Question

On a sunny summer day at noon, Justin measures the water temperature of a lake and the temperature of the surface of the soil surrounding the lake. What would Justin be most likely to find?

Answer 1

The temperature of the surface of the soil would be higher.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water reflects most solar radiation that reaches its surface back to the atmosphere. Since land absorbs more solar radiation the land surface retains more heat as do the vegetation for energy. Thus, land surfaces warm more quickly than water.

Answer 2

The answer is; The temperatures on land around the lake were higher than those above the lake.

This is because water has a high specific heat capacity (compared to most other elements) and therefore requires more sunlight energy, compared to land, to raise the temperature of a unit measure of water by a degree centigrade/ Fahrenheit