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UPSC » UPSC CSE Study Materials » NCERT Notes for UPSC 2025 » Wind flow pattern

Wind flow pattern

Wind currents flow air from high pressure to low-pressure areas. The wind flow pattern results from uneven heating of land and water.

Table of Content
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Wind Flow Pattern

The wind is the movement of air. The Earth’s surface around the equators receives the most sunlight, while the poles receive the least. As a result, the Earth is heated unevenly. This causes warm air from the equatorial zone to rise, while frigid air from the polar region rushes to take its place. On Earth, this causes the wind to blow. Because of the rotation of the Earth, the wind now bends and does not travel directly from north to south. This wind flow pattern is known as the wind flow pattern Earth. The wind speed influences the genesis of extreme weather events like cyclones and storms. As a result, it’s essential to keep track of the wind speed. An anemometer is a device that analyses the speed of wind and wind flow patterns.

Characteristics of Air

  • When the wind moves, the air exerts pressure on the tree leaves, flags, and banners, causing them to flicker. Reduced air pressure is associated with vital wind speed
  • Air travels from a high-pressure to a low-pressure environment. The faster the air passes, the larger the pressure differential
  • Air rushes when it is warmed and shrinks when it is cooled
  • Warm air rises and takes up enough space by expanding in the storage. As a result, warm air is light in comparison to cold air
  • Warm air ascends while cooler air descends towards the Earth’s surface
  • As warm air increases, air pressure drops in that area, and cooler air from nearby surges in to fill in the gap. As a result of this, convection is created in the air

Wind Currents

Wind currents are concentrated areas of winds due to wind motions. These are produced as a result of the uneven heating on the Earth in the following ways:

  • Inconsistent heating at the Poles and in the equator
  • The Sun heats the areas closest to the equator the most. The air in these areas warms up and elevates
  • Cooler air rushes in through the 0-30 degrees latitude belts on both sides of the equator. These winds blow towards the equator from the north and south
  • The air is more relaxed at the poles than at 60 degrees latitude. Warm air increases at these latitudes, while cold air from the polar regions surges in to replace it
  • Wind circulation is established from the poles to the warmer latitudes
  • The winds do not blow in a straight line from north to south. The rotation of the Earth causes a shift in direction

Uneven heating of land and water

  • Land near the Equator heats up quickly in the summer, and the land’s temperature is typically higher than the oceans
  • As the air above the Earth warms, it rises. As a result, winds from the oceans blow towards the land. These are the winds of the monsoon season
  • The wind passes in the other direction in the winter, from the land to the sea
  • Ocean winds transport water and precipitate rain. It’s a natural occurrence that occurs as part of the water cycle
  • Monsoon winds blow from the southwest throughout the summer due to uneven land heating, particularly in the Rajasthan desert. These winds carry water from the Indian Ocean
  • Winds from the northwest, which are cooler, are generated by the uneven heating of land and water in the winter. These cooler winds transport less water and, as a result, bring just a tiny amount of rain in the winter
  • In extreme scenarios, these winds and precipitation patterns can cause disasters like thunderstorms and cyclones

Thunderstorms

  • Thunderstorms are quite common in hot, humid tropical regions like India
  • As the temperature rises, strong upward-moving winds develop
  • Water droplets are carried upward through such winds, where they harden and fall back down
  • Lightning and sound are created by the rapid movement of water droplets combined with air currents. This process is referred to as thunderstorms

Conclusion

The wind is the movement of air. Increased wind speed does result in decreased air pressure. Air flows from high air pressure to a region with low air pressure. The greater the pressure difference, the faster the air moves. Warm air is lighter than cold air. Wind currents are caused by uneven heating on the Earth. The air surrounding us exerts pressure on us. When heated, air expands and shrinks. Warm air rises, and colder air sinks towards the Earth’s surface. As hot air rises, air pressure at that location decreases, and cooler air goes to that location. Wind currents are caused mainly by uneven heating of the soil. Rain is brought by winds carrying water vapour. Cyclones can be caused by high-speed winds and a variation in air pressure. Advanced technology such as satellites and radars has made it simpler to monitor cyclones.

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