The primary characteristic of subsoils that accounts for the ability of ground circulating heat pumps to moderate temperatures in houses in both summer and winter is _____.
A)the high redox potential of the soil
B)the high heat of the evapotranspiration
C)the ready conduction of heat in the soil
D)the high specific heat of the soil
E)the low oxygen content of the subsoil

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The high specific heat of the soil is the primary characteristic that enables ground circulating heat pumps to moderate temperatures in houses. Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a given mass of a substance by one degree Celsius, and soils have a higher specific heat than air. As a result, the soil can absorb a significant amount of thermal energy, which can be exchanged through a ground heat exchanger with the heat pump to provide heating or cooling to a building.

The Primary Characteristic of Subsoils That Accounts for the Ability