Wind is the movement of air caused by differences in atmospheric pressure, which are mainly due to temperature differences. The sun heats the Earths surface unevenly, and because the Earths surface is made up of different types of land and water, it absorbs the suns heat at different rates. This uneven heating causes pockets of warm air and cold air, which lead to different pressures. Since gases behave differently at different temperatures, this means that there are pockets with high pressure and pockets with low pressure. In areas of high pressure, the gases in the air are more crowded, while in low-pressure zones, the gases are a little more spread out. Gases move from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, and the bigger the difference between the pressures, the faster the air will move from the high to the low pressure, creating wind.
The movement of air due to differences in atmospheric pressure generates winds, which can range from light breezes to powerful gusts. The strength of the wind depends on the temperature and pressure difference between the warm and cool air. Wind has been used as a source of energy for more than a thousand years, and today, most wind energy is used to generate electricity for homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, and industry. Wind is important because it moves more than just leaves and trees – it moves storms too. Meteorologists can study wind direction to help figure out where a storm is moving next.
