Theory question 205
Weather(a) With the aid of a diagram, describe the following: (i) sea breeze; (ii) land breeze. (b) State two factors that influence the salinity of oceans.
Show the model answer
(a)(i) Sea breeze: by day the land heats faster than the sea; air over the land rises, giving low pressure; cooler air over the sea has higher pressure; cool air blows from sea to land in the afternoon; the rising air returns seawards aloft. Diagram with arrows, H over sea, L over land, sun.
(ii) Land breeze: at night the land cools faster than the sea; higher pressure over land, lower over the warmer sea; air blows from land to sea at night/early morning; warm air rises over the sea. Diagram with arrows reversed.
(b) Rate of evaporation (temperature, wind, humidity); amount of fresh water from rivers, rain and melting ice; degree of mixing by currents; whether the sea is enclosed or open; size of the water body.
Show the direction of air flow with arrows on both diagrams.