OFFSHORE RESOURCE ASSESSMENT - Wind Resource Assessment: A Practical Guide to Developing a Wind Project - page 197

Figure 14-3. Schematic representation of the evolution of a wind speed profile as the wind
moves off the land over water (from left to right). The initial profile reflects the land surface
roughness. As the air moves over the much smoother water, an IBL (yellow line) develops and
grows with distance from shore. Within the IBL, the wind speed increases, and the wind profile
assumes an offshore shear pattern. Source: AWS Truepower.

P 4

P 3

Cumulus
clouds

P 2

P 1

Warm, dry air

Low pressure

Cool, moist air

Relatively cool sea Warm land

Sea-breeze
front

Figure 14-4. A schematic representation of a sea breeze circulation. As the sun heats the land,
the air above it warms and rises (right). This produces a drop in pressure, which draws cool air
from over the water. Source: Royal Meteorological Society.