DelawareSeaGrantDataActivity

SeaBreeze

Summary

GradeLevel:
612

LessonTime:
60minutes

RequiredMaterials:
Airtemperaturegraph
Relativehumiditygraph
Windspeedgraph
Winddirectiongraph
Computeraccess
Internetaccess
Studentworksheet

STEMConnections
ScienceDensity;Meteorology;Human
impact;Interpretinggraphs
TechnologyArchivedandrealtime
datafromenvironmentalobserving
systems;Radar
EngineeringLanduse;Coastal
development
MathCreatinggraphs

DelawareScienceContentStandards
Grades68
Grades912
1.1.A
5.2.H
1.1.A
1.1.C
5.2.I
1.1.D
1.2.A
5.2.J
1.2.A
2.1.E
5.3.A
8.3.B
5.1.B
8.3.A
8.3.C
5.2.F
8.3.C

RelatedTopics
Density,heatcapacity,landuse,
sustainabledevelopment,nearshore
windenergy

writtenbyChristopherPetrone,
DelawareSeaGrant,Universityof
DelawareCollegeofEarth,Ocean,and
Environment

incooperationwithDr.DanaVeronand
ChristopherHughes,Universityof
DelawareCollegeofEarth,Ocean,and
Environment

Seabreezescanprovideawelcomebreakfromsummertimetemperaturesand
sparkafternoonthunderstorms;however,theirformationandstrengthare
greatlyaffectedbychangesinlanduse.Studentswillexamineenvironmental
observingsystemdataandaradarlooptoidentifyseabreezefrontsanddiscuss
theimplicationsofongoingseabreezeresearch.

ActivityUse
Thisactivitycanbeusedaspartofa:
Meteorologyunitinearthscience
Humanimpactunitinecologyorenvironmentalscience
Densityunit

Objectives
Aftercompletingthisactivity,studentswillbeableto:
Describetheformationofseabreezeandlandbreezeandtheireffects
Analyzelinegraphsofairtemperature,humidity,windspeed,andwind
direction
Identifyseabreezefrontsvialinegraphandradarloop
Discusstheimpactsofurbanization/landusechangeonseabreeze

Vocabulary
seabreeze,landbreeze,landuse,urbanization,differentialheating,gradient,
frontogenesis,front

Invitation
ItsatoastyJulyday.Youvejustfinishedridingsomegreatwavesatoneof
Delawaresawardwinningbeaches
(http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/200beaches.asp)andyourenow
enjoyinganearlyafternoonsnack.Allofasuddenyourealizethattheair
temperaturehasdropped,thehumidityseemstobeincreasing,andthewindis
nownotonlystrongerthanitwas,butnowitscomingoffthewater.Soyousit
backandenjoythecoolbreeze.

Laterintheafternoon,justwhenyouarereadytopackupyourthingsandleave
thisepicbeachdaybehind,younoticethatthewindhasshiftedagain,and
thoughitisalittlelesshumid,thetemperaturehasclimbedbackup,leavingyou
wishingforanotherquickswiminthesurf.

Whatintheworldishappening?Andhowcouldyouinvestigatewhatis
happening?

Introduction
SeaBreeze
Waterhasahigherheatcapacity(www2.vims.edu/bridge/DATA.cfm?Bridge_Location=archive0909.html)than
land,meaningittakesmoreenergytoraisethetemperatureofwaterthanitdoestoraisethetemperatureof
land.OnhotsummerdaysalongtheDelawarecoast,thelandheatsupmuchfasterthanthewatersofthe
DelawareBayandAtlanticOcean,which,forthemostpart,staythesametemperaturethroughouttheday.

Becausetheairisindirectcontactwiththesetwosurfaces,thelandandthewater,italsoheatsupatdifferent
rates.Theairoverwaterwillheatandcoolslowerthantheairoverland.Thisisknownasdifferentialheating
andresultsinapressureanddensitygradient
(http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/fw/sea/crc.rxml).Thispressuregradientallowsfor
frontogenesis,ortheformationofafront.Astheairoverlandheats,itrisesintotheatmosphereandis
replacedatthesurfacebycoolerairthatmovesinfromoverthecoolerwater.Theleadingedgeofthismoving
airmassisknownasaseabreezefront
(http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/yos/resource/JetStream/ocean/sb_circ.htm)andthecooler,moister
airthatwefeelisknownas,youguessedit,theseabreeze.

