Why is it cooler at the beach than 20 miles inland?
Why is it cooler at the beach than 20 miles inland? The ocean has a high specific heat capacity, which means that it can absorb the same amount of heat as the land does, but will not warm up nearly as much as the land. Thus, during the day, the land will often be much warmer than the ocean.
Is the sun hotter at the beach?
AND YES, THE WATER DOES INTENSIFY THE SUN'S RAYS. And the reason you've been waiting to hear, confirmed — yes, the sun does reflect off of the ocean (or lake or swimming pool) and its rays are intensified as they reach your skin, making your more susceptible to a sunburn.
Why are our beaches colder than those on the East Coast?
Why are west coast beaches colder than East Coast beaches? It's a process known as upwelling, which plays out along the entire U.S. Pacific coast. Upwelling explains why water temperatures along California, Oregon and Washington beaches are much cooler than similar-latitude beaches in the East.
Why does it feel cooler at the beach?
National Weather Service meteorologist Walter Drag explains that it occurs due to the difference between the warm air over land and cool air hovering over the ocean. “What you have is, when wind increases during the day, cooler air is heavier, and it's drawn inland, replacing the warmer air that's rising.
Why are west coast beaches colder?
The movement of Alaskan and northern ocean currents southward down the west coast results in much cooler ocean temperatures than at comparable latitudes on the east coast of the United States, where ocean currents come from the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic.
Why is it colder at the beach than inland?
Water has a higher heat capacity than soil and rock, so the ocean takes much longer to heat and to cool than the land. Coastal areas will generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas because of the heat capacity of the ocean.
How much cooler does it feel on the beach?
The difference is about three to four degrees, not a big difference, meteorologist Kate Guillet of the National Weather Service in Jacksonville said Wednesday. With sea breezes along the coast, it's cooler at the beach, she said.
Why is there always a breeze at the beach?
Above the ocean the air cools down due to the colder temperatures of the ocean water. This leads to the air becoming denser and a local high air pressure zone. The difference in air pressures above the beach and ocean is what causes the air movement we perceive as wind.