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<strong>Water</strong> <strong>Specific</strong> <strong>Heat</strong> <strong>Capacity</strong> <strong>Essays</strong>1. Describe water's specific heat capacity and what it means.<strong>Water</strong> has a high specific heat capacityincrease ability to store internal energytakes lot of energy to increase temperaturetake long time to heat uptake long time to lose heat2. How does waterʼs specific heat capacity effect the climate of Europe?water- high specific heat capacity; therefore, the gulf stream stays warm up to Europewarm water warms air above it via conductionwarm air rises over water heating air above it via convectionwesterly winds carry warm air over EuropeEurope climate is much warmer than Northern Canada at the same northern latitude3. Contrast the San Francisco & Washington DC (on same latitude) climatesSan Francisco is surrounded by deep cool water os the Pacific Ocean.<strong>Water</strong> has high specific heat capacity; therefore its temp. does vary muchSan Francisco has the most stable climate of all US (temp ~ 50°F - 65°F)Summer: San Francisco (~ 65°F) cooler than Washington (80° F - 90°F)Pacific Ocean cooler than landWesterly winds carry cool air over San FranciscoWinter: San Francisco (~ 50°F) warmer than Washington (10° F - 35°F)Pacific Ocean warmer than landWesterly winds carry warm air over San Francisco
4. <strong>Specific</strong>ally, how is a gulf breeze created? Does it occur in the morning or afternoon.1. uneven heating of earthʼs surface bcs of differences in specific heat capacity of land & water2. convection currents created during the day.Land has a lower specific heat capacity; therefore, during the day its temperature is higher<strong>Water</strong> has a higher specific heat capacity; so, during the day its temperature is lower1. air above warm land heats up via conduction from landwarm air-----low pressure air2. warm air rises via convection and because it is less dense (increase vol.)3. cool air over water rushes into land to take warm airʼs place (cool sea breeze)cool air---high pressure air4. rising warm air cools bcs increase receding collisions5. cool air sinks bcs less dense (decreasing volume)6. creating a convection current during the afternoonopposite occurs at night time
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