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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpg ==Definitions== ==Etymology== [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]]
==Definitions==
==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English]; akin to Old High German wint wind, [[Latin]] ventus, [[Greek]] aēnai to blow, [[Sanskrit]] vāti it blows
*Date: before [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century 12th century]
==Definitions==
*1 a : a [[natural]] movement of [[air]] of any [[velocity]]; especially : the [[earth]]'s air or the [[gas]] [[surrounding]] a [[planet]] in natural [[motion]] [[horizon]]tally
:b : an artificially produced movement of air
:c : [[solar]] wind, stellar wind
*2 a : a destructive [[force]] or [[influence]]
:b : a force or [[agency]] that carries along or [[influences]] : tendency, [[trend]] <withstood the winds of popular [[opinion]] — Felix Frankfurter>
*3 a : [[breath]]
:4a b : [[breath]] 2a c : the pit of the stomach : solar plexus
*4 : [[gas]] generated in the stomach or the intestines <pass wind>
*5 a : compressed [[air]] or [[gas]] b archaic : air
*6 : something that is insubstantial: as a : mere talk : idle [[words]]
:b : nothing, nothingness
:c : [[vain]] self-satisfaction
*7 a : air carrying a scent (as of a [[hunter]] or game)
:b : slight [[information]] especially about something [[secret]] : intimation <got wind of the [[plan]]>
*8 a : musical wind instruments especially as distinguished from strings and percussion
:b plural : players of wind instruments
*9 a : a direction from which the wind may blow : a point of the [[compass]]; especially : one of the cardinal points
:b : the direction from which the wind is blowing
==Description==
'''Wind''' is the [[flow]] of [[gases]] on a large [[scale]]. On [[Earth]], wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer [[space]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_wind solar wind] is the movement of gases or charged [[particles]] from the [[sun]] through space, while [[planetary]] wind is the outgassing of light [[chemical]] [[elements]] from a planet's [[atmosphere]] into space. Winds are commonly classified by their spatial [[scale]], their [[speed]], the types of forces that [[cause]] them, the regions in which they occur, and their [[effect]]. The strongest observed winds on a planet in our solar system occur on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune Neptune] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn Saturn].
In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meterology meteorology], winds are often referred to according to their [[strength]], and the direction the wind is blowing from. Short bursts of high [[speed]] wind are termed gusts. Strong winds of [[intermediate]] duration (around one minute) are termed squalls. Long-duration winds have various [[names]] [[associated]] with their [[average]] [[strength]], such as breeze, gale, storm, hurricane, and typhoon. Wind occurs on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of [[land]] [[surfaces]] and lasting a few hours, to global winds resulting from the [[difference]] in [[absorption]] of [[solar]] [[energy]] between the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_zone climate zones] on [[Earth]]. The two main causes of large scale [[atmospheric]] [[circulation]] are the differential heating between the [[equator]] and the poles, and the [[rotation]] of the [[planet]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect Coriolis effect]). Within the tropics, thermal low circulations over terrain and high plateaus can drive [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon monsoon] circulations. In coastal areas the [[sea]] breeze/[[land]] breeze [[cycle]] can define local winds; in areas that have variable terrain, [[mountain]] and valley breezes can [[dominate]] local winds.
In [[human]] [[civilization]], wind has [[inspired]] [[mythology]], influenced the [[events]] of [[history]], expanded the range of [[transport]] and [[warfare]], and provided a [[power]] [[source]] for [[mechanical]] [[work]], [[electricity]], and recreation. Wind has powered the voyages of sailing ships across Earth's [[oceans]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_air_balloon Hot air balloons] use the wind to take short trips, and powered flight uses it to increase lift and reduce fuel consumption. Areas of wind shear caused by various [[weather]] [[phenomena]] can lead to [[dangerous]] situations for aircraft. When winds become strong, trees and man-made [[structures]] are damaged or destroyed.