Thatrisingwarmairfromthelandspreadsoutintheatmosphereandeventuallymovesoutoverthewater,
whereitcoolsandsinksbacktowardsthesurfacecompletingthecirculationpattern
(http://i.usatoday.net/weather/photos/breez2.jpg).

Theseabreezebringscoolerairtemperaturesinland,whichdropairtemperaturesanywherefrom520F,and
alsoraisestherelativehumiditybecausetheairmassismovinginfromoverwater.Seabreezecanlast
anywherefromanhourtoseveralhours,andwilladdaneasterlycomponenttothewinddirection,changing
thedirectiontonortheasterly,easterly,orsoutheasterly.(*Rememberthatwindsarenamedbythedirection
fromwhichtheyoriginate,soaneasterlywindismovingfromtheeasttothewest.)InsouthernDelaware,sea
breezesoccur63percentofthetimeinthesummeralongthecoast,andonly20%ofthetimeinland.Astronger
Delawareseabreezecanpenetrateinlandtoabout3040miles.

Seabreezeisimportanttocoastalcommunitiesbecauseitrelieveshotsummertimetemperatures,andunder
certaincircumstances,canalsoprovidecrucialraintoDelawarescoastalfarmsduringdrysummerseasons.As
thewarmairoverlandrises,itcansparkbrief,strongthunderstormscapableofproducingheavyrain.Thedaily
afternoonthunderstormsexperiencedinFloridaareanexampleofstormscausedbyseabreezefronts.

Ontheothersideoftheseabreezecoin,coastalDelawarecanalsoexperiencelandbreezes.Thesetypically
occuraftersunset,whenthelandcoolsfasterthanthewaterandthewarmerairoverthewaterrisesandis
replacedbycoolerairfromland(http://bentsci.edublogs.org/files/2009/11/sealandbreeze.gif).Inover
developedcoastalareas,wheretheseabreezehelpstodissipatesmogandotherairbornecontaminants,the
landbreezecanhelpmovepollutantsouttosea.

LandUse
Delawareslandscapehasundergonemanychangesthroughoutitslonghistoryithastransitionedfromforests
tofarms,backtoforests,andtheninmanycases,particularlyinthenorthernandsoutheasternportionsofthe

state,fromforeststoresidentialandevenurbanareas.From1992to1997developedland(residential,
commercial,transportation,etc.)inSussexCounty,Del.increasedbyover46percent,whileagriculturaland
forestedlanddecreasedbyover9percen(DelawareOfficeofStatePlanningCoordination1999).

Changesinlanduse(http://www.eoearth.org/article/Landuse_and_landcover_change)canhaveaprofound
effectonthesoil,water,animals,andcertainlytheair.

Withurbanizationcomesanincreaseinimpervioussurfacessuchasroads,driveways,buildingroofs,and
parkinglots.Thesesurfaces,whichareoftendarkincolor,trapheatandcontributetoaheatislandeffect
(http://www.epa.gov/heatisld/),inwhichthedevelopedregionbecomesmuchwarmerthanthesurrounding
area.

Therearemanynegativeeffectsofheatislands,includingincreasedenergyconsumptionandairpollution,but
nearthecoast,thisincreaseinheatalsohasaneffectontheseabreeze.Insteadofmovingthroughanarea,the
seabreezefrontcanbeslowedorevenheldinplacebytheheatislandeffect.Thiscancausepollutantsto
becomemoreconcentratedintheurbanareaandpreventtheformationofafternoonthunderstorms.

CurrentSeaBreezeResearch
TourismisamajorcomponentofsouthernDelawareseconomy.Asmentionedabove,thenumberofseasonal
andpermanentresidentsisgrowingatanescalatingrateineasternSussexCounty.Thisrapidgrowth,andthe
increasedinfrastructureneededtosupportit,isdrasticallychanginglocallanduse,whichwillhaveanimpacton
thecoastalsystem,includingtheveryimportantseabreeze.

