Science & Technology2023
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter. Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
The correct option states that Statement-I is incorrect while Statement-II is correct due to the differing heat capacities of water and land. In summer, oceans, having a higher specific heat than land, absorb more heat and warm slowly, thus reducing the temperature contrast, while in winter, land cools more rapidly than water, leading to a greater contrast in temperatures. This contributes to more stable weather patterns over oceans compared to the more variable conditions over continents, aligning with the principles taught in standard UPSC-level sources about climate and meteorology.
