Land-Water Breeze

The land-water breeze is a localized land-atmosphere phenomenon that arises due to the differential heating of water and land surfaces. This differential heating creates local atmospheric circulations (i.e., breezes) that can strongly affect weather and climate in coastal regions. The land-water breeze and the differential heating of land and water surfaces are recognized factors in explaining temperature patterns and the differences between coasts and inland locations.

A water breeze, more often called a sea breeze, is a cool breeze blowing off an ocean or body of water onto the adjacent land. This breeze is created by the temperature contrast between the cool body of water and the warm land surface. The temperature contrast is usually greatest during warm, sunny afternoons in spring or summer, as the ...