The Wind: A Breeze

by Tamara Coleman


A day at the beach.



Most people take a beach vacation to enjoy the ocean, the warmth, and a nice relaxing breeze, but have you ever wondered... What causes that nice cool breeze?


The breeze we feel on the beach is caused by moving air. The air moves as result of the unevenly heated surfaces of the earth. Land and water become unevenly heated because they absorb heat from the sun at different rates.



In the picture above, the air above land is warmer than the air above water. The warmer air above land rises and is replaced by cooler air moving from above the water. This moving air is known as a Sea Breeze.



Let's take a walk on the beach and experience a sea breeze...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLAvJSQeW1E&feature=related

 

 



When the opposite occurs, this is known as a Land Breeze. In a land breeze, the air above water is warmer than the air above land. The warm air above water rises and is replaced by cool moving air from land.





On your next beach vacation, spend a little time enjoying the breeze!!!