Weather Tidbits: The Formation of Wind

This Weather Tidbits will discuss how wind is formed. Wind is the result of a difference in air pressure with distance. This is because the atmosphere always wants to be in balance. A soda can is a great analogy to use because one can clearly notice the rapid escape of air out of the soda can into the outside environment when opening the lid. The air inside the soda can has a much higher air pressure than outside. The air flows from higher pressure to lower pressure. This fundamental idea is universal to high pressure systems and low pressure systems in meteorology.

Between a high and low pressure system, there is a pressure gradient. A pressure gradient is the change of air pressure within a set distance. When a high and low pressure system is weak, the pressure gradient is weak. The pressure gradient is strong when the high and low pressure systems are strong. A strong pressure gradient means that there is a greater change of air pressure with distance. This will result in the strongest winds as the atmosphere always strives to achieve a sense of balance. And just like with the soda can, air flows from higher pressure to lower pressure.