The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
The differential heating and cooling of land and water is a fundamental factor controlling the distribution of temperature across the Earth's surface. This phenomenon is primarily driven by the differences in specific heat capacity, transparency, and heat transfer mechanisms between solid land and liquid water.
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Land surfaces heat up and cool down much more rapidly than water bodies. This occurs for several reasons:
- Specific Heat: Water has a much higher specific heat capacity than land, meaning it requires more energy to raise its temperature by the same amount.
- Transparency: Water is transparent, allowing solar radiation to penetrate to greater depths, distributing heat over a larger volume. Land is opaque, so heat is concentrated at the surface.
- Mixing: Water is fluid and allows for mixing (convection and currents), which distributes heat. Land is rigid, and heat transfer occurs only through slow conduction.
Statement 2 is Correct: The variation in temperature over the sea is much less compared to land. Because water heats and cools slowly, it acts as a thermal reservoir, maintaining a relatively stable temperature. In contrast, land surfaces experience rapid temperature spikes during the day (or summer) and rapid drops at night (or winter), leading to greater temperature variations.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: Places near the sea experience a moderating effect known as a maritime or equable climate. The presence of the ocean reduces the diurnal and annual range of temperature. Extreme temperature variations (continentality) are characteristic of regions located far away from the sea, in the interior of continents.
Key Takeaway: Due to higher specific heat and transparency, water bodies heat and cool slower than land. This results in coastal areas having moderate climates with low temperature ranges, while interior landmasses experience extreme temperature variations.