In coastal areas, wind direction shifts during the day and night due to differential heating of land and water. During the day, land heats up faster than water, creating a low-pressure area over land. This causes wind to flow from the higher-pressure area (the sea) to the lower-pressure area (the land), resulting in a sea breeze. At night, the land cools down faster than the sea, leading to a high-pressure area over land. This causes wind to flow from the higher-pressure area (the land) to the lower-pressure area (the sea), resulting in a land breeze.
Daytime (Sea Breeze):
Differential Heating:
During the day, land surfaces absorb solar radiation more readily than water, leading to higher temperatures on land.
Pressure Gradient:
The warmer air above the land becomes less dense and rises, creating a low-pressure area. Conversely, the cooler air above the sea remains denser and has higher pressure.
Wind Direction:
Wind, driven by pressure differences, flows from the higher-pressure area (sea) to the lower-pressure area (land), resulting in a sea breeze.
Nighttime (Land Breeze):
Cooling:
At night, land loses heat more quickly than the sea due to its lower specific heat capacity.
Pressure Gradient:
The cooler air above the land becomes denser and has higher pressure, while the warmer air above the sea is less dense and has lower pressure.
Wind Direction:
Wind flows from the higher-pressure area (land) to the lower-pressure area (sea), resulting in a land breeze.