Final answer:
The high specific heat and high latent heat of vaporization of water are the reasons why it warms and cools more slowly than land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason why water warms and cools much more slowly than land is due to its high specific heat and high latent heat of vaporization. Specific heat is the amount of heat a substance must absorb or lose to change its temperature by one degree Celsius. Water has a specific heat about five times greater than that of sand, which means it takes water longer to heat up and cool down compared to land. Additionally, water has a high latent heat of vaporization, which means it requires a large amount of heat energy to change from a liquid to a gas. This further contributes to the slower heating and cooling of water compared to land.