The largest wind in m s. Non-flying weather or when planes do not fly

Wind- this is a horizontal movement (air flow parallel to the earth's surface), resulting from uneven distribution of heat and atmospheric pressure and directed from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone

The wind is characterized by speed (strength) and direction. Direction is determined by the sides of the horizon from which it blows, and is measured in degrees. Wind speed measured in meters per second and kilometers per hour. The strength of the wind is measured in points.

Wind in boots, m/s, km/h

Beaufort scale- conditional scale for visual assessment and recording of wind strength (speed) in points. Initially, it was developed by the English admiral Francis Beaufort in 1806 to determine the strength of the wind by the nature of its manifestation at sea. Since 1874, this classification has been accepted for widespread (on land and sea) use in international synoptic practice. In subsequent years, it was changed and refined (Table 2). The state of complete calm at sea was taken as zero points. Initially, the system was thirteen-point (0-12 bft, on the Beaufort scale). In 1946 the scale was increased to seventeen (0-17). The strength of the wind in the scale is determined by the interaction of the wind with various objects. IN last years, wind strength, more often, is estimated by speed, measured in meters per second - at the earth's surface, at a height of about 10 m above an open, flat surface.

The table shows Beaufort scale adopted in 1963 by the World Meteorological Organization. The sea disturbance scale is nine-point (the parameters are given for a large sea area; in small areas - less excitement). Descriptions of the action from the movement of air masses are given "for the conditions of the earth's atmosphere near the earth's or water surface", and above zero temperature. On the planet Mars, for example, the ratios will be different.

Wind strength in points on the Beaufort scale and sea waves

Table 1

To make it easier to remember(compiled by: site author site)

3 - Weak - 5 m / s (~ 20 km / h) - leaves and thin branches of trees sway continuously
5 - Fresh - 10 m / s (~ 35 km / h) - pulls out big flags, whistles in the ears
7 - Strong - 15 m / s (~ 55 km / h) - telegraph wires are buzzing, it is difficult to go against the wind
9 - Storm - 25 m / s (90 km / h) - wind knocks down trees, destroys buildings

* The length of the wind wave on the surface of water bodies (rivers, seas, etc.) is the smallest distance, horizontally, between the tops of neighboring ridges.

Dictionary:

Breeze– a weak coastal wind with a strength of up to 4 points.

normal wind- acceptable, optimal for something. For example, for sports windsurfing, you need sufficient wind thrust (at least 6-7 meters per second), and when parachuting, on the contrary, calm weather is better (excluding lateral drift, strong gusts near the earth's surface and dragging the dome after landing).

storm is called a long and stormy wind up to a hurricane, with a force of more than 9 points (gradation on the Beaufort scale), accompanied by destruction on land and strong waves at sea (storm). Storms are: 1) squall; 2) dusty (sandy); 3) dust free; 4) snow. Squall storms start suddenly and end just as quickly. Their actions are characterized by enormous destructive power (such a wind destroys buildings and uproots trees). These storms are possible everywhere in the European part of Russia, both at sea and on land. In Russia, the northern border of the distribution of dust storms passes through Saratov, Samara, Ufa, Orenburg and the Altai mountains. Snow storms of great strength occur on the plains of the European part and in the steppe part of Siberia. Typically, storms are caused by the passage of an active atmospheric front, a deep cyclone, or a tornado.

Squall- a strong and sharp gust of wind (Peak gusts) with a speed of 12 m/s and above, usually accompanied by a thunderstorm. At a speed of more than 18-20 meters per second, a heavy wind blows away poorly fixed structures, signs and can break billboards and tree branches, cause power lines to break, which creates a danger to people and cars under them. Gusty, squally wind occurs during the passage of the atmospheric front and with a rapid change in pressure in the baric system.

Vortex- atmospheric formation with rotational movement of air around a vertical or inclined axis.

Hurricane(typhoon) - a wind of destructive force and considerable duration, the speed of which exceeds 120 km/h. "Lives", i.e. moves, a hurricane usually lasts 9-12 days. Forecasters give it a name. The hurricane destroys buildings, uproots trees, demolishes light structures, breaks wires, and damages bridges and roads. Its destructive force can be compared to an earthquake. Homeland hurricanes - ocean expanses, closer to the equator. Cyclones saturated with water vapor from here leave to the west, more and more twisting and increasing speed. The diameters of these giant whirlwinds are several hundred kilometers. Hurricanes are most active in August and September.
In Russia, hurricanes most often occur in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Chukotka, and the Kuril Islands.

