<p>So wind is caused by differences in atmospheric pressure which in turn is a result of temperature induced density differences. </p>

<p><strong>1. Required temperature diference:</strong></p>

<p>A quick search brought up this paper:
Miller et al. 2003 SEA BREEZE: STRUCTURE, FORECASTING, AND IMPACTS <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2003RG000124" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2003RG000124</a></p>

<p>They calculate that a 10 degree difference between land and sea over 20km results in an accelaration of 7.2*10E-3 m/s. Now, this is an estimate. There are many more variables that will affect the complex fluid dynamics of the system.</p>

<p><strong>2. Wind Intensity vs dT.</strong></p>

<p>Absolutely if you increase the temperature gradient (difference) the wind speed will be higher.</p>

<p>from the paper they mention the sea breeze of Alcoa Bay, South Africa, where the strongest sea breeze occurs in areas with nearby dune fields:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"During the daytime the sand dunes create a region of superheated air immediately overhead, setting up a very strong land-sea temperature difference."</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>3. Wind Intensity vs dT/dt</strong></p>

<p>Now this is where it gets complicated. So thinking of this in a mathematical sense, the rate of increase in temperature is not going to matter that much because when calculating the wind speed at a given time what matters most is the absolute temperature difference between land and sea.
  For a temperature difference to occur the rate of temp change has to be fairly rapid as the system is always trying to reach equilibrium (i.e. remove the temp difference). So naturally if you have a parcel of air, it will reach a higher temperature if the heating is fast vs slow. If it reaches a higher temperature then it will result in a greater wind velocity. But if you wanted to make a more complex model of the system then you would need to look into the rate of change of change in Temp.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-20T07:25:35.000Z
Wouldn't the straightforward answer to the 'required temperature difference' part be: **any**? Small difference induces small wind. At least mathematically and using the same equations as in the linked paper.
Communisty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-20T07:54:00.120Z
Yes you are right, I have probably overcomplicated things. Any pressure difference will result in some form of convection.
potatasbravas
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-19T18:15:22.640Z
2018-04-19T18:15:22.640Z
potatasbravas
<p>What is the required temperature difference between the sea and the land in order to create a sea breeze? Is there any relation between the temperature difference and the sea breeze intensity? Is there any relation of wind intensity with the rate of increase or decrease in temperature difference?</p>

<meteorology><mesoscale-meteorology>
Required temperature difference between land and sea for sea breeze
liontass
# Required temperature difference between land and sea for sea breeze

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-17)

What is the required temperature difference between the sea and the land in order to create a sea breeze? Is there any relation between the temperature difference and the sea breeze intensity? Is there any relation of wind intensity with the rate of increase or decrease in temperature difference?

**Tags:** meteorology, mesoscale-meteorology


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-04-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

So wind is caused by differences in atmospheric pressure which in turn is a result of temperature induced density differences.

**1. Required temperature diference:**

A quick search brought up this paper:
Miller et al. 2003 SEA BREEZE: STRUCTURE, FORECASTING, AND IMPACTS <https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2003RG000124>

They calculate that a 10 degree difference between land and sea over 20km results in an accelaration of 7.2\*10E-3 m/s. Now, this is an estimate. There are many more variables that will affect the complex fluid dynamics of the system.

**2. Wind Intensity vs dT.**

Absolutely if you increase the temperature gradient (difference) the wind speed will be higher.

from the paper they mention the sea breeze of Alcoa Bay, South Africa, where the strongest sea breeze occurs in areas with nearby dune fields:

> "During the daytime the sand dunes create a region of superheated air immediately overhead, setting up a very strong land-sea temperature difference."

**3. Wind Intensity vs dT/dt**

Now this is where it gets complicated. So thinking of this in a mathematical sense, the rate of increase in temperature is not going to matter that much because when calculating the wind speed at a given time what matters most is the absolute temperature difference between land and sea.
For a temperature difference to occur the rate of temp change has to be fairly rapid as the system is always trying to reach equilibrium (i.e. remove the temp difference). So naturally if you have a parcel of air, it will reach a higher temperature if the heating is fast vs slow. If it reaches a higher temperature then it will result in a greater wind velocity. But if you wanted to make a more complex model of the system then you would need to look into the rate of change of change in Temp.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Wouldn't the straightforward answer to the 'required temperature difference' part be: **any**? Small difference induces small wind. At least mathematically and using the same equations as in the linked paper.  
> **username_1**: Yes you are right, I have probably overcomplicated things. Any pressure difference will result in some form of convection.  

---

