When night falls on a summer day the air temperature drops by 10 degrees Celsius will the temperature of a nearby lake change by the same amount?

Answer 1

No, air has a much lower specific heat than water. Loss of same amount of thermal energy by the water will result in a smaller temperature drop.

Answer 2

No. The temperature of a nearby lake will not fall by the same amount.

Compared to air, the contents of the lake (water) hold a great deal more heat, and the lake can

only gain or lose heat through its surface. So the nearby lake gains or loses heat more slowly

than the adjacent air does. To my mind, the lake behaves as a battery or as a capacitor as it

were . . . the lake maintains its cool when the surrounding air warms, maintains its warmth

when the surrounding air cools, and is always available as a nearby 'sink' that acts to smooth

the extremes of temperature that the adjacent air would otherwise exhibit.

Answer 3

The temperature of the lake may not drop by exactly 10 degrees Celsius as it has a higher heat capacity than air. Water takes longer to heat up and cool down, so the lake's temperature may change, but it might not be as dramatic as the change in air temperature.