Why are coastal and mountainous regions often much more windy than other locations at similar ...

In coastal areas during the warm summer months, the land surface is heated more intensely during the daylight hours than is the adjacent body of water. As a result, the air above the land surface heats, expands, and rises, creating an area of lower pressure. A sea breeze then develops, because cooler air over the water (higher pressure) moves toward the warmer land (lower pressure). A daily wind similar to land and sea breezes occurs in many mountainous regions. During daylight hours, the air along the slopes of the mountains is heated more intensely than the air at the same elevation over the valley floor. Because this warmer air is less dense, it glides up along the slope and generates a valley breeze. After sunset, the pattern may reverse. Rapid radiation cooling along the mountain slopes produces a layer of cooler air next to the ground. Because cool air is denser than warm air, it drains downslope into the valley. Such a movement of air is called a mountain breeze.