Dr.DanaVeron(http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/people/profile.aspx?dveron)oftheUniversityofDelawareCollege
ofEarth,Ocean,andEnvironment,andhergraduatestudentChristopherHughes,areworkingtobetter
understandseaandbaybreezesinDelaware.Theyarealsoworkingtoidentifythephysicalchangestothe
landscapethatmostaffectseabreeze,predicthowlandusewillchangeoverthenext30years,andusemodels
topredicthowthechanginglanduseandpopulationgrowthwillimpacttheseaandbaybreezesandDelawares
climate.

Theresultsoftheirworkwillhelpinformlocaldecisionmakersaboutsomeoftheimpactsofcontinued
developmentinthefragilecoastalzone.TheprojectisthreeyearsinlengthandfundedbyDelawareSeaGrant
(http://www.deseagrant.org/seagrant/research/development/ETE16).

DataAnalysis:IdentifyingaSeaBreezeFront
DataforthisactivitycamefromtheDelawareEnvironmentalObservingSystem(DEOS).DEOSprovidesrealtime
andarchiveddatafrom48stationslocatedthroughoutDelawareandsoutheasternPennsylvania,available24
hoursadayatwww.deos.udel.edu.

Applyingtheinformationyouhavelearnedabove,youwillnowexplorerealdatarecordedbytwoDEOS
stations,onecoastalandonefurtherinland,fromAugust21,2009.Thecoastalstation,DBBB,isfoundonthe
BethanyBeachBoardwalk,roughly200feetfromtheAtlanticOcean.Theinlandstation,DLAU,islocatedatthe
airportinLaurel,Del.,andisapproximately29milesfromthecoast.

Youwilluseseveralformsofarchiveddatatoidentifyseabreezefronts.Then,youwillexplorerealtimedatato
determineifaseabreezefronthasoccurredwithinthelast24hours.

Note:Ifstudentsneedadditionalworkcreatingtheirowngraphs,eitherbyhandorusinggraphingsoftware,
pleaseseeTable1forallofthedata.

A. Knowingtheeffectsofaseabreezefrontonairtemperature,relativehumidity,windspeed,andwind
direction,fillinthemissingportions(10AM3PM)ofFigures1through4linegraphsofthese
parameters.Thecoastalstation,DBBB,isinblue,andtheinlandstation,DLAU,isingreen.

*Note:PartAcanalsobeusedasanInvitation/Engagementactivitypriortoreceivinganyintroductory
material.

B. UsingFigures5and6,answerthefollowingquestions.
1. Whatdifferencesdoyounoticebetweenthetwoprofiles?
2. Whendidtheseabreezefrontbegin?
3. Howlongdidthefronthaveaneffect?
4. Howmuchdidairtemperaturechangeduringthistime?
a. AtDBBB
b. AtDLAU
5. Howmuchdidtherelativehumiditychange?
a. AtDBBB
b. AtDLAU

C. Aseabreezefrontisalsocharacterizedbyanincreaseinwindspeedandashiftinwinddirectionto
includeaneasterlycomponent.UsingFigures7and8linegraphsofwindspeedanddirectionanswer
thefollowingquestions.

6. BasedonyourobservationinPartA,locatethewindspeedandwinddirectiondataduringthe
periodofseabreeze:
i. ByapproximatelyhowmuchdidthewindspeedincreaseatDBBB?
ii. Fromwhatdirectiondidthewindshift?
iii. Towhatdirectiondidthewindshift?
iv. Howlongdidtheincreasedwindspeedanddirectionshiftlast?
7. Werethereanyotherdrasticshiftsinwinddirectionduringthe24hourperiod?
8. BasedonthedatafromFigures14,didtheDLAUstationexperiencetheseabreeze?Provide
evidenceforyouranswer.