Tornadoes are vertical vortices; squalls are more often horizontal, included in the structure of cyclones.

The word "tornado" is Russian, and comes from the semantic concept of "twilight", that is, a gloomy, thunderous situation. The tornado is a giant rotating funnel, inside which there is low pressure, and any objects that are in the way of the tornado are sucked into this funnel. As he approaches, a deafening roar is heard. A tornado moves above the ground at an average speed of 50–60 km/h. Deaths are short-lived. Some of them "live" seconds or minutes, and only a few - up to half an hour.

On the North American continent, a tornado is called tornado, and in Europe thrombus. A tornado can lift a car into the air, uproot trees, cripple a bridge, destroy the upper floors of buildings.

The tornado in Bangladesh, observed in 1989, was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most terrible and destructive tornado in the entire history of observations. Despite the fact that the inhabitants of the city of Shaturia were warned in advance about the approach of a tornado, 1,300 people became its victims.

In Russia, tornadoes are more frequent in the summer months in the Urals, Black Sea coast, in the Volga region and Siberia.

Forecasters classify hurricanes, storms and tornadoes as emergency events with a moderate propagation speed, so most often it is possible to announce a storm warning in time. It can be transmitted through civil defense channels: after the sound of sirens " Attention everyone!"must listen to the message of the local television and radio.

Symbols on meteorological maps of weather phenomena associated with wind

In meteorology and hydrometeorology, the direction of the wind ("where it blows from") is indicated on the map in the form of an arrow, the type of plumage of which shows the average speed of the air flow. In air navigation - the name of the direction is different to the opposite. In navigation on the water, the unit of speed (knot) of a ship is taken to be one nautical mile per hour (ten knots correspond to approximately five meters per second).

On the weather map, a long feather of the wind arrow means 5 m/s, a short one - 2.5 m/s, in the form of a triangular flag - 25 m/s (follows after a combination of four long lines and 1 short one). In the example shown in the figure, there is a wind with a force of 7-8 m/s. With an unstable wind direction, a cross is placed at the end of the arrow.

The picture shows the symbols for the direction and speed of the wind used on weather maps, as well as an example of drawing icons and fragments from a hundred-cell matrix of weather symbols (for example, a snowstorm and a blowing snow, when there is a rise and redistribution of previously fallen snow in the surface air layer).

These symbols can be seen on the synoptic map of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia (http://meteoinfo.ru) compiled as a result of the analysis of current data on the territory of Europe and Asia, which schematically shows the boundaries of the zones of warm and cold atmospheric fronts and the direction of their movements along the earth's surface.

What to do if there is a storm warning?

1. Close and secure all doors and windows tightly. Glue strips of plaster crosswise on the glass (so that fragments do not fly apart).

2. Prepare a supply of water and food, medicines, a flashlight, candles, a kerosene lamp, a battery receiver, documents and money.

3. Turn off gas and electricity.

4. Remove items from balconies (yards) that could be blown away by the wind.

5. From light buildings, move to more durable or civil defense shelters.

6. In a village house, move to the most spacious and durable part of it, and best of all - to the basement.

8. If you have a car, try to drive as far as possible from the epicenter of the hurricane.

Children from kindergartens and schools must be sent home in advance. If the storm warning comes too late, the children should be placed in basements or the center of buildings.

It is best to wait out a hurricane, a tornado or a storm in a shelter, a pre-prepared shelter, or at least in a basement. However, often, a storm warning is given just a few minutes before the arrival of the elements, and during this time it is not always possible to get to the shelter.

If you were outside during a hurricane

2. You can not be on bridges, overpasses, overpasses, in places where flammable and toxic substances are stored.

3. Hide under the bridge, reinforced concrete canopy, in the basement, cellar. You can lie down in a hole or any depression. Protect eyes, mouth and nose from sand and earth.

4. You can not climb onto the roof and hide in the attic.

5. If you are driving in a flat area, stop but do not leave the vehicle. Close its doors and windows more tightly. Cover the radiator side of the engine during a snow storm. If the wind is not strong, you can shovel the snow from the car from time to time so as not to be buried under a thick layer of snow.

6. If you are in public transport, leave it immediately and seek shelter.

7. If the elements caught you on an elevated or open place, run (crawl) towards any shelter (to rocks, forest) that could extinguish the force of the wind, but beware of falling branches and trees.

