Water is also very effective at moderating temperature. It can absorb or release a relatively large amount of heat with only a small change in its own temperature. Heat is a measure of the total amount of kinetic energy due to molecular motion in a body of matter. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Finally, temperature measures the intensity of heat due to the average kinetic energy of the molecules. Water can moderate temperature well in part because of its high specific heat. The specific heat of a substance is defined as the amount of heat that must be absorbed or lost for 1 g of that substance to change its temperature by 1 degree Celsius. Water's specific heat is high relative to other substances, which allows water to change its temperature less when it absorbs or loses a given amount of heat. Water's high specific heat results from hydrogen bonding. Heat must be absorbed in order to break hydrogen bonds, and heat is released when hydrogen bonds form. The high specific heat of water is important to the environment because it stabilizes ocean temperatures and causes coastal areas to have milder climates than inland areas.
Water's high heat of vaporization also helps moderate Earth's climate. Heat of vaporization is the quantity of heat a liquid must absorb for 1 g of it to be converted from the liquid to the gaseous state. Water's high heat of vaporization is also caused by hydrogen bonds, because they must be broken before the molecules can leave the liquid.
Evaporative cooling is also utilized by water to moderate temperature. Evaporative cooling is when liquid evaporates and the surface of the liquid that remains behind cools down. this occurs because molecules with the greatest kinetic energy are the most likely to leave as gas. This property contributes to the stability of temperature in lakes and ponds and also is utilized by land animals to prevent overheating.
Water's high heat of vaporization also helps moderate Earth's climate. Heat of vaporization is the quantity of heat a liquid must absorb for 1 g of it to be converted from the liquid to the gaseous state. Water's high heat of vaporization is also caused by hydrogen bonds, because they must be broken before the molecules can leave the liquid.
Evaporative cooling is also utilized by water to moderate temperature. Evaporative cooling is when liquid evaporates and the surface of the liquid that remains behind cools down. this occurs because molecules with the greatest kinetic energy are the most likely to leave as gas. This property contributes to the stability of temperature in lakes and ponds and also is utilized by land animals to prevent overheating.
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