Final answer:
Sea breezes are caused by the differential heating of land and ocean during the day, creating pressure differences that drive cool air from the ocean towards the land. At night, the process is reversed, resulting in land breezes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cause of sea breezes during the day is primarily due to the differential heating of land and water. During the day, land heats up faster than water because it has a lower specific heat capacity. As the air above the land heats up, it becomes less dense and rises, creating a low-pressure area. Conversely, the air above the ocean remains cooler and more dense, forming a high-pressure area. The air from the high-pressure area over the ocean moves to replace the rising warm air over the land, resulting in a cool sea breeze.
At night, this process is reversed, leading to land breezes. The lands cool down faster than the ocean. As a result, the air above the land becomes denser and creates a high-pressure area, while the warmer air above the sea rises, creating a low-pressure area. The air from the land then flows out toward the ocean, reversing the direction of the breeze experienced during the day.
Understanding this concept involves knowledge of concepts such as convection, specific heat capacities, and pressure differences due to temperature changes.