Physics
Discuss the role of high specific heat capacity of water with reference to climate in coastal areas.
Answer
The specific heat capacity of water is very high. It is about five times as high as that of sand. Hence, the heat energy required for the same rise in temperature by a certain mass of water will be nearly five times than that required by the same mass of sand. Similarly, a certain mass of water will impart nearly five times more heat energy than that given by the same mass of sand for the same fall in temperature.
As such sand (or earth) gets heated or cooled more rapidly as compared to water under the similar conditions (exposure to the Sun). Thus, near the sea shore, there becomes a large difference in temperature between the land and sea due to which convection currents are set up. The cold air from the land blows towards the sea during the night (i.e., land breeze) and during the day cold air blows from the sea towards the land (i.e., sea breeze). These breezes near the sea makes the climate in coastal areas moderate.
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