Wind Formation: Definition, Process, Causes and Impacts

The wind shapes weather patterns and helps plants reproduce. It can be gentle as a breeze or fast to sway trees and sometimes uproots them. Wind energy is powerful to sculpt deserts and mountains over time. It is also used for powering our sailboats and turbines to generate electricity. Let’s learn in detail about wind formation, its causes, impact and more.

Table of Contents

• What is Wind
• How is Wind Formed
• Causes of Wind Formation
• Impacts of Wind Formation

What is Wind 

The fast moving air that blows from high-pressure areas to low-pressure to fill the gaps is called wind. It can be soft as a hug or it can blow down trees. The power of wind is measured using an instrument called an anemometer. It flows across the earth surface and we can see its effects both on land and in water too such as the towering sand dunes and the rippling waters. In the next section we will learn about the wind formation and types.

How is Wind Formed 

Wind is formed when warm air rises and cold air rushes in to replace it. Due to the uneven heating of the earth surface the air pressure forms and the air moves from the higher pressure area to the lower pressure area. This movement of air leads to formation of wind. So wind formation is the continuous cycle of heating, rising and shifting of air. From uneven solar heating to surface friction, there are various causes of wind formation which we will discuss further in this article.

Causes of Wind Formation

Solar Heating: The different parts of earth receive different amounts of solar heat. Such as the land heats and cools faster than water. As the sun heats the ground or sea surface, the air above it warms, becomes lighter and rises. This creates an area of low atmospheric pressure near the surface. The air in the nearby areas is cold and denser which starts flowing towards the low pressure area causing wind to move.

Surface Friction: The air friction with the earth surface such as mountains and sea surface causes it to flow towards low pressure areas. The friction causes wind to slow down which causes imbalance so the wind blows toward lower pressure areas. 

Seasonal Winds: Large-scale periodic winds that are caused by the change in direction of the wind due to the difference between uneven heating and cooling of continents and oceans across an entire season such as monsoon winds. 

Rotation of Earth: The rotation of earth causes movement of wind called the Coriolis effect. It makes the wind deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.

Impacts of Wind Formation

From mild cooling to catastrophic destruction, there are various impacts of wind formation on our environment. These impacts are determined by the speed and intensity of the winds formed. Based on these two characteristics winds are classified into three different categories: Breeze, Gale and Hurricane. Below are the properties of each kind of wind explained with their impacts:

• Impact of Breeze: It is a light, gentle wind that flows smoothly on a sunny day. The speed of these winds ranges between 1 to 74 km/h. This type of wind provides natural cooling and aids in dispersing the pollen from plants over long distances. This process of wind pollination of plants is known as anemophily.
• Impact of Gale: It is a little stronger wind that is weaker than a cyclone. These are powerful winds that can snap things around such as twigs and branches. The speed of these winds ranges somewhere between 63 to 87 km/h. These types of winds have been shaping the desert landscapes for over thousands of years. One example of the impact of such wind is the sand dunes and rock formations found in the Thar desert due to wind erosion. 
• Impact of Hurricane Wind: These dangerous winds flow with high strength and speed and are capable of uprooting trees, damaging buildings, shifting cars and wreaking things around. The speed of these winds usually ranges around 119 km/h and above.