Sometimes it is hotter at the beach than in the city because the sand absorbs the sun's heat more effectively than urban surfaces that retain heat. Additionally, the sea breeze can help slightly cool the air at the beach.
The different albedo effect plays a key role in the temperature difference between the beach and the city. Albedo refers to the ability of a surface to reflect sunlight. At the beach, the sand has a high albedo, which means it reflects a large part of the solar radiation. As a result, less heat is absorbed by the ground, which limits the temperature increase. On the other hand, in a city, urban surfaces such as concrete and asphalt have a lower albedo, absorbing more heat. This leads to what is called the urban heat island effect, where temperatures can be significantly higher than in the countryside or at the beach. The different albedo between the beach and the city therefore directly influences the temperatures felt in these contrasting environments.
The influence of the sea breeze on temperatures near the coasts is a well-known phenomenon. This breeze, which is caused by the temperature difference between the land and the sea, has a significant impact on the local climate. During the day, the ground warms up more quickly than the water, creating a temperature difference between the land and the sea. The air above the land, warmer and therefore less dense, rises, creating a zone of relative low pressure. Simultaneously, the cooler air above the sea, denser, moves towards the land to fill the void left by the warm air ascending, creating a flow of air from the sea towards the land. This sea breeze brings relief to the inhabitants of coastal regions during hot days, by bringing fresh and more humid air from the sea. It can also affect human activities by modifying navigation conditions and influencing cloud formation and precipitation distribution. In the evening, the phenomenon often reverses, with a land breeze forming when the land cools faster than the sea, creating an airflow in the opposite direction.
Urban vegetation has a significant impact on temperature in urban areas. Trees and green spaces absorb some of the solar radiation, which helps cool the air. In addition, plants release water vapor through a process called transpiration, which helps lower the ambient temperature.
In comparison, urban surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, and buildings retain heat and radiate it, creating what is known as the urban heat island effect. The lack of vegetation therefore leads to an increase in temperature in urban areas, sometimes by several degrees compared to surrounding rural areas.
By installing and maintaining green spaces in urban areas, it is possible to reduce temperatures and mitigate the urban heat island effect. This approach, known as "urban greening", helps create more pleasant, sustainable, and healthier environments for city residents.
Beaches have a relaxing effect on the body, notably due to the sense of calm they provide and the negative ions present in the sea air, promoting a feeling of well-being.
Beaches are often made of light sand that reflects the sunlight, thus increasing the perceived temperature compared to dark surfaces, like asphalt in the city.
Cities can store heat in their concrete and asphalt structures, creating heat islands, while beaches benefit from the cooling effect of water and sea breeze.
The beach may be warmer due to the different albedo effect, the influence of the sea breeze, and the impact of urban vegetation.
Albedo, which is the ability of a surface to reflect sunlight, can be lower at the beach due to the light sand, leading to greater absorption of heat.
The sea breeze brings cooler air from the ocean to the coast, which can temper the heat felt on the beach, unlike the stagnant heat in the city.
Urban vegetation, with its buildings, roads and other dark surfaces, can absorb and retain heat, creating heat islands in the city, unlike the more open beach.
Yes, water can act as a thermal regulator by absorbing and releasing heat, which can moderate temperature variations at the beach compared to the city.
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