Question

Why is there a difference in heating of land and water on the Earth?

• A. Land gets more solar radiation than water.
• B. Land is a better conductor of heat than water and so it heats up and also cools down faster than water.
• C. Water is a better conductor of heat than land and so it heats up and also cools down faster than land.
• D. Water gets more solar radiation than water.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Land is a better conductor of heat than water and so it heats up and also cools down faster than water.

Land surfaces absorb much more solar radiation than water. … Water reflects most solar radiation that reaches its surface back to the atmosphere. 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.