The term
land breeze refers to a
coastal wind that originates from the land and heads towards the
sea, usually discernible during nighttime. Representing a
regional wind
pattern, it constitutes a daily
cycle in coastal environments, serving as the antithesis to a sea breeze.
Land breezes come into being due to unequal rates of
heating and
cooling between land and
water:
During the night: The land experiences accelerated cooling compared to the sea, giving rise to
cooler air stationed over the land and warmer air enveloping the sea.
Air Pressure: The
cool,
dense air over the land initiates the formation of a
high-pressure zone. In contrast, the warmer, less dense air over the sea generates a
low-pressure zone.
Movement of Air: Air exhibits a tendency to migrate from regions of
high pressure to those of
low pressure. Consequently, the cool air from the land migrates towards the sea, instigating a land breeze.
Effects of Land Breezes
Land breezes can exert multiple influences on
local weather and
climate:
Weather patterns: Land breezes can thrust offshore tempests further into the sea, thereby reducing the probability of coastal storms.
Humidity: As land breezes traverse over parched land rather than the
ocean, they typically exhibit lower humidity levels compared to sea breezes.
Temperature: Land breezes can
transport cooler temperatures from the land towards adjacent coastal regions.
Land Breeze vs Sea Breeze
Both land breezes and sea breezes are integral to the same
circulation system. During the
day, the land warms up at a more rapid rate than the sea, causing the air above the land to ascend and creating a low-pressure
area that draws in cooler air from the sea. This
process inverts during the night, leading to the formation of a land breeze. This day-night or
diurnal cycle remains a prominent
feature of coastal climates.
Updated: May 23, 2023
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