Breeze can be categorised under two types – Land breeze and Sea breeze. Both these types are generally seen around large water bodies.
Land Breeze vs Sea Breeze
The main difference between the land breeze and sea breeze is that the former is the type of wind that blows from land to water during the night or early in the morning, while the latter blows over from the water body, and is seen to happen during the daytime.
The land breeze or offshore breeze is the wind that blows over the mainland and moves towards the water body. The land breeze begins at night or early in the morning, and is mostly seen in the autumn and winter seasons.
The sea breeze is the wind that blows from the large water body towards the land or shore. The sea breeze occurs seasonally, such as in the summer and spring seasons, and commonly during the daytime.
Comparison Table Between Land Breeze and Sea Breeze (in Tabular Form)
| Parameters of Comparison | Land Breeze | Sea Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The land breeze or offshore breeze is the wind that blows over the mainland and towards the water body. | The sea breeze is the wind that blows from the large water body towards the land or shore. |
| Occurrence (Seasons) | The Land breeze is formed mostly during the autumn or winter season due to cooler temperatures during the night. | The sea breeze is seen to blow generally during the summer or spring seasons. |
| Time of day | The Land breeze is seen to blow during the night or even early in the morning. | The sea breeze is seen to blow over from the water bodies during the daytime |
| Type of wind | The winds here are comparatively slower and weaker and are mostly dry, and carry no moisture content. | The winds here are stronger in comparison and carry more moisture content due to having a water-based source. |
| Temperature of winds | Land breeze does not cause much change to the surrounding weather as compared to the sea breeze. | Sea breeze carries cold air from the water body and decreases the temperature of the air on land. |
What is Land Breeze?
Land breeze, also known as “offshore breeze”, is the wind that blows over from the mainland and moves towards the water body.
The land breeze is seen to begin forming during the night or early in the morning. Land breeze also follows a seasonal cycle and is generally seen during the autumn or winter season. The reason for this is that the temperatures in the nights are lower than that in the day.
The air temperature on the land does not get affected much by the land breeze, i.e., land breeze does not cause a decrease in air temperature that surrounds it.
There are a few characteristics of land breeze that help identity it, such as –
- The land breeze moves with slower speed and is usually seen to blow within the range of 4 to 8 knots.
- The land breeze is seen to mostly blow with dry winds because they do not carry much moisture content along with them.
The land breeze is quite different with regards to the above-stated characteristics when compared to the sea breeze.
What is Sea Breeze?
Another type of breeze that has been categorised under winds that are associated with water bodies is the Sea breeze. The sea breeze is the wind that blows from the large water body towards the land or shore.
The sea breeze is commonly seen to blow during the day time due to the warmer temperatures. The sea breeze is also seasonal and occurs during the summer or spring seasons because the temperature differences in the atmosphere between land and water are significant.
The sea breeze is able to lower the surrounding temperature on land when it blows over from the large water body. The reason for this is that the moisture content of the air above the water body is carried by the winds as they move towards the mainland.
The higher moisture content present in the winds is also a reason they aren’t as dry as compared to the land breeze.
The sea breeze is also faster in comparison to the land breeze and blows with speeds ranging from 10 to 20 knots.
Main Differences Between Land Breeze and Sea Breeze
- The land breeze or offshore breeze is the wind that blows over the mainland and moves towards the water body, while the sea breeze is defined as the wind that blows from the large water body towards the land or shore.
- The Land breeze is generally seen to blow during the night or even early in the morning, while the sea breeze is seen to blow during the day time due to higher temperatures.
- The Land breeze are formed mostly during the autumn or winter season due to cooler temperatures during the night, while the sea breeze is seen to blow generally during the summer or spring seasons.
- Land breeze does not cause much change to the surrounding weather as compared to the sea breeze, while sea breeze lowers the temperature on land.
- For land breeze, the winds here are comparatively slower and weaker and are mostly dry, and carry no moisture content, while the winds in sea breeze blow faster and carry a lot of moisture content.
Conclusion
The concepts of land breeze and sea breeze allow us to understand the different types of winds associated with water bodies. The land breeze is formed on the mainland and blow towards the sea, while the sea breeze is formed over the water body, and is carried towards the shore.
The winds that blow from the sea are often seen to be cooler, and they help lower the temperature of the land during the winter and autumn seasons. The land breeze does not affect the temperature on the mainland or the sea and is commonly seen during the summer and spring season. These winds give us a deeper understanding and view of how the different types of winds can affect the land as well as the sea.
References
- https://journals.ametsoc.org/jhm/article/2/2/193/4958
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00704-006-0286-9