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Where does wind come from?
Question Date: 2013-09-07
Answer 1:

Wind comes from differences in air pressure between different areas. When there is a difference in air pressure, air moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure, and this results in wind. The differences in air pressure are due to differences in air temperature. For example, near the equator, because sunlight is more intense, the air is warmer and it rises. Since now there is greater air pressure at high elevation near the equator compared to near the poles, the high elevation air starts to move toward the poles. As it does so, it cools down and starts to fall. This means that there is greater air pressure at low elevation near the poles compared to near the equator, and low elevation air moves toward the poles. This wind cycle is called a atmospheric convection cell. For more information, check out

wind

Answer 2:

Wind is moving air. Wind happens because of changes in temperature and pressure on the Earth's surface, as well as because of friction with the Earth rotating underneath the atmosphere.



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