Question

weather and climate exam
which physical property of water allows the ocean to act as a global thermostat by absorbing large amounts of heat with only a slight change in temperature?
low viscosity
capillary action
high specific heat capacity
surface tension

Explanation:

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to change the temperature of a substance. A high specific heat capacity means a substance can absorb large amounts of heat energy without a significant rise in temperature, which allows oceans to regulate global temperatures like a thermostat. The other options describe unrelated properties: low viscosity refers to fluid flow resistance, capillary action is liquid movement in narrow spaces, and surface tension is the cohesive force at a liquid's surface.

Answer:

High Specific Heat Capacity