Land and water bodies

When land and water bodies have equal values of net radiation, they are absorbing equal amounts of energy. However, their surface temperature responses will be quite different. The temperature of the land surface will show a distinctly greater increase than will the temperature of the water surface. Conversely, during periods when net radiation is small or negative, cooling will occur but at different rates. The land will cool more rapidly than the water. This phenomenon is referred to as the “differential heating and cooling” of land and water. With respect to each of the physical properties listed below, explain how land and water surfaces are different, and indicate how this difference affects the rate of warming or cooling of the two types of surfaces when net radiation loads are equal. — Specific heat of surface materials — Surface transparency — Surface mobility — Potential for evaporation at the surface