Which term describes the movement of air from sea to land during the day when cooler air from above the water moves over the land, forcing the heated, less dense air above the land to rise?

• A. Land breeze
• B. Monsoon
• C. Wind
• D. Sea breeze

Answer: (D)

During the day the land heats up faster than the sea, so air over the land rises and creates a lighter, lower-pressure area near the coast. Cooler, denser air from over the water moves in to replace the rising air, producing a breeze that travels from the sea toward the land. This daytime coastal wind is called a sea breeze, a common pattern along shores on sunny, warm days. At night, the situation can reverse as the land cools faster, leading to a land breeze.