8. When the wind has died down, do not immediately leave the shelter, as a squall may repeat in a few minutes.

9. Stay calm and don't panic, help the injured.

How to behave after natural disasters

1. Leaving the shelter, look around for overhanging objects and parts of structures, broken wires.

2. Do not light gas and fire, do not turn on electricity until special services check the state of communications.

3. Do not use the elevator.

4. Do not enter damaged buildings, do not approach broken electrical wires.

5. The adult population provides assistance to rescuers.

Devices

The exact wind speed is determined using an instrument - an anemometer. If there is no such device, you can make a home-made wind-measuring "Wild board" (Fig. 1), with sufficient measurement accuracy for wind speeds up to ten meters per second.

Rice. 1. Homemade Wind Measuring Board-Wild Vane:
1 - a vertical tube (600 mm long) with a welded pointed upper end, 2 - a front horizontal weather vane rod with a counterweight ball-weight; 3 - weather vane impeller; 4 - upper frame; 5 - horizontal axis of the board hinge; 6 - wind board (weighing 200 g). 7 - lower fixed vertical rod with indicators of the cardinal points fixed on it: C - north, south - south, 3 - west, B - east; No. 1 - No. 8 - wind speed indicator pins.

The weather vane is installed at a height of 6 - 12 meters, above an open flat surface. Under the weather vane, arrows indicating the direction of the wind are fixedly fixed. Above the weather vane to the tube 1 on the horizontal axis 5 is hinged to the frame 4 wind board 6 measuring 300x150 mm. Board weight - 200 grams (adjusted according to the reference device). Extending back from frame 4 is an arc segment attached to it (with a radius of 160 mm) with eight pins, of which four are long (140 mm each) and four are short (100 mm each). The angles at which they are fixed are with the vertical for the pin No. 1-0 °; №2 - 4°; No. 3 - 15.5°; #4 - 31°; No. 5 - 45.5 °; #6 - 58°; #7 - 72°; No. 8-80.5°.
The wind speed is determined by measuring the angle of deflection of the board. Having determined the position of the wind board between the arc pins, refer to Table. 1, where this position corresponds to a certain wind speed.
The position of the board between the pins gives only an approximate indication of the wind speed, especially since the wind strength changes quickly and often. The board never remains long in any one position, but constantly fluctuates within certain limits. Observing the changing inclination of this board for 1 minute, its average inclination is determined (calculation by averaging maximum values) and only after that the average minute wind speed is judged. For a high wind speed exceeding 12-15 m/s, the readings of this device have low accuracy (in this limitation, this is the main drawback of the considered scheme).

Application

Average wind speed on the Beaufort scale in different years of its application

table 2

The Hurricane Scale was developed by Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson in the early 1920s to measure the potential damage from a hurricane. It is based on numerical maximum wind speeds and includes an estimate of storm waves in each of the five categories. IN Asian countries, given a natural phenomenon It is called a typhoon (translated from Chinese as “great wind”), and in North and South America it is called a hurricane. When quantifying wind flow speed, the following abbreviations apply: km/h / mph- kilometers / miles per hour, m/s- meters per second.

table 3

tornado scale

The tornado scale (Fujita-Pearson scale) was developed by Theodore Fujita to classify tornadoes according to the degree of damage caused by wind. Tornadoes are typical mainly for North America.

table 4

Glossary of terms:

Leeward side of the object (protected from the wind by the object itself; an area of ​​increased pressure, due to strong flow deceleration) faces where the wind blows. In the picture - on the right. For example, on the water, small boats approach more large ships from their leeward side (there they are protected by the hull of a large ship from waves and wind). "Smoking" factories-enterprises should be located, in relation to residential urban buildings - on the leeward side (in the direction of the prevailing winds) and separated from these areas by fairly wide sanitary protection zones.


windward side object (hill, sea vessel) - on the side where the wind blows. On the windward side of the ridges, ascending movements of air masses occur, and on the leeward side, a downward airfall occurs. Most of the precipitation (in the form of rain and snow), due to the barrier effect of mountains, falls on their windward side, and on the leeward side, a collapse of colder and drier air begins.

Approximate calculation of dynamic wind pressure per square meter of a billboard (perpendicular to the plane of the structure) installed near the road of the carriageway. In the example, expected in this place, the maximum storm wind speed, is assumed to be 25 meters per second.

Calculations are carried out according to the formula:
P = 1/2 * (air density) * V^2 = 1/2 * 1.2 kg/m3 * 25^2 m/s = 375 N/m2 ~ 38 kilograms per square meter (kgf)

Note that the pressure increases with the square of the speed. Take into account and include in the construction project sufficient margin of safety, stability (also depends on the height of the support post) and resistance to strong gusts of wind and precipitation, in the form of snow and rain.

