Question

How does the ocean's specific heat capacity compare to that of land?

The ocean's specific heat capacity is higher, so the ocean absorbs more heat without much temperature change.

The ocean's specific heat capacity doesn't affect climate regulation.

The ocean's specific heat capacity is the same as that of land, so they both store heat equally.

The ocean's specific heat capacity is lower, so the ocean heats up faster.

Answer 1

Correct answer: The ocean's specific heat capacity is higher, so the ocean absorbs more heat without much temperature change.

Why: Liquid water has a high specific heat (~4,184 J/kg·K) compared with typical rock or soil (order 700–1,000 J/kg·K). That means for the same heat input per kilogram the ocean warms much less than land. Because the ocean also has large mass and depth (mixed layer), it stores enormous amounts of heat and provides strong climate buffering (thermal inertia).

Why the other choices are wrong:
- "The ocean's specific heat capacity doesn't affect climate regulation." — wrong: the high heat capacity is a major reason the ocean moderates climate and slows temperature changes.
- "The ocean's specific heat capacity is the same as that of land..." — wrong: water’s specific heat is several times larger than typical land materials.
- "The ocean's specific heat capacity is lower..." — wrong: that would imply the ocean heats faster, which is the opposite of reality.