What is wind?

Nature is filled with many different phenomena,interesting, beautiful and even frightening. We will devote this article to such a phenomenon as the wind. The wind can not be seen, but the consequences of this natural phenomenon can be more than obvious.

First, let's talk about what the wind is. Wind refers to the horizontal movement of air masses above the surface of land or water.

Why does the wind blow?

The movement of air masses is due to the differencetemperature and atmospheric pressure in various areas of the terrain. So, for example, warm and accordingly lighter air masses rise, forming a low-pressure region, into which air tends from a region where the pressure is higher. The wind always moves in the direction from the high-pressure region to the region of low atmospheric pressure.

For more information on the causes of winds, you will find out by reading the article: Why the wind blows.

Types of winds

Earth winds are classified according to various characteristics, depending on the strength (speed), duration and direction.

• The strength of the wind is determined by the Beaufort scale, whichdivides the wind into 18 varieties - from calm to a storm and a hurricane. The wind speed is measured in knots or meters per second and is the average value (averaged in most countries is the speed measured within 10 minutes). Measure the wind speed with a windometer (anemometer) or probes.
• Short winds, lasting a few seconds, are called gusts. Wind average duration is called a squall. The name of prolonged winds depends on their strength.
• In meteorology, the direction of the wind is taken to be the direction from which the wind blows. For example: western, south-eastern winds, etc. To determine the direction of the wind, a weathervane is used.

In addition to the main signs of the wind, they are also divided into:

• Global. There are two types of wind that provide a general circulation of the Earth's atmosphere: trade winds and monsoons. In this case, the cause of the monsoon is the seasonal temperature change, in the winter they blow from the land, in the summer from the ocean, and are long winds. Trade winds - constantly blowing between the tropics of the wind, one of the reasons for their occurrence is the daily rotation of the Earth and the consequent Coriolis force.
• Local (predominant) - blowing in certain types of terrain. For example, boron is a local valley-mountain wind and is characteristic of mountain landscapes.

Another article of our website is devoted to different kinds of winds: What are the winds.

The role of wind in nature and civilization

The importance of winds in the life of nature and the planet as a wholeit is difficult to overestimate: they are involved in shaping the terrain and the climate of the planet; form sand dunes, carrying sand deserts; help to expand the areas of plant growth, transferring their seeds, and so on.

At present, winds lead to aggravation of man's influence on nature. So, thanks to winds, forest fires spread with enormous speed, which complicates their localization and quenching.

Man has long enjoyed the power of the winds:

• In travels and discoveries (navigation, balloons);
• As a source of clean energy;
• For entertainment (paragliding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, kites, etc.)

In addition to positive impact on life and developmenthuman society, the wind more than once led to tragedies. So, strong winds can destroy both separately standing dilapidated buildings, and whole settlements. To determine the possible damage from the wind, there is a special scale of hurricanes Saffir-Simpson.