Wind: Sea Breeze

and Land Breeze

 EnergyTransfer in
the Atmosphere
• Energy moves through the atmosphere
in three different ways-conduction,
convection and radiation
• Convection is the main way that air
circulates in the atmosphere
What is convection?
• Energy transfer due to differences in
density
• Occurs in liquids and gases
• Warm air rises
• Cool air sinks
• Forms a convection cell
 Specific Heat

• The amount of energy required to raise

the temperature of a substance
1degree celsius
• measured in joules
• see esrt for more information
Which substance has a
higher specific heat?
Which substance will have a
higher specific heat? Land
or Water? Why?
 Water will have a
higher specific heat
because it will reflect
the sun’s incoming
solar radiation....
Therefore...water will
take a longer time to
heat up, but will
retain this heat for
longer...so...
 A sea breeze will
form...
• Sea Breeze: wind moves from ocean to
land
• The atmospheric pressure is higher
over the ocean then over the land
because the air is cooler during the day
• At night the air is cooler over the land,
so a land breeze forms
 At night a land
breeze develops...
Wrap UP:
1. Why does the ocean heat up more slowly than the
land?
2. Which substance has a higher specific heat-lead or
ice?
3. Why do thunderstorms usually happen at the end of
a hot summer day?
4. Why do people like to sit near the ocean on a hot
summer day?