| We all know and have heard of wind speeds. | | | | factor affecting wind speed. The more the |
| People, who live close to the sea especially, are | | | | pressure difference two points, the faster the |
| aware of wind speeds and how it affects their | | | | wind. Moreover, when pressure gradient is used |
| lives. For most of you living in big cities, speed of | | | | together with 'Coriolis Effect' and friction, the |
| wind is often confused with breeze and | | | | various outcomes of wind directions can be |
| experienced mostly during rains and in case of | | | | studied and understood. |
| other natural calamities. Wind speed is quite simply | | | | Many of you may have already heard of Rossby |
| the speed at which wind moves in the | | | | waves, which are also known as 'Westerlies.' |
| atmosphere. The speed of wind can be | | | | These are strong winds found in the upper |
| measured, and have far reaching effects in our | | | | troposphere. These waves are known to follow |
| lives. | | | | the West to East direction and flow all over the |
| The speed of wind is important for many things | | | | globe. Westerlies have different wind speed, much |
| like weather forecasting, flying, maritime | | | | different from what we humans experience in |
| operations, construction, etc. High speeds of wind | | | | lower atmospheric circles. |
| can have unpleasant and unwanted side effects, | | | | Finally, weather conditions have an important role |
| while low wind speed is almost always welcome | | | | in affecting the speeds of wind. Depending on the |
| during hot and sticky summer months. Strong | | | | regional topography of an area, weather |
| winds are referred to as gales, hurricanes, | | | | conditions like monsoons, cyclones, hurricanes, and |
| typhoons etc depending on their speed and | | | | other freak condition of the weather can |
| intensity. Wind speeds are measured using an | | | | significantly alter the wind velocity. |
| anemometer. | | | | Highest Wind Velocities |
| Factors Affecting Speed Of Wind | | | | Wind speeds have been recorded for many years |
| There are a number of factors that affect the | | | | now. The highest wind velocity was recorded way |
| speed of wind. Wind operates on many different | | | | back in 1934 at the Mt. Washington, U.S. blowing |
| scales like the micro sale to macro scale which | | | | at a speed of 372 km/hr or 231 mph, the New |
| include the pressure gradients, jet streams, | | | | Hampshire Observatory at Mount Washington |
| Rossby waves, and local weather conditions. Using | | | | recorded this on April 12, 1934 using a wire |
| the pressure gradient, it has been found that | | | | anemometer. The US National Weather Bureau |
| there is connection between wind direction and | | | | tested the anemometer later on and was |
| wind speeds that affect most of the air surfaces | | | | convinced that the measurement was accurate. |
| globally. | | | | However, quite recently, high velocity surface |
| Basically, pressure gradient is the method of | | | | winds were recorded in Afghanistan, Asia on |
| measuring the difference in air pressure between | | | | August 14, 2008 at 328 kmph or 204 mph in a |
| point A and point B on the Earth's surface or the | | | | place known as Ab-Paran, Ghowr. |
| atmosphere. Pressure gradient is an important | | | | |