What is a key characteristic of sea breezes?

A key characteristic of sea breezes is that they originate from cooler air over coastal waters. During the day, the land heats up faster than the water, causing the air above the land to warm and rise. This creates a low-pressure area over the land while the air over the cooler water remains denser and cooler, resulting in high pressure. Consequently, the cooler, denser air from the water moves toward the land to replace the rising warm air, creating the sea breeze effect.

This phenomenon is particularly noticeable during the daytime hours when temperature variations between land and water are most pronounced, contributing to the characteristic flow of air from the sea to the land. Understanding this dynamic is crucial, as it influences fire behavior and weather patterns in coastal regions.