High Specific Heat Capacity

• “The amount of substance required to increase the temperature of 1g of the substance by 1°C”, substance’s temperature is related to its kinetic energy - faster molecules = higher temperature
• Extra energy is needed to break the hydrogen bonds for free movement; aquatic habitats’ temperature doesn’t change very much compared to the surrounding air
• Useful to aquatic organisms, provides a thermostable environment so they use less energy on temperature control; gas solubility in water doesn’t change very much either
• Internal temperature in an organisms cell changes slowly because the cytoplasm provides a thermostable medium for enzyme activity and metabolic reactions