D. Weareveryfamiliarwithradarmapsshownbyourlocalweatherpersonalities.Inprecipitationmode,
theradarproducesvisualizationswhichshowprecipitationthathasbeenrecordedthroughtheuseof
electromagneticwavesbeingbroadcastandreturnedviaantennas.Inclearairmode,theradarisable
todetectmuchsmallerobjectslikedustandparticulatematter.

ViewtheclearairmoderadarloopfromSeptember4,2008fromDoverAirForceBase
(http://youtu.be/YlrwZNCqW98).Theseabreezefrontisshownasalineofred/purplemovingeastto
westextendingfromthetopofthestatetothebottom.
9. DoesthefrontcrosstheentirestateofDelaware?
10. Usingthetimestampsintheupperrightcorner,determinehowlongittakesforthefronttomove
fromthecoasttothefurthestpointinland.(*Note:ThetimestampisinGMT,orGreenwichMean
Time,whichis5hoursaheadofEasternStandardTimeand4hoursaheadofEasternDaylightTime.
So16:00GMT=4:00PMGMT=12:00PMEDT=11:00AMEST)

E. YouwillnowevaluaterealtimedatafromseveralDEOSstationstodetermineifaseabreezefronthas
occurredinthelast24hours.

Visitwww.deos.udel.eduandclickontheDOESGeoBrowser.Asecondwindowwillopen.
Mouseoverthesouthernmostcoastalstation,whichshouldbetheBethanyBeachBoardwalkstation,
DBBB,andclickonit.Adialogueballoonwillopenwiththemostrecentobservations.Recordthe
following:
11. Thedateandtimeofthecurrentobservations
12. Currentairtemperature
13. Currentrelativehumidity
14. Currentwindspeed
15. Currentwinddirection

NowclickontheViewLast24Hourslink.Anothernewwindowwillopen.

16. Bylookingattheplotsofairtemperatureandrelativehumidity,isthereevidenceofaseabreeze
fronttakingplaceinthelast24hours?

Nowviewthe24hourrecordoftwootherDEOSstations.

17. Isthereevidenceofaseabreezefrontinotherareas?Describetheevidencefororagainstthe
presenceofaseabreezefront.

DiscussionQuestions
1. Howmightthefollowingaffecttheformationandcharacteristicsofaseabreezefront?
a. Acloudyday
b. Abrief,butstrongthunderstormmovingwesttoeastoverthearea
c. Anortheaster
d. Anintenseheatwave,withtemperaturesexceeding100F,foraweekstraight
e. Increaseddevelopmentofthecoastalarea,includingwiderroad,moreimpervioussurface,
andlargeskyscraperhotels.
2. Theradarloopdefinitivelyshowsthemovementoftheseabreezefront.Ifyouwereameteorologist
onthenews,whatwouldbetheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofshowingamodeledorpredicted
loopasopposedtoanactualradarloop?

3. Intheradarloop,wecanseewhatappearstobeaslowmovingseabreezemovingnortheastfrom
DelawareBayintoNewJersey.Whydoyouthinkthereisnotaseabreezefrontmovingwesttoeast
fromChesapeakeBayontoMarylandsEasternShore?
a. IftherewasaChesapeakeBayseabreezefront,whatwouldbetheresultofthetwofronts
converging?
4. Discusstheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofenvironmentalobservingsystemdata.
5. Ifyouwerecitymanager,howcouldyouusethedataandmodelspresentedinthisactivitytoguide
futuredevelopmentinyourcity?
6. Describeothermethodsofdeterminingtheimpactofurbanizationonseabreezefronts.

Assessment
Performance:Didstudentactivelyparticipateinthediscussionportionsoftheactivity?Wasstudentengaged
duringactivity?Canstudentdescribetheformationofaseabreezeandlandbreeze;andtheireffectson
temperature,humidity,etc.?Canstudentaccuratelyinterpretlinegraphsofairtemperature,humidity,wind
speed,andwinddirection?Canstudentidentifyaseabreezefrontfromlinegraphsandradarloops?Can
studentdiscusstheimpactsofurbanization/landusechangeonseabreeze?
Product:Didstudentanswerthedataanalysisquestionscoherentlyandprovideevidencefortheiranswers?

