What is the primary characteristic of a sea breeze?

The primary characteristic of a sea breeze is that cool air over water pushes towards the land. This phenomenon occurs due to the differential heating of land and water. During the day, the sun heats the land more quickly than the water because land has a lower specific heat capacity. As the land warms up, the air above it also warms and begins to rise, creating a low-pressure area over the land. In contrast, the cooler air over the water creates a high-pressure area.

As a result, the cooler, denser air from over the water moves in to replace the rising warm air over the land, generating a sea breeze. This oceanic influence can greatly affect local weather conditions, cooling down coastal areas during the hot days. Understanding this process is crucial for pilots as it impacts flight operations near coastal regions.