Heat Capacity
Different materials hold heat in different ways.
LARGE HEAT CAPACITY
Some materials can absorb lots of energy without a large temperature increase. These materials have a large heat capacity. Water has a very large heat capacity.
LOW HEAT CAPACITY
Some materials have a large temperature increase when they absorb energy. These materials have a low heat capacity. Rocks, soils, sand, and other land surface materials have a very low heat capacity.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since water has a large heat capacity, there are only small temperature differences between day and night in the ocean.