Extensions
Havestudentsresearchanddebatecoastaldevelopmentfromdifferentviewpoints:city
manager;ChamberofCommerce;residential/commercialdeveloper;farmer;commercial
fisherman;localresidents;businessowners;conservationgroup.
DiscusstheroleoftheCorioliseffectonthedirectiontheseabreezeblows.
ViewarchivedandrealtimedatafromotherDEOSandNOAANationalDataBuoyCenter
(http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov)stationsanddeterminethefrequency,strength,anddurationof
seabreezefrontsfromothersitesinDelaware,theEastCoast,theGulfofMexico,WestCoast,
andtheGreatLakes
UseGoogleEarthtoexploretheareaswhereDEOSsensorsarefound.Identifythelanduse
(agricultural,residential,highway,etc.)andformulateahypothesisabouthowthelanduse
mightaffectthedatameasurements.
Ifyourschoolorhomeislocatednearthecoast(lessthan50miles)measureairtemperature,
windspeedanddirection,andhumidity,toexploreifyouexperienceseabreezes.Youcanmake
severaloftheinstrumentsneededtomeasuretheseparametersfromitemsaroundthehouse.

AdditionalResources
CoastalCarolinaUniversitydataactivityCoastalWeatherandSeaBreezes
http://kingfish.coastal.edu/marine/risingtide/breeze/classroom.html
UniversityofCaliforniadataactivity
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/weather/teachers/teachers_wind.html
RutgersUniversityseabreezetutorialhttp://marine.rutgers.edu/cool/seabreeze/tutorial.html
NOAANationalOceanServiceseabreezetutorial
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/media/sea_and_land_br
eeze.swf

BridgeDATA:CantTaketheHeat
http://www2.vims.edu/bridge/DATA.cfm?Bridge_Location=archive0909.html

References
DelawareOfficeofStatePlanningCoordination.(1999).GrossLandUseChangesinDelaware1992to1997.
http://www.stateplanning.delaware.gov/info/lulcdata/grsschng.pdf.Accessed5October2011.
Hughes,Christopher.(2011).TheClimatologyoftheDelawareBay/SeaBreeze(Mastersthesis,Universityof
Delaware,2011).
Veron,Dana.(2009).LocalUrbanGrowthandClimateChangeImpactsontheDelawareBaySeaBreeze.
DelawareSeaGrantResearchProposal.

NationalScienceStandards

ScienceasInquiry
Abilitiesnecessarytodoscientificinquiry(58,912)
Understandingaboutscientificinquiry(58,912)

EarthandSpaceScience
Structureoftheearthsystem(58)
Energyintheearthsystem(912)

Science&Technology
Understandingsaboutscienceandtechnology(58,912)

ScienceinPersonalandSocialPerspectives
Populations,resources,andenvironments(58)
Naturalandhumaninducedhazards(58,912)
Science,technologyinsociety(58)
Natureofscience(58)

OceanLiteracyPrinciples

#3.Theoceanisamajorinfluenceonweatherandclimate.
a. TheoceancontrolsweatherandclimatebydominatingtheEarthsenergy,waterandcarbonsystems.

#6.Theoceansandhumanareinextricablyinterconnected.
a. Theoceanaffectseveryhumanlife.Itsuppliesfreshwater(mostraincomesfromtheocean)andoverhalfof
Earthsoxygen.ItmoderatestheEarthsclimate,influencesourweather,andaffectshumanhealth.
d. Muchoftheworldspopulationlivesincoastalareas.
e. Humansaffecttheoceaninavarietyofways.Laws,regulationsandresourcemanagementaffectwhatistakenout
andputintotheocean.Humandevelopmentandactivityleadstopollution(suchaspointsource,nonpoint
source,andnoisepollution)andphysicalmodifications(suchaschangestobeaches,shoresandrivers).Inaddition,
humanshaveremovedmostofthelargevertebratesfromtheocean.

