Final answer:
Water's high specific heat capacity is caused by hydrogen bonding which allows it to absorb or release large amounts of heat with minimal temperature change, thereby moderating the climate of nearby areas and aiding in the temperature regulation of living organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The high specific heat capacity of water is due to the hydrogen bonding among water molecules. Specific heat is the amount of heat required for one gram of a substance to change its temperature by one degree Celsius. For water, this amount is about one calorie. This means that water can absorb or release a significant amount of heat with only a slight change in its temperature.
Because of this property, water serves as a thermal reservoir or heat sink that can absorb excess heat on hot days or slowly release stored heat on cool days, thus moderating the climate of nearby areas. This effect is particularly evident in coastal regions where the ocean's presence results in milder climatic conditions compared to inland areas.
In the same way, this high specific heat capacity enables living organisms, which are largely made up of water, to maintain a more stable internal temperature, contributing to homeostasis.