Which property of water is primarily responsible for its ability to moderate Earth's climate by absorbing and releasing heat with only slight temperature changes?

Relate high specific heat to climate moderation: Water's high specific heat allows it to absorb heat from the sun during the day and release it slowly at night, helping to stabilize temperatures in the environment.

Eliminate incorrect options: Nonpolar covalent bonds do not apply to water, as water is a polar molecule. High density as a solid is incorrect because water is less dense as a solid (ice). Low surface tension is also incorrect, as water has high surface tension due to hydrogen bonding.