wind

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Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

wind bending palm trees

What causes powerful wind squalls?

Santa Ana winds

Dispersal of several types of seeds.

World distribution of mean sea-level pressure (in millibars) for January and primary and secondary storm tracks; the general character of the global winds is also shown.

World distribution of mean sea-level pressure (in millibars) for July and primary and secondary storm tracks; the general character of the global winds is also shown.

Figure 3: Latitudinal variation in precipitation and evaporation and relationship to major wind belts and oceanic salinity.

See how differing amounts of solar radiation at the poles and Equator affect Earth's climate and atmosphere

Learn how mountains, bodies of water, and human habitation affect atmospheric activity

Read Next

Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

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High-oblique view of the extra-tropical unnamed cyclone that merged with Hurricane Earl is featured in this image taken by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station (Sept. 2010).

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Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

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Shadow of a man holding large knife in his hand inside of some dark, spooky buiding

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Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Berries and leaves of the bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) plant. Poisonous plant

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Aurochs. Bos primigenius. Skeleton. Extinct animal. Skeleton of an Aurochs, an extinct wild ox.

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wind: Facts & Related Content

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News •

Video | Record-breaking windstorm hits Chinese cities • May 2, 2025, 10:14 AM ET (South China Morning Post)

Facts

Also Known As	wind system

Photos and Videos

wind bending palm trees

Santa Ana winds

Dispersal of several types of seeds.

World distribution of mean sea-level pressure (in millibars) for January and primary and secondary storm tracks; the general character of the global winds is also shown.

World distribution of mean sea-level pressure (in millibars) for July and primary and secondary storm tracks; the general character of the global winds is also shown.

Figure 3: Latitudinal variation in precipitation and evaporation and relationship to major wind belts and oceanic salinity.

What causes powerful wind squalls?

See how differing amounts of solar radiation at the poles and Equator affect Earth's climate and atmosphere

Learn how mountains, bodies of water, and human habitation affect atmospheric activity

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

windstorm crosswind standing wave upper-level wind polar easterlies tailwind calm westerlies planetary wind system geostrophic wind atmospheric river atmospheric turbulence subtropical high

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Quiz

Umbrella colored like a rainbow sticking out above a sea of black umbrellas while it rains. (storm, weather)

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Iceland, Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon)

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Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree

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rain. Child in the rain, wearing a rain coat, under a yellow umbrella. April Showers weather climate rain storm water drops

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List

Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered