Coastal cities experience smaller day-night temperature swings than inland deserts at similar latitudes. Which property of water best explains this moderating influence?

Core Concept

Because each water molecule hydrogen bonds to several neighbors, much added thermal energy first breaks or loosens hydrogen bonds before molecular motion, and thus temperature, rises. Water's specific heat of about 4184 joules per kilogram per kelvin far exceeds that of dry sand or air. Coastal air exchanging heat with seawater therefore warms and cools slowly, damping day-night swings, while inland surfaces lacking that reservoir swing widely. The same hydrogen-bond economy yields a high heat of vaporization, so evaporation also removes large quantities of heat.