In summer, you visited your cousin living near a coastal area. While enjoying the view of the water at night, you were refreshed by the cold breeze that had run passed you. What phenomenon could explain this experience?
Question
In summer, you visited your cousin living near a coastal area. While enjoying the view of the water at night, you were refreshed by the cold breeze that had run passed you. What phenomenon could explain this experience?
Solution
The phenomenon you experienced is known as a sea breeze. Here's how it works:
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During the day, the sun heats up both the ocean surface and the land. However, land surfaces heat up more quickly than water.
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As the land's temperature rises, the air above it heats up and rises, creating an area of low pressure.
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The air over the ocean is cooler and denser, creating an area of high pressure.
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Air flows from high pressure to low pressure areas, so the cooler air over the ocean moves in to replace the rising warm air over the land. This is the sea breeze.
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At night, the process is reversed. The land cools down more quickly than the ocean, creating a land breeze as the warmer air over the water continues to rise and is replaced by cooler air from the land.
So, the cold breeze you felt was likely a sea breeze, caused by the temperature difference between the land and the sea.
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Read the following story.Diving InIt was a hot day at the beach, so why did the ocean feel like ice? Carol wanted to cool off, but she had only managed to wade in up to her ankles. Her feet were nearly numb from the cold water."Wow, it's freezing today," said her sister, Pauline. They stood side by side, half-shivering in the water and half-baking in the sun.Carol noticed the windsurfers in the distance. Of course, she thought. They're wearing wetsuits. But then she saw an old man swimming nearby, wearing only his trunks and a swim cap. A few more courageous heads bobbed up and down in the chilly sea."Okay, that's it," Pauline said. "I'm doing it." She took a deep breath, ran into the surf, and dived into a large, breaking wave. She emerged farther out, a big grin on her face.Carol inched forward. As she did, her shins, then her knees, and then her thighs stung from the cold. She noticed that her feet felt okay now, but when the water touched her stomach, she shrieked. The breakers now splashed water across her back and shoulders."It's too cold!" Carol shouted. "I'm going back!"Then she froze. She saw a big wave approaching. There was no time to turn back; she was in too deep. She watched with dread as the crest swelled above her head. She closed her eyes and dunked beneath the wave.A freezing sensation enveloped her for an instant, but then she felt fine. Refreshed, even.Finally, she swam out to her sister.Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?Going through something painful makes you stronger.Not everybody can be brave.Sometimes it's better when unpleasant experiences happen quickly.Submit
Diving InIt was a hot day at the beach, so why did the ocean feel like ice? Carol wanted to cool off, but she had only managed to wade in up to her ankles. Her feet were nearly numb from the cold water."Wow, it's freezing today," said her sister, Pauline. They stood side by side, half-shivering in the water and half-baking in the sun.Carol noticed the windsurfers in the distance. Of course, she thought. They're wearing wetsuits. But then she saw an old man swimming nearby, wearing only his trunks and a swim cap. A few more courageous heads bobbed up and down in the chilly sea."Okay, that's it," Pauline said. "I'm doing it." She took a deep breath, ran into the surf, and dived into a large, breaking wave. She emerged farther out, a big grin on her face.Carol inched forward. As she did, her shins, then her knees, and then her thighs stung from the cold. She noticed that her feet felt okay now, but when the water touched her stomach, she shrieked. The breakers now splashed water across her back and shoulders."It's too cold!" Carol shouted. "I'm going back!"Then she froze. She saw a big wave approaching. There was no time to turn back; she was in too deep. She watched with dread as the crest swelled above her head. She closed her eyes and dunked beneath the wave.A freezing sensation enveloped her for an instant, but then she felt fine. Refreshed, even.Finally, she swam out to her sister.Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?Going through something painful makes you stronger.Sometimes it's better when unpleasant experiences happen quickly.Not everybody can be brave.Submit
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