Insight Into the Seasonal Variations of the Sea-Land Breeze in Los Angeles With Respect to the Effects of Solar Radiation and Climate Type

This study uses 20 years of observation data to analyze the long-term trend of the sea-land breeze (SLB) in the city of Los Angeles. The focus of the study is on the seasonal variation of the SLB and the main influencing factors both regionally and at a large scale. A new method which is suitable for automatic processing is introduced to analyze the SLB and determine the specific characteristics of the local SLB. The results show the sea wind speed has an obvious seasonal variation with peak value in summer and minimum value in winter. Note the sea wind speed is generally positively related to the in situ solar radiation. In contrast, the seasonal variation of the land wind speed is much weaker. Two main factors are responsible for this phenomenon. First, the response of the temperature difference between land and sea (TDLS) to the season is much more insensitive during nighttime than during daytime, and the TDLS is the direct driver of SLB. Second, the magnitude of the upper layer westerlies has an obvious seasonal variation under the local climate background, which is called the Mediterranean climate. During winter, the stronger upper westerlies enhance the land wind circulation, which further offsets the seasonal gap, and this even causes the fact that there is no corresponding relationship between the season and wind speed. In contrast, the seasonal variation of the westerlies has little effect on the sea wind speed, and the in situ solar radiation remains the determinant factor.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the long-term trend of sea-land breeze in Los Angeles using 20 years of observation data. It found that sea wind speed is positively correlated with in situ solar radiation, while the seasonal variation of land wind speed is weaker, influenced by temperature difference between land and sea and upper layer westerlies. During winter, stronger upper westerlies enhance land wind circulation offsetting the seasonal gap.