Question 51 from UPSC CSE 2023 - Geography

Question

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 the land surface.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

Strategy: Focus on physical geography keywords: 'temperature contrast' and 'specific heat.' Recognize that water's high specific heat causes it to resist temperature change, leading oceans to heat and cool slowly compared to land. Thus, land gets much hotter in summer and cooler in winter, widening the contrast in summer. Statement-II gives the underlying reason, making it the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Key Info: Specific heat is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. Water has a high specific heat (about 4.18 J/g°C) compared to typical land materials, meaning it absorbs and releases heat more slowly.

This characteristic gives oceans thermal inertia: during summer, oceans heat up slowly, while land surfaces quickly reach higher temperatures. In winter, oceans cool slowly and retain heat, so their temperature fluctuates less than land.

This disparity is especially evident in continental interiors versus coastal regions; continents experience more extreme seasonal temperature changes. The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is most pronounced in summer because land heats rapidly, while oceans lag due to their high heat capacity.

This fundamental property affects global climate, monsoonal patterns, and localized coastal weather phenomena. It underlies the formation of sea breezes and influences climatic distinctions between maritime and continental climates. Oceanic heat capacity is a primary stabilizing factor for Earth's climate, moderating atmospheric temperature swings.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

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 the land surface. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

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 the land surface.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?