Compared to the air above a nearby land mass, the air above a large body of water is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Water has a higher specific heat capacity than land, which means it takes longer to heat up and cool down. In the summer, the land will heat up faster than a body of water, creating a temperature difference that causes air to rise over the land, creating an area of low pressure called a thermal low. Cooler air over the water will then be drawn in to replace the rising warm air, creating a sea breeze. In the winter, the opposite happens, with the land cooling down faster than the water, creating a thermal high and drawing in warmer air from the water. Therefore, the air above a large body of water is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter compared to the air above nearby land masses.

Compared to the Air Above a Nearby Land Mass, the Air