#7.Theoceanislargelyunexplored.
b. Understandingtheoceanismorethanamatterofcuriosity.Exploration,inquiryandstudyarerequiredtobetter
understandoceansystemsandprocesses.
d. Newtechnologies,sensorsandtoolsareexpandingourabilitytoexploretheocean.Oceanscientistsarerelying
moreandmoreonsatellites,drifters,buoys,subseaobservatoriesandunmannedsubmersibles.
e. Useofmathematicalmodelsisnowanessentialpartofoceansciences.Modelshelpusunderstandthecomplexity
oftheoceanandofitsinteractionwithEarthsclimate.Theyprocessobservationsandhelpdescribethe
interactionsamongsystems.
f. Oceanexplorationistrulyinterdisciplinary.Itrequiresclosecollaborationamongbiologists,chemists,
climatologists,computerprogrammers,engineers,geologists,meteorologists,andphysicists,andnewwaysof
thinking.

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure1.AirtemperaturedatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
95
93
DBBB
91
DLAU

AirTemperature(F)

89
87
85
83
81
79
77
75
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure2.RelativehumiditydatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
95
DBBB
DLAU

90

RelativeHumidity(%)

85

80

75

70

65

60

55
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

10

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure3.WindspeeddatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
17
DBBB
DLAU

15

WindSpeed(mph)

13

11

1
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

11

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure4.WinddirectiondatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
255
DBBB
245

DLAU

235

Southwest

WindDirection(degrees)

225
215
205
195
185

South
175
165
155
145
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

12

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure5.AirtemperaturedatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
92
91
DBBB

90

DLAU

89
88

AirTemperature(F)

87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

13

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure6.RelativehumiditydatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
95
DBBB
DLAU

90

RelativeHumidity(%)

85

80

75

70

65

60

55
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

14

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure7.WindspeeddatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
17
DBBB
DLAU

15

WindSpeed(mph)

13

11

1
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

15

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Figure8.WinddirectiondatafromDEOSstationsDBBBandDLAUon21August2009.
255
DBBB

245

DLAU
235

Southwest

WindDirection(degrees)

225
215
205
195
185

South
175
165
155
145
12AM

2AM

4AM

6AM

8AM

10AM

12PM

2PM

TimeofDay,21August2009

4PM

6PM

8PM

10PM

16

DelawareS e aGrant D a t aA c t i v i t y

SeaBreeze
Table1.MeteorologicaldatafromtwoDelawareEnvironmentalObservingSystem(DEOS)stationsfrom8August,2009.
Year
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009

Month
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8

Day

Hour

21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21

(EDT)
12:00AM
1:00AM
2:00AM
3:00AM
4:00AM
5:00AM
6:00AM
7:00AM
8:00AM
9:00AM
10:00AM
11:00AM
12:00PM
1:00PM
2:00PM
3:00PM
4:00PM
5:00PM
6:00PM
7:00PM
8:00PM
9:00PM
10:00PM
11:00PM

Air
Temperature
(F)
82.04
82.22
81.86
81.14
80.78
80.42
80.24
80.24
84.02
87.44
81.32
81.14
81.5
81.32
81.86
86.54
86.9
87.08
84.92
83.84
80.06
78.8
80.6
79.88

Station:DBBB
Relative
Wind
Humidity
Speed
(%)
(mph)
76
1.3
76
1.8
79
2.2
80
1.3
80
1.8
82
2.0
83
2.0
87
2.2
76
2.5
66
2.0
79
9.8
78
11.2
78
12.3
78
12.3
77
13.4
67
12.3
68
8.3
68
5.4
74
7.4
76
2.9
84
8.5
88
5.6
85
5.4
86
4.7

Wind
Direction
(degrees)
209
248
218
195
212
193
215
185
195
209
166
170
167
169
165
170
187
186
177
194
175
174
181
188

Air
Temperature
(F)
79.16
78.98
79.16
78.26
76.46
78.26
77.9
78.44
81.32
84.2
86.72
86.36
89.24
90.86
91.4
90.32
89.6
86.72
86.18
84.2
81.32
79.52
78.44
78.62

