The differential heating of the Earth's surface and the resulting convection is what causes wind on this planet. Wind circles the Earth and plays an important role in determining weather conditions. The hot air inside is lighter or less dense than the cooler air outside the balloon. As the hot air rises, it carries the balloon upward. When the gas flame is turned down, the air cools and the balloon sinks back to the ground.
Coastal winds blow landward during the day and seaward at night.
On a sunny day, the sand warms quickly. The warm air over the beach rises, and the cooler ocean air moves in to replace it, causing a sea breeze. At night the reverse effect occurs. A land breeze is generated by the relative differences in temperature caused by the more rapid loss of heat from the land than from the sea. Have students note additional examples in journals.