Wind 101 – The Basics
Where does the wind blow and how fast will it blow tomorrow is a question that if answered with accuracy could make one inherently rich or give one the appearance of herrasay.
What makes the wind blow? There are two primary causes for the wind. The primary source of wind is caused by the unequal heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. When one area is heated quicker than other areas, the air warms, expands, becomes lighter, and rises. This causes the cooler heavier air to rush in and take its place. This rush of cooler air is what we know as the wind.
In the big picture, the rotation of the earth is the second primary cause of wind circulation As the earth is rotating from West to East, it tends to carry the wind with it. The flow of weather fronts are primarily from the west to east in the northern hemisphere due to the rotation of the earth. This effect of the earth’s rotation on the wind is known as the Coriolis effect.
Time sequence showing microburst moving dust.
There is no way to predict exact location of open air turbulence but wind rotor, a form of turbulence, can often be found around different formations in the landscape such as high trees, buildings, cliff edges, etc. Wind rotor can often cause a glider to be tossed in consecutive reversing directions. Until you are familiar with a flying site, you should be cautious of potential rotor makers. It is always a good idea to ask the locals about local rotor conditions.
Microburst is the sudden increase in downward air currents. They are primarily found near the edge of thunderstorms. The best way to avoid them is to not fly near the thunderstorm clouds. On the flipside of microburst is the cloud suck. Cloud suck is often located directly beneath a thundercloud and tends to lift the glider up into the cloud. If the rate of ascent is greater than the pilots ability to dive or spiral out, the pilot should turn towards the nearest edge of the cloud.
Thermals are a natural generator of vertical winds and the glider pilots primary resource for cross-country trips. They can often be found under cumulus clouds. They develop from the natural heating of the earth surface, which causes the heated air to rise.
