Question

1. Water radiates heat energy more efficiently than the ground does.​

Answer 1

In fluids, such as water and air, convection is a much more efficient method of heat transfer than conduction. This difference in efficiency produced the dramatic difference in the time required to melt the ice. Although conduction was at work in both cases, it transferred much less heat than convection.

Answer 2

Water reflects most solar radiation that reaches its surface back to the atmosphere. Since land absorbs more solar radiation the land surface retains more heat as do the vegetation for energy. Thus, land surfaces warm more quickly than water.