What Causes Wind? Earth's Rotation is Not the Only Reason

Wind is the natural air or gas movement on a planet's surface. It is the reason why sometimes we feel land or sea breeze running through our cheeks and other parts of our body. This natural phenomenon is also evident when trees or plants in general have their leaves blown off. The phenomenon is often associated with weather events such as storms and even climatic conditions like drought.

Wind is also a renewable energy source, especially for wind turbines that use mechanical spinning to generate electricity. In this context, it is important to determine wind origin or what causes wind since this invisible moving air has a significant part to play in Earth's environment and energy crisis of the future, where it will be a part of mankind's technological advancement and sustainability.

What Causes Wind?

(Photo : Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplas)

Scientists have long known that wind is caused by Earth's rotation in its own axis. With this, the direction of prevailing wind on our planet flows from east to west. It is also the trajectory that the Sun seems to follow from the time it rises in the east until it sets in the west. This is only the case from Earth's surface and relative to the planet's rotation.

In the context of wind formation, researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa state there are two main factors affecting wind patterns:

The heat distribution of the planet
The constant rotation of the planet

Since Earth's rotation is not the only reason for wind formation, the Sun's uneven solar heat or heating effect towards our planet is also significant to what causes winds. The Hawaii university researchers explain that the energy from sunlight is not evenly distributed when it reaches the Earth's surface.

Meanwhile, the continuous rotation of Earth is causing a phenomenon called the 'Coriolis effect' which is the deflection of air and water masses. While these components of the planet seem to be affected by Coriolis, it does not entail that living organisms, including humans, feel this astronomical rotation phenomenon.

Also Read: Health Advantages of Wind Power Could Reduce the Amount of Fossil Fuel-based Power Plants That Are Operating

Daily Wind Cycle

Since moving air is an inseparable part of Earth's environment, wind is a non-limited resource abundant on the surface.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the daily wind cycle involves the warmer air above land compared with water during the day. This warm terrestrial air eventually expands and rises but will be replaced by cooler air to create wind. Meanwhile, the process is the opposite during the night since this is the time when the air cools more rapidly over land than over water.

The IEA explains supports the evidence that the uneven heating from the Sun mentioned earlier is one example of the daily wind cycle. After all, Earth (with its different marine and terrestrial terrains) absorbs heat from the Sun at different rates, the US government agency adds.