Winds can shape landforms, via a variety of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolian_processes Aeolian processes] such as the formation of fertile [[soils]], such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loess loess], and by [[erosion]]. Dust from large [[deserts]] can be moved great distances from its source region by the prevailing winds; winds that are [[accelerated]] by rough topography and associated with dust outbreaks have been assigned regional [[names]] in various parts of the world because of their significant [[effects]] on those regions. Wind effects the spread of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire wildfires]. Winds disperse [[seeds]] from various [[plants]], enabling the survival and [[dispersal]] of those [[plant]] [[species]], as well as flying insect [[populations]]. When combined with cold temperatures, wind has a [[negative]] impact on livestock. Wind affects animals' [[food]] stores, as well as their [[hunting]] and [[defensive]] [[strategies]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind]
[[Category: Earth Science]]
==Definitions==
==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English]; akin to Old High German wint wind, [[Latin]] ventus, [[Greek]] aēnai to blow, [[Sanskrit]] vāti it blows
*Date: before [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century 12th century]
==Definitions==
*1 a : a [[natural]] movement of [[air]] of any [[velocity]]; especially : the [[earth]]'s air or the [[gas]] [[surrounding]] a [[planet]] in natural [[motion]] [[horizon]]tally
:b : an artificially produced movement of air
:c : [[solar]] wind, stellar wind
*2 a : a destructive [[force]] or [[influence]]
:b : a force or [[agency]] that carries along or [[influences]] : tendency, [[trend]] <withstood the winds of popular [[opinion]] — Felix Frankfurter>
*3 a : [[breath]]
:4a b : [[breath]] 2a c : the pit of the stomach : solar plexus
*4 : [[gas]] generated in the stomach or the intestines <pass wind>
*5 a : compressed [[air]] or [[gas]] b archaic : air
*6 : something that is insubstantial: as a : mere talk : idle [[words]]
:b : nothing, nothingness
:c : [[vain]] self-satisfaction
*7 a : air carrying a scent (as of a [[hunter]] or game)
:b : slight [[information]] especially about something [[secret]] : intimation <got wind of the [[plan]]>
*8 a : musical wind instruments especially as distinguished from strings and percussion
:b plural : players of wind instruments
*9 a : a direction from which the wind may blow : a point of the [[compass]]; especially : one of the cardinal points
:b : the direction from which the wind is blowing
==Description==
'''Wind''' is the [[flow]] of [[gases]] on a large [[scale]]. On [[Earth]], wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer [[space]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_wind solar wind] is the movement of gases or charged [[particles]] from the [[sun]] through space, while [[planetary]] wind is the outgassing of light [[chemical]] [[elements]] from a planet's [[atmosphere]] into space. Winds are commonly classified by their spatial [[scale]], their [[speed]], the types of forces that [[cause]] them, the regions in which they occur, and their [[effect]]. The strongest observed winds on a planet in our solar system occur on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune Neptune] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn Saturn].
In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meterology meteorology], winds are often referred to according to their [[strength]], and the direction the wind is blowing from. Short bursts of high [[speed]] wind are termed gusts. Strong winds of [[intermediate]] duration (around one minute) are termed squalls. Long-duration winds have various [[names]] [[associated]] with their [[average]] [[strength]], such as breeze, gale, storm, hurricane, and typhoon. Wind occurs on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of [[land]] [[surfaces]] and lasting a few hours, to global winds resulting from the [[difference]] in [[absorption]] of [[solar]] [[energy]] between the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_zone climate zones] on [[Earth]]. The two main causes of large scale [[atmospheric]] [[circulation]] are the differential heating between the [[equator]] and the poles, and the [[rotation]] of the [[planet]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect Coriolis effect]). Within the tropics, thermal low circulations over terrain and high plateaus can drive [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon monsoon] circulations. In coastal areas the [[sea]] breeze/[[land]] breeze [[cycle]] can define local winds; in areas that have variable terrain, [[mountain]] and valley breezes can [[dominate]] local winds.
In [[human]] [[civilization]], wind has [[inspired]] [[mythology]], influenced the [[events]] of [[history]], expanded the range of [[transport]] and [[warfare]], and provided a [[power]] [[source]] for [[mechanical]] [[work]], [[electricity]], and recreation. Wind has powered the voyages of sailing ships across Earth's [[oceans]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_air_balloon Hot air balloons] use the wind to take short trips, and powered flight uses it to increase lift and reduce fuel consumption. Areas of wind shear caused by various [[weather]] [[phenomena]] can lead to [[dangerous]] situations for aircraft. When winds become strong, trees and man-made [[structures]] are damaged or destroyed.
Winds can shape landforms, via a variety of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolian_processes Aeolian processes] such as the formation of fertile [[soils]], such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loess loess], and by [[erosion]]. Dust from large [[deserts]] can be moved great distances from its source region by the prevailing winds; winds that are [[accelerated]] by rough topography and associated with dust outbreaks have been assigned regional [[names]] in various parts of the world because of their significant [[effects]] on those regions. Wind effects the spread of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire wildfires]. Winds disperse [[seeds]] from various [[plants]], enabling the survival and [[dispersal]] of those [[plant]] [[species]], as well as flying insect [[populations]]. When combined with cold temperatures, wind has a [[negative]] impact on livestock. Wind affects animals' [[food]] stores, as well as their [[hunting]] and [[defensive]] [[strategies]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind]
[[Category: Earth Science]]