Station:DLAU
Relative
Wind
Humidity Speed
(%)
(mph)
87
6.3
89
4.3
88
3.6
89
2.9
92
4.0
90
6.3
91
6.3
90
6.7
83
8.5
76
9.6
68
12.1
67
12.3
62
11.9
56
13.6
56
14.5
58
13.0
57
15.2
63
9.6
63
6.5
68
4.7
80
5.8
83
4.5
86
6.5
86
6.5

Wind
Direction
(degrees)
193
200
218
198
185
196
209
203
197
221
221
241
213
231
209
218
221
237
231
188
172
151
179
169

17

DelawareSeaGrantDataActivity

SeaBreeze

StudentWorksheet

DataAnalysis:IdentifyingaSeaBreezeFront
A. CompletethisportionontheprovidedFigures14.

B. UsingFigures5and6:
1. Whatdifferencesdoyounoticebetweenthetwoprofiles?

2. Whendidtheseabreezefrontbegin?

3. Howlongdidthefronthaveaneffect?

4. Howmuchdidairtemperaturechangeduringthistime?
a. AtDBBB:_________________
b. AtDLAU:_________________
5. Howmuchdidtherelativehumiditychange?
a. AtDBBB:_________________
b. AtDLAU:_________________

C. UsingFigures7and8:
6. i. ByapproximatelyhowmuchdidthewindspeedincreaseatDBBB?_________________
ii. Fromwhatdirectiondidthewindshift?_________________
iii.Towhatdirectiondidthewindshift?_________________
iv.Howlongdidtheincreasedwindspeedanddirectionshiftlast?_________________

7. Werethereanyotherdrasticshiftsinwinddirectionduringthe24hourperiod?

8. BasedonthedatafromFigures14,didtheDLAUstationexperiencetheseabreeze?
Provideevidenceforyouranswer.

D. Usingtheradarloop:
9. DoesthefrontcrosstheentirestateofDelaware?_________________
10. Usingthetimestampsintheupperrightcorner,determinehowlongittakesforthefrontto
movefromthecoasttothefurthestpointinland._________________

E. UsingrealtimedatafromDEOS(www.deos.udel.edu):
11. Thedateandtimeofthecurrentobservations:_________________
12. Currentairtemperature:_________________
13. Currentrelativehumidity:_________________
14. Currentwindspeed:_________________
15. Currentwinddirection:_________________

StudentWorksheet

16. Bylookingattheplotsofairtemperatureandrelativehumidity,isthereevidenceofasea
breezefronttakingplaceinthelast24hours?

17. Isthereevidenceofaseabreezefrontinotherareas?Describetheevidencefororagainst
thepresenceofaseabreezefront.

DiscussionQuestions
1. Howmightthefollowingaffecttheformationandcharacteristicsofaseabreezefront?
a. Acloudyday

b. Abrief,butstrongthunderstormmovingwesttoeastoverthearea

c. Anortheaster

d. Anintenseheatwave,withtemperaturesexceeding100F,foraweekstraight

e. Increaseddevelopmentofthecoastalarea,includingwiderroad,moreimpervious
surface,andlargeskyscraperhotels.

2. Theradarloopdefinitivelyshowsthemovementoftheseabreezefront.Ifyouwerea
meteorologistonthenews,whatwouldbetheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofshowinga
modeledorpredictedloopasopposedtoanactualradarloop?

3. Intheradarloop,wecanseewhatappearstobeaslowmovingseabreezemoving
northeastfromDelawareBayintoNewJersey.Whydoyouthinkthereisnotaseabreeze
frontmovingwesttoeastfromChesapeakeBayontoMarylandsEasternShore?

StudentWorksheet

a. IftherewasaChesapeakeBayseabreezefront,whatwouldbetheresultofthetwo
frontsconverging?

4. Discusstheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofenvironmentalobservingsystemdata.

5. Ifyouwerecitymanager,howcouldyouusethedataandmodelspresentedinthisactivity
toguidefuturedevelopmentinyourcity?

6. Describeothermethodsofdeterminingtheimpactofurbanizationonseabreezefronts.