Question

Which one of the following is the main cause of the land-sea temperature contrast that drives phenomena like sea breeze and the Indian summer monsoon?

• A. Difference in the cloud cover between the land and the sea.
• B. Difference in the albedo between the land and the sea.
• C. Difference in the specific heat capacities between the land and the sea.
• D. Difference in the surface roughness between the land and the sea.

Hint:

Always link monsoon and sea-breeze circulation to the fact that land heats/cools quickly, while ocean responds slowly due to its high heat capacity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Why land-sea temperature differences arise.
Water has a much higher specific heat capacity compared to soil/rock. This means: - The sea heats up and cools down more slowly.
- Land heats up and cools down quickly in response to solar radiation.


Step 2: Resulting thermal contrast.
- Daytime: Land surface warms much faster → land air becomes hotter → lower pressure → sea breeze (cool moist air from sea to land).
- Seasonal: In summer, the Indian subcontinent heats much more strongly than the ocean → strong land-sea pressure gradient → drives monsoon circulation (moist southwesterlies from ocean to land).


Step 3: Eliminate other options.
- (A) Cloud cover differences exist but are consequences, not the cause.
- (B) Albedo differences are smaller compared to heat capacity effects.
- (D) Surface roughness affects turbulence and drag, not large-scale temperature contrast.
Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{\text{Difference in the specific heat capacities between the land and the sea}} \]