Final answer:
Water moderates temperature changes because of its high specific heat capacity. It absorbs and releases heat slowly, which results in coastal areas experiencing smaller temperature fluctuations compared to inland areas. Evaporation of water also contributes to cooling and further stabilizes temperatures in humid climates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role that water plays in keeping temperatures from fluctuating dramatically is that water moderates temperature changes. This is due to water's high specific heat, meaning it absorbs or releases more heat than most other materials before changing temperature. Coastal areas like Jacksonville Beach benefit from this property because the ocean absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night, leading to smaller temperature variations between daytime and nighttime. Inland areas like Ocala do not have this large water body to buffer temperature swings, resulting in greater temperature differences between day and night.
Furthermore, in very humid climates with many bodies of water, such as Florida, the process of evaporation also helps to regulate high temperatures. As water evaporates, it absorbs a significant amount of heat from the surroundings, which helps in cooling the air and limiting the rise in temperature. This evaporative cooling effect is significantly less in dry areas like deserts, where there is less water available for evaporation, leading to higher maximum temperatures.
Additionally, due to water's high heat capacity, it also plays a significant role in moderating the climate overall. By absorbing heat slowly and releasing it slowly, large bodies of water ensure that coastal climates are milder and have fewer extreme temperatures when compared to inland areas. This explains why certain regions, like the northern coastal regions in closer proximity to waters with moderate temperatures, experience less variability in their climate.