At what wind force cancel flights civil aviation

The reason for violation of the flight schedule, delay or cancellation of flights - may be a storm warning from weather forecasters, at the airports of departure and destination.

The meteorological minimum required for a safe (normal) takeoff and landing of an aircraft is the permissible limits for changes in a set of parameters: wind speed and direction, line of sight, state runway aerodrome and cloud base height. Bad weather, in the form of intense precipitation (rain, fog, snow and blizzard), with extensive frontal thunderstorms, can also cause cancellation of flights from the air harbor.

The values ​​of meteorological minimums - may vary for specific aircraft (by their types and models) and airports (by class and the availability of sufficient ground equipment, depending on the features of the terrain surrounding the airfield and the existing high mountains), as well as due to the qualifications and flight experience of the crew pilots , commander of the ship. The worst minimum is taken into account and for execution.

Departure ban - possible in case of bad weather at the destination airport, if there are not, nearby, two alternative air harbors with acceptable weather conditions.

In strong winds, aircraft take off and land against the air flow (by taxiing, for this, to the appropriate lane). In this case, not only safety is ensured, but also the takeoff run and landing run are significantly reduced. Limitations on the lateral and tailwind components of the wind speed, for most modern civil aircraft, are approximately: 17-18 and 5 m/s, respectively. The danger of a large roll, demolition and reversal of an airliner, during its takeoff and landing, is represented by an unexpected and strong gusty wind (squall).

https://www.meteorf.ru - Roshydromet (Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring). Hydrometeorological Research Center of the Russian Federation.

Www.meteoinfo.ru - new site of the Hydrometeorological Center of the Russian Federation.

// Classification of wind strength, sea waves, and visibility at sea

Classification of wind strength, sea waves, and visibility at sea

Beaufort scale

0 points - calm
A mirror-smooth sea, almost motionless. Waves practically do not run up to the shore. The water is more like a quiet backwater of a lake than sea ​​coast. Haze may be observed above the surface of the water. The edge of the sea merges with the sky so that the border is not visible. Wind speed 0-0.2 km/h.

1 point - quiet
Light ripples on the sea. The height of the waves reaches up to 0.1 meters. The sea can still merge with the sky. There is a light, almost imperceptible breeze.

2 points - easy
Not big waves, not more than 0.3 meters high. The wind speed is 1.6-3.3 m/s, you can feel it with your face. With such a wind, the weather vane begins to move.

3 points - weak
Wind speed 3.4-5.4 m/s. Slight roughness on the water, occasionally lambs appear. The average wave height is up to 0.6 meters. A weak surf is clearly visible. The weather vane spins without frequent stops, the leaves on the trees, flags and so on sway.

4 points - moderate
Wind - 5.5 - 7.9 m / s - raises dust and small pieces of paper. The weather vane spins continuously, the thin branches of the trees bend. The sea is restless, in many places lambs are visible. Wave height up to 1.5 meters.

5 points - fresh
Almost the entire sea is covered with white lambs. Wind speed 8 - 10.7 m/s, wave height 2 meters. Branches and thin tree trunks sway.

6 points - strong
The sea in many places is covered with white ridges. The height of the waves reaches 4 meters, the average height is 3 meters. Wind speed 10.8 - 13.8 m/s. Thin tree trunks bend, and thick branches of trees, telephone wires buzz.

7 points - strong
The sea is covered with white foamy ridges, which are blown off the surface of the water from time to time by the wind. The wave height reaches 5.5 meters, the average height is 4.7 meters. Wind speed 13.9 - 17.1 m/s. Medium tree trunks sway, branches bend.

8 points - very strong
Strong waves, foam on each crest. The height of the waves reaches 7.5 meters, the average height is 5.5 meters. Wind speed 17.2 - 20 m/s. It is difficult to go against the wind, it is almost impossible to talk. Thin branches of trees break.

9 points - storm
High waves on the sea, reaching 10 meters; average height 7 meters. Wind speed 20.8 - 24.4 m/s. Large trees bend, medium branches break. The wind rips off poorly reinforced roof coverings.

10 points - strong storm
The sea is white. Waves crash on the shore or on the rocks with a crash. Max Height waves 12 meters, average height 9 meters. The wind, at a speed of 24.5 - 28.4 m/s, rips off roofs, significant damage to buildings.

