The lower atmosphere is mostly warmed by radiated heat from Earth's surface. However, water heats up and cools down more slowly than land. Knowing this, which of the following statements is most likely true?

Question

A.
On a cloudy day, the air over a northern section of the ocean will be warmer than the air over a southern section of the ocean.
B.
On a sunny day, the air over a lake will be cooler than the air over the bordering land.
C.
On a cloudy day, the air over a southern section of the ocean will be warmer than the air over a northern section of the ocean.
D.
On a sunny day, the air over a piece of land will be cooler than the air over a bordering lake.

Answer 1

The most likely true statement is:

D. On a sunny day, the air over a piece of land will be cooler than the air over a bordering lake.

This is because land heats up more quickly than water when exposed to sunlight. As a result, the air over the land will generally become warmer, while the air over the lake remains cooler due to the slower heating and cooling properties of water. This temperature difference can lead to varying air temperatures, particularly on sunny days, where the cooling effect of the lake can be significant compared to the land.