Water is able to absorb heat - without increasing much in temperature - better than many substances. This is because for water to increase in temperature, water molecules must be made to move faster within the water; this requires breaking hydrogen bonds, and the breaking of hydrogen bonds absorbs heat.

How does water absorb heat?

Water's high heat capacity is a property caused by hydrogen bonding among water molecules. When heat is absorbed, hydrogen bonds are broken and water molecules can move freely. When the temperature of water decreases, the hydrogen bonds are formed and release a considerable amount of energy.

Why does water absorb and release heat slowly?

Water is a liquid rather than gas (or water vapor) at room temperature because of the strong hydrogen bond between the molecules of water. ... The specific heat of water is greater than that of dry soil, therefore water both absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land.