Wind

[matty2670]

I don't want to sound stupid, but where does wind actually come from? How can a breeze actually exist? What causes it in the first place? I mean, clouds can't move fast enough to create wind, can they? To all you experts out there, please stop raising your eyes to heaven long enough to give me a layman's answer! It's one of those questions that keeps me awake at night, sad muppet that I am...

[R1Geezer]

put simply, parts of atmosphere are heated by the sun, the warm air thus rises and cooler air rushes in to take it's place. Tada more wisdom of the Geezer

[matty2670]

R1 - I bow to your greater knowledge. And thanks for not taking the p*ss...

[R1Geezer]

NP matty, the wisdom of the Geezer is there for all to share!

[gen2]

A few more simple facts

Clouds are blown along by the wind and do not cause wind.

The rotation of the earth also has an effect on wind.. Because the earth rotates the surface of the earth moves fastest at the equator and slowest at the poles. The air above the equator will be carried round at the same speed as the earth's surface, but if this air moves away from the equator, then it will find itself still doing the same speed, but over land that is going slower, hence an increased wind.

[gen2]

I hope this question isn't a WIND-UP.

[Hymie]

It is caused by the branches of trees moving back & forth � the truth of this can be seen in that the more the branches move back & forth, the faster the wind.

[boogieboogie]

I have to agree with Hymie but what he/she doesn't say is that the movement of the branches is caused by the trees waving to each other.

[Tom Braider]

Hymie's right - but due to the destruction of the rainforests there's now a shortage of wind, which is why the government want to build lots of propellers around the coast.

[mibn2cweus]

Uranus . . .

. . . a gas giant . . . with wind speeds clocked at 160 metres/second.

. . . blame it on the beans

[Hymie]

Just incase some of you doubt my answer, and prefer those given by others � if R1Geezer is correct, how come there is sometimes wind during the night?

And if Gen2 is correct, how come, in most of the northern hemisphere, the prevailing wind direction is from west to east (as Gen2�s analysis would suggest), but in many parts of south east Asia, the main wind direction is from east to west (which is due to the trees in that part of the world, being out of sinc with the rest of the world)?

[R1Geezer]

Hymie, what a tw&t you are, look dummy the effects are a world wide system, I was just stating the simple action that causes it. The whole climate system is a world wide thing with vast interactions of lots of factors.

[gen2]

Hymie, I was only giving you an example. If you take my statement as being the ONLY movement that happens, then the equator would be left without any air and inhabitants would suffocate. I assumed (erroneously as it turned out) that you would be intelligent enough to realise that the corollary would also be true and that air moving from the poles towards the equator would be then moving slower than the ground it was then over. The earth would be rushing east and the air would be left behind - ie blowing towards the west..

And finally a challenge.
I mid ocean there are no 'propellers and no trees so explain the winds there then with your 'Alternative' theory.

[Hymie]

Gen2, your questions are too easy � over oceans, the wind is caused by the waves of the sea � the truth of this can be seen in that the larger the waves, the greater the wind.

[BillyBB]

@ Hymie
LOL brilliant answer



but who is the sea waving to?.

[Ice.Maiden]

Lol - basically matty, it all depends on temperatures and the rotation of the earth. Google it - it's a lot easier.

[Hymie]

BillyBB, my area of expertise covers the primary forces which generate wind � I suggest you direct your question towards boogieboogie, he/she knows why trees move their branches back & forth � he/she may also know to whom the sea is waving.