What causes the phenomena of land and sea breezes?

Prepare for the Spaatz Aerospace Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Learn with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The phenomenon of land and sea breezes is primarily caused by the unequal heating of land and water. During the day, the sun heats the land more quickly than it heats the nearby water, resulting in the air above the land warming up and rising. The cooler air over the water, being denser, moves in to replace the rising warm air, creating a sea breeze.

At night, the process reverses; the land cools down faster than the water. The air over the land becomes cooler and denser, while the air over the water remains relatively warm. As a result, the cooler air over the land moves out toward the warmer water, creating a land breeze.

This cycle of air movement is a direct result of the different rates at which land and water absorb and release heat, fundamentally driving the local wind patterns known as breezes.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy