Which statement defines the land breeze cycle?

• A. Nighttime wind from land to sea
• B. Daytime wind from sea to land
• C. Calm night with no wind
• D. Variable wind direction throughout the day

Answer: (A)

The land breeze is driven by differential heating and cooling between land and sea. At night the land cools quickly while the sea stays warmer. Cooler, higher-pressure air over the land sits next to relatively warmer, lower-pressure air over the sea. Air moves from the land toward the sea to flow into the area of rising warm air over the water, creating a breeze from the shore out to the water. This nighttime flow from land to sea is what defines the land breeze. During the day, the pattern reverses as the land heats up and a sea breeze from sea to land develops.