Uneven heating can create local pressure differences. During a sea breeze, land heats more quickly than nearby water. Air over the warmer land rises, and cooler air from over the water moves inland. Air also returns higher up, forming a circulation rather than a one-way stream.
Weather and climate · Discover & try
Why does the wind blow?
Reading level 4 of 5 · FluentChange
Word help
air pressure
The force air exerts on each unit of area.
pressure gradient
How rapidly pressure changes across a distance.
sea breeze
A local wind moving from water toward warmer land.
Watch · Try · Explain
See how it works
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Simplified pressure-force model; actual winds also respond to rotation and friction.
What to look for
- The difference between high and low pressure
- The direction of the pressure-force arrow
- Surface flow and the return flow above it
Explain what you noticed
Which way does the pressure-gradient force act?
Keep this idea: Pressure differences drive wind, while rotation, friction, and local heating help shape its movement.
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Source material checked 2026-10-28. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Agency source links do not imply endorsement.
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