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Wind paragraph |
| Answer» Wind\xa0is the flow of\xa0gases\xa0on a large scale. On the surface of the\xa0Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In\xa0outer space,\xa0solar wind\xa0is the movement of gases or charged particles from the\xa0Sun\xa0through space, while\xa0planetary wind\xa0is the\xa0outgassing\xa0of light\xa0chemical elements\xa0from a planet\'s atmosphere into space. Winds are commonly classified by their\xa0spatial scale, their\xa0speed, the types of forces that cause them, the regions in which they occur, and their effect. The strongest observed winds on a planet in the\xa0Solar System\xa0occur on\xa0Neptune\xa0and\xa0Saturn. Winds have various aspects:\xa0velocity\xa0(wind speed); the density of the gas involved; energy content or\xa0wind energy. The wind is also an important means of transportation for seeds and small birds; with time things can travel thousands of miles in the wind.In\xa0meteorology, winds are often referred to according to their strength, and the direction from which the wind is blowing. Short bursts of high speed wind are termed gusts. Strong winds of intermediate duration (around one minute) are termed\xa0squalls. Long-duration winds have various names associated with their average strength, such as breeze,\xa0gale,\xa0storm, and\xa0hurricane. Wind occurs on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting a few hours, to global winds resulting from the difference in absorption of\xa0solar energy\xa0between the\xa0climate zones\xa0on Earth. The two main causes of large-scale\xa0atmospheric circulation\xa0are the differential heating between the equator and the poles, and the rotation of the planet (Coriolis effect). Within the tropics,\xa0thermal low\xa0circulations over terrain and high plateaus can drive\xa0monsoon\xa0circulations. In coastal areas the\xa0sea breeze/land breeze cycle can define local winds; in areas that have variable terrain, mountain and valley breezes can dominate local winds.In human civilization, the concept of wind has been explored in\xa0mythology, influenced the events of history, expanded the range of transport and warfare, and provided a\xa0power source\xa0for mechanical work, electricity, and recreation. Wind powers the voyages of\xa0sailing ships\xa0across Earth\'s oceans.\xa0Hot air balloons\xa0use the wind to take short trips, and powered flight uses it to increase lift and reduce fuel consumption. Areas of\xa0wind shear\xa0caused by various weather phenomena can lead to dangerous situations for aircraft. When winds become strong, trees and human-made structures are damaged or destroyed.Winds can shape landforms, via a variety of\xa0aeolian processes\xa0such as the formation of fertile soils, such as\xa0loess, and by\xa0erosion. Dust from large deserts can be moved great distances from its source region by the\xa0prevailing winds; winds that are accelerated by rough topography and associated with dust outbreaks have been assigned regional names in various parts of the world because of their significant effects on those regions. Wind also affects the spread of wildfires. Winds can disperse seeds from various plants, enabling the survival and dispersal of those plant species, as well as flying insect populations. When combined with cold temperatures, the wind has a negative impact on livestock. Wind affects animals\' food stores, as well as their hunting and defensive strategies. | |