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Lesson: Chapter 9 — Heat

Convection 3 of 3

Sea and land breezes

Land has a lower specific heat capacity than sea water, so it heats and cools faster. That drives the breezes along a coast.

Sea breeze — by day

The sun heats the land faster than the sea.

Air over the land warms, becomes less dense and rises, lowering the pressure there.

Cool air from the sea blows in towards the land.

Land breeze — at night

The land cools faster than the sea.

Air over the warmer sea rises, lowering the pressure there.

Cool air blows from the land out to sea.

Figure to be added

Figures 9.32 and 9.33 — a coast by day, with cool air blowing from the sea to the land, and by night, from the land to the sea.

Think…

How does blowing on a hot cup of tea cool it?