Final answer:
The bodies of water around the Philippines generally maintain warm temperatures due to the archipelago's location in a tropical zone, its volcanic activity, and the impact of frequent typhoons. Additionally, as ocean waters heat and cool more slowly than land, these temperatures exhibit a lag in seasonal temperature changes, often resulting in warmer waters in the winter and cooler during the summer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperatures of the bodies of water surrounding the Philippines are influenced by several environmental factors specific to the region. Due to the location of the Philippines in the tropical zone and its volcanic origins, as well as its highly diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems, the waters here are generally warm. The country experiences a significant impact from oceanic and atmospheric phenomena such as typhoons, which in turn affect the temperature of the surrounding waters.
The Philippine archipelago is situated in the Western Pacific's major typhoon belt, receiving as many as 20 typhoons per year, with at least half making landfall. The kinetic energy from these typhoons, combined with the heat-retaining properties of the ocean, ensures that the surrounding waters tend to remain warm year-round. Furthermore, being on the juncture of tectonic plates, the Philippines experiences active seismic and volcanic activities that can also transfer heat to the overlying waters.
The water in this region heats up and cools down slowly, aligning with the worldwide oceanic pattern where ocean temperatures lag behind the seasonal temperatures on land. This means that during the peak of summer and winter, the water holds onto its former season's temperature longer, hence cooling more slowly in the summertime and retaining warmth well into the winter months. Consequently, the ocean water tends to be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, relative to peak land temperatures.
Finally, the Philippines' rising human population and its status as a biodiversity hotspot means that conservation efforts are crucial in maintaining the balance between natural forces and human activity, which can indirectly affect the thermal characteristics of surrounding waters through ecosystems alterations and increased pollution.