11 points - fierce storm
High waves reach 16 meters, with an average height of 11.5 meters. Wind speed 28.5 - 32.6 m/s. Accompanied by great destruction on land.

12 points - hurricane
Wind speed 32.6 m/s. Serious damage to capital buildings. The wave height is over 16 meters.

Sea wave scale

In contrast to the generally accepted twelve-point system for estimating wind, there are several estimates of sea waves. British, American and Russian grading systems are generally accepted. All scales are based on a parameter that determines average height significant waves (according to the site savelyev.info). This setting is called Significance Wave Height (SWH). In the American scale, 30% of significant waves are taken, in the British 10%, in the Russian 3%. Wave height is measured from the crest (the top of the wave) to the trough (the base of the trough).
Below is a description of the height of the waves.

0 points - calm
1 point - ripples (SWH< 0,1 м)
2 points - weak waves (SWH 0.1 - 0.5 m)
3 points - light waves (SWH 0.5 - 1.25 m)
4 points - moderate waves (SWH 1.25 - 2.5 m)
5 points - rough sea (SWH 2.5 - 4.0 m)
6 points - very rough sea (SWH 4.0 - 6.0 m)
7 points - strong sea (SWH 6.0 - 9.0 m)
8 points - very strong sea (SWH 9.0 - 14.0 m)
9 points - phenomenal sea (SWH > 14.0 m)
In this scale, the word "storm" is not applicable. Since it is not determined by the strength of the storm, but by the height of the wave. Storm is defined by Beaufort.
For the WH parameter for all scales, it is precisely a part of the waves (30%, 10%, 3%) that is taken because the magnitude of the waves is not the same. At a certain time interval there are waves, for example, 9 meters, as well as 5, 4, etc. Therefore, each scale has its own SWH value, where a certain percentage of the highest waves is taken. There are no instruments for measuring wave height. Therefore, there is no exact definition of the score. The definition is conditional.
On the seas, as a rule, the wave height reaches 5-6 meters in height, and up to 80 meters in length.

Visibility scale

Visibility is the maximum distance at which objects are detected during the day and navigation lights at night. Visibility depends on weather conditions. In metrology, the influence of weather conditions on visibility is determined by a conditional scale of points. This scale is a way of indicating the transparency of the atmosphere. Distinguish between day and night visibility. Below is a daily scale for determining the range of visibility.
Up to 1/4 cable
About 46 meters. Very poor visibility. Thick fog or blizzard.
Up to 1 cable
About 185 meters. Bad visibility. Thick fog or sleet.
2-3 cables
370 - 550 meters. Bad visibility. Fog, wet snow.
1/2 mile
About 1 km. Haze, thick haze, snow.
1/2 - 1 mile
1 - 1.85 km. Average visibility. Snow, heavy rain
1 - 2 miles
1.85 - 3.7 km. Haze, mist, rain.
2 - 5 miles
3.7 - 9.5 km. Light haze, haze, light rain.
5 - 11 miles
9.3 - 20 km. Good visibility. Visible horizon.
11 - 27 miles
20 - 50 km. Very good visibility. The horizon is clearly visible.
27 miles
Over 50 km. Exceptional visibility. The horizon is clearly visible, the air is transparent.

Wind is the movement of air in a horizontal direction along the earth's surface. In which direction it blows depends on the distribution of pressure zones in the planet's atmosphere. The article deals with issues related to the speed and direction of the wind.

Perhaps, absolutely calm weather will be a rare phenomenon in nature, since you can constantly feel that a light breeze is blowing. Since ancient times, mankind has been interested in the direction of air movement, so the so-called weather vane or anemone was invented. The device is an arrow freely rotating on a vertical axis under the influence of wind force. She points his direction. If you determine the point on the horizon from which the wind blows, then the line drawn between this point and the observer will show the direction of air movement.

In order for an observer to convey information about the wind to other people, concepts such as north, south, east, west and their various combinations are used. Since the totality of all directions forms a circle, the verbal formulation is also duplicated by the corresponding value in degrees. For example, north wind means 0 o (the blue compass needle points due north).

The concept of the wind rose

Speaking about the direction and speed of movement of air masses, a few words should be said about the wind rose. It is a circle with lines showing how air flows. The first mention of this symbol was found in the books of the Latin philosopher Pliny the Elder.

