[1] The sea breeze system (SBS) occurs at coastal locations throughout the world and consists of many spatially and temporally nested phenomena. Cool marine air propagates inland when a cross-shore mesoscale (2-2000 km) pressure gradient is created by daytime differential heating. The circulation is also characterized by rising currents at the sea breeze front and diffuse sinking currents well out to sea and is usually closed by seaward flow aloft. Coastal impacts include relief from oppressive hot weather, development of thunderstorms, and changes in air quality. This paper provides a review of SBS research extending back 2500 years but focuses primarily on recent discoveries. We address SBS forcing mechanisms, structure and related phenomena, life cycle, forecasting, and impacts on air quality.

Air pollution episodes in northern New England often are caused by transport of pollutants over water. Two such episodes in the summer of 2002 are examined (22–23 July and 11–14 August). In both cases, the pollutants that affected coastal New Hampshire and coastal southwest Maine were transported over coastal waters in stable layers at the surface. These layers were at least intermittently turbulent but retained their chemical constituents. The lack of deposition or deep vertical mixing on the overwater trajectories allowed pollutant concentrations to remain strong. The polluted plumes came directly from the Boston, Massachusetts, area. In the 22–23 July case, the trajectories were relatively straight and dominated by synoptic-scale effects, transporting pollution to the Maine coast. On 11–14 August, sea breezes brought polluted air from the coastal waters inland into New Hampshire.

Various type ofwinter storms occur over Canada and produce major impacts on society. Canada is subjected to extra-tropical cyclones with ail their embedded structures, as well as blizzards, mountain-induced storms, lake effect storms and polar lows. Many of thèse storms are accompanied by heavy précipitation in thé form of snow or freezing précipitation, bitterly cold conditions, strong winds, and blowing snow. The occurrence and nature of thèse storms are discussed in this review article. RÉSUMÉ On examine la présence et la nature des nombreux types de tempêtes d'hiver qui touchent le Canada et y occasionnent des impacts importants sur la société. Le pays est éprouvé par les cyclones extra-tropicaux et tous leurs éléments, ainsi que par les blizzards, les tempêtes de montagnes, les effets de lac et les dépressions polaires. Des précipitations abondantes, sous forme de neige ou de verglas, des froids cinglants, des vents forts et de la poudrerie élevée sont souvent associées à ces tempêtes.

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