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Land allows __________ to fluctuate a lot more (not the same thermal inertia)

User Ultrakorne
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Final answer:

The question addresses the concept of thermal inertia, specifically that land's low specific heat capacity allows it to experience more significant temperature fluctuations compared to water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question is referring to the effect of thermal inertia on temperature fluctuations of different surfaces on Earth. When the student says 'Land allows __________ to fluctuate a lot more,' they are referring to temperature fluctuations. This is because land has a lower specific heat capacity than water. The specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance; land heats up and cools down more quickly than water because of this property.

Landscape changes, including heating and cooling, are influenced by a range of factors, but the specific heat capacity plays a fundamental role in shaping the rate at which temperature fluctuates on different surfaces, such as land versus water.

User Bolick
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