Forces Acting to Create Wind - Article Example

Beaufort Wind Scale uses a descriptive table from where one could observe (the wind’s effects on the environment), describe and record wind speed in miles km/h. The compass direction of the wind’s source determines its name. Thus, westerly is the wind blowing from the west to the east. Its speed is dependent on the gradient of atmospheric air pressure that exists between pressure systems- high and low. Change in pressure per unit distance (pressure gradient force) determines wind’s formation speed.

The smaller the gradient, the slower the wind (Pidwirny, 2006). The Coriolis force caused by rotation also acts upon moving air and other mobile objects. The influence of this force is that it opposes pressure gradient acceleration thereby changing the wind’s direction from straight to a deflected motion. The Northern Hemisphere experiences deflection to its right, while deflection in the southern hemisphere is to the left. Increased Coriolis wind speed results in more wind deflection due to more Coriolis force (Pidwirny, 2006).

However, Coriolis force does not influence wind speed but direction. Other forces acting on wind include centripetal acceleration (flowing perpendicular to the wind) and frictional deceleration (a force acting against the wind). There are three types of winds including Geostrophic Wind, Gradient Wind, and Friction Layer Wind.