different depths. Every 10 days or so, according to their programmed instructions, they rise through the water, recording temperature (and salinity) as they ascend. When a float reaches the surface, it sends its location and other information to scientists via satellite, and then descends again.

How does heat energy re-enter the Earth system?

The heat energy eventually re-enters the rest of the Earth system by melting ice shelves, evaporating water, or directly reheating the atmosphere. Thus, heat energy in the ocean can warm the planet for decades after it was absorbed. If the ocean absorbs more heat than it releases, its heat content increases.

Which has the highest specific heat capacity?

Water actually has one of the highest specific heat capacities of all the substances on Earth. Hydrogen gas, helium gas, and aqueous (liquid) ammonia are a few substances with a higher heat capacity than water .

Why is water cooler than sand?

Those in the water are most likely feeling cooler than those on the sand. This is due to the high specific heat capacity of water. In other words, the same amount of heat energy when applied to sand and water will increase the temperature of the sand more than it will increase the temperature of the water. Water actually has one of the highest ...

How does the ocean affect air temperature?

a) As ocean surface temperatures increase, the energy transferred to the atmosphere increases air temperatures. There is a lag time as the heat capacity of oceans release heat slowly. Land areas closest to the ocean receive more mild temperatures than areas farther inland. Warmer air temperatures may also increase precipitation as the air contains more moisture.

How does ocean surface temperature affect air temperature?

c) As ocean surface temperatures increase, the energy transferred to the atmosphere decreases air temperatures. There is no lag time as the heat capacity of oceans release heat slowly. Land areas closest to the ocean receive more dramatic temperatures than areas farther inland. Warmer air temperatures may also increase precipitation as the air contains more moisture.

How is heat released into the atmosphere?

Heat energy is released to the atmosphere as water vapor condenses to form water droplets around condensation nuclei (precipitation).

How does water vapor affect weather?

d) Water vapor and other greenhouse gases trap heat closer to Earth's surface, affecting weather patterns as the trapped warm, moist air rises and cools.

What is the purpose of the relative cooler surface air from the land moving away from the land?

c) Relatively cooler surface air from the land moves away from the land to replace the warmer, rising air above the oceans.

Which is cooler, land or water?

a) The land loses its heat more quickly than water, resulting in relatively cooler air temperatures above the land during the evening.

Which holds more moisture: cooler or cooler air?

a) Cooler air can hold more moisture than warmer air.

Which hemisphere does wind deflect to?

a. winds deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

Why does water pile up higher than the edge of a container?

Water can pile up higher than the edge of a container due to its low surface tension.

Does ocean salinity vary as a function of season?

a. ocean salinity varies as a function of season.