The process of air rising over land at the beach is primarily influenced by temperature differences between the land and the sea. Here's a brief explanation of the dynamics at play:
-
Heating of Land: During the day, land heats up more quickly than water due to its lower specific heat capacity. As the land warms, the air above it also heats up.
-
Lighter Warm Air: When the air over the land becomes warm, it expands and becomes less dense, causing it to rise. This creates a low-pressure area over the land.
-
Sea Breeze Formation: The cooler air over the sea, which is denser, moves in to replace the rising warm air over the land. This movement of air from the sea is known as a sea breeze.
-
Circulation: This mechanism often creates a circulation pattern, where warm air rises over land, and cooler air from the sea moves in to take its place, resulting in a continuous exchange of air.
So, among your options, the first one is not entirely accurate as it suggests that cold air only gets warm over land and rises. The second option is closer in understanding but should be clarified: while warm air over the sea can move inland and rise, the primary rising air is indeed from the warmed land.