Wind
Term · Meteorology and atmospheric science · MLC-T-MET-003082
The movement of air relative to the Earth's surface, driven by differences in atmospheric pressure. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, and its direction and speed are modified by the Coriolis effect and friction. Wind is measured by anemometers and expressed in units such as meters per second, miles per hour, or knots.
The horizontal motion of the air past a given point. Winds begin with differences in air pressures. Pressure that's higher at one place than another sets up a force pushing from the high toward the low pressure. The greater the difference in pressures, the stronger the force. The distance between the area of high pressure and the area of low pressure also determines how fast the moving air is accelerated. Meteorologists refer to the force that starts the wind flowing as the "pressure gradient force." High and low pressure are relative. There's no set number that divides high and low pressure. Wind is used to describe the prevailing direction from which the wind is blowing with the speed given usually in miles per hour or knots.
| Identifier | MLC-T-MET-003082 |
|---|---|
| Field | Meteorology and atmospheric science |
| References | NWS Glossary |
| See also | Circulation; General circulation; Turbulence; Geostrophic wind; Gradient wind; Local winds; Beaufort wind scale; Draft; Cyclone; Whirlwind; Squall; Storm |
Record as JSON
{
"id": "MLC-T-MET-003082",
"term": "Wind",
"field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
"definitions": [
"The movement of air relative to the Earth's surface, driven by differences in atmospheric pressure. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, and its direction and speed are modified by the Coriolis effect and friction. Wind is measured by anemometers and expressed in units such as meters per second, miles per hour, or knots.",
"The horizontal motion of the air past a given point. Winds begin with differences in air pressures. Pressure that's higher at one place than another sets up a force pushing from the high toward the low pressure. The greater the difference in pressures, the stronger the force. The distance between the area of high pressure and the area of low pressure also determines how fast the moving air is accelerated. Meteorologists refer to the force that starts the wind flowing as the \"pressure gradient force.\" High and low pressure are relative. There's no set number that divides high and low pressure. Wind is used to describe the prevailing direction from which the wind is blowing with the speed given usually in miles per hour or knots."
],
"see_also": [
"circulation",
"general circulation",
"turbulence",
"geostrophic wind",
"Gradient wind",
"local winds",
"Beaufort wind scale",
"draft",
"cyclone",
"whirlwind",
"squall",
"Storm"
],
"references": [
"NWS Glossary"
],
"url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/wind/"
}
Record 10,628 of 10,816 in Meteorology and atmospheric science terminology (MLC-0110). Request the full dataset.