A Theoretical Study of the Land and Sea Breeze Circulation

Abstract

Estoque's model for the sea breeze is modified with respect to some essential and other, less essential, details. It is shown among other things that the accelerational terms in the equation for the vertical component of motion are important and should therefore be retained. In addition, the equation of continuity is retained in its original form in order to prevent violation of the mass conservation law. The new model is integrated numerically and the results presented. The results include horizontal and vertical winds, mass conservation, vertical components of vorticity, time hodographs, temperatures (including vertical profiles), vertical transfer of sensible heat, and wind stress at the surface. Particular attention is paid to the land breeze phase of the circulation which so far has received little attention in the published literature. Further, the sea breeze front is discussed in some detail. The integration is carried out for three daily cycles setting out from an atmosphere at rest. The results for Days 2 and 3 as well as for the second part of Day 1 are in good agreement.