What is the term for the phenomenon where cooler air flows from an ocean or lake toward the land?

The correct term for the phenomenon where cooler air flows from an ocean or lake toward the land is indeed a sea breeze. This occurs due to the differential heating of land and water. During the day, land heats up more quickly than the water, causing the air above the land to become warmer and rise. The cooler, denser air over the water then moves in to replace it, creating a sea breeze. This movement of air from the cooler body of water toward the warmer land is typically felt as a refreshing breeze and is an important concept in understanding coastal weather patterns.

In contrast, a land breeze occurs at night and involves cooler air moving from the land toward the water, while a thermal breeze generally refers to local winds caused by temperature differences but is not specific to the direction of air movement concerning water bodies. A mountain breeze is another variant that occurs in mountainous regions, where colder air descends from the mountains to the valleys at night.