The entire circle, reflecting the possible horizontal directions of the forward movement of air, is divided into 32 parts on the wind rose. The main ones are north (0 o or 360 o), south (180 o), east (90 o) and west (270 o). The resulting four parts of the circle are divided further, forming the northwest (315 o), northeast (45 o), southwest (225 o) and southeast (135 o). The resulting 8 parts of the circle are again divided in half each, which forms additional lines on the wind rose. Since the result is 32 lines, the angular distance between them is equal to 11.25 o (360 o /32).

Note that distinctive feature The wind rose is an image of a fleur-de-lis located above the north icon (N).

Where does the wind blow from?

Horizontal movements of large air masses are always carried out from areas of high pressure to areas of lower air density. At the same time, you can answer the question of what wind speed is by studying the location on geographical map isobars, that is, broad lines within which air pressure is constant. The speed and direction of movement of air masses is determined by two main factors:

• The wind always blows from the areas where the anticyclone stands to the areas covered by the cyclone. This can be understood if we remember that in the first case we are talking about zones of high pressure, and in the second case - low pressure.
• Wind speed is in direct proportion to the distance that separates two adjacent isobars. Indeed, the greater this distance, the weaker the pressure drop will be felt (in mathematics they say a gradient), which means that the forward movement of air will be slower than in the case of small distances between isobars and large pressure gradients.

Factors affecting wind speed

One of them, and the most important one, has already been voiced above - this is the pressure gradient between neighboring air masses.

Besides average speed wind depends on the topography of the surface over which it blows. Any irregularities in this surface significantly hinder the forward movement of air masses. For example, everyone who has been in the mountains at least once should have noticed that the winds are weak at the foot. The higher you climb the mountainside, the stronger the wind is felt.

For the same reason, winds blow stronger over the sea than over land. It is often eroded by ravines, covered with forests, hills and mountain ranges. All these heterogeneities, which are not over the seas and oceans, slow down any gusts of wind.

High above the earth's surface (on the order of several kilometers) there are no obstacles to the horizontal movement of air, so the wind speed in the upper troposphere is high.

Another factor that is important to consider when talking about the speed of movement of air masses is the Coriolis force. It is generated due to the rotation of our planet, and since the atmosphere has inertial properties, any movement of air in it is deflected. Due to the fact that the Earth rotates from west to east around its own axis, the action of the Coriolis force leads to the deviation of the wind to the right in the northern hemisphere, and to the left in the southern.

Curiously, this effect of the Coriolis force, which is negligible at low latitudes (tropics), has a strong influence on the climate of these zones. The fact is that the slowdown in wind speed in the tropics and at the equator is compensated by an increase in updrafts. The latter, in turn, lead to the intense formation of cumulus clouds, which are sources of strong tropical showers.

Instrument for measuring wind speed

It is an anemometer, which consists of three cups located at an angle of 120 o relative to each other, and fixed on a vertical axis. The principle of operation of an anemometer is quite simple. When the wind blows, the cups experience its pressure and begin to rotate on the axis. The stronger the air pressure, the faster they spin. By measuring the speed of this rotation, one can accurately determine the wind speed in m/s (meters per second). Modern anemometers are equipped with special electrical systems that independently calculate the measured value.

The instrument of wind speed based on the rotation of the cups is not the only one. There is another simple tool called the pitot tube. This device measures the dynamic and static wind pressure, the difference between which can accurately calculate its speed.

Beaufort scale

Information about wind speed, expressed in meters per second or kilometers per hour, for most people - and especially for sailors - says little. Therefore, in the 19th century, the English admiral Francis Beaufort proposed to use some empirical scale for evaluation, which consists of a 12-point system.

The higher the Beaufort scale, the stronger the wind blows. For example:

• The number 0 corresponds to absolute calm. With it, the wind blows at a speed not exceeding 1 mph, that is, less than 2 km / h (less than 1 m / s).
• The middle of the scale (number 6) corresponds to a strong breeze, the speed of which reaches 40-50 km/h (11-14 m/s). Such a wind is capable of raising large waves on the sea.
• The maximum on the Beaufort scale (12) is a hurricane whose speed exceeds 120 km/h (more than 30 m/s).

Major winds on planet Earth

They are usually classified into one of four types in the atmosphere of our planet:

• Global. They are formed as a result of the different ability of continents and oceans to heat up from the sun's rays.
• Seasonal. These winds change with the season of the year, which determines how much solar energy a certain area of ​​the planet receives.
• Local. They are associated with features geographical location and topography of the area in question.
• Rotating. These are the strongest movements of air masses that lead to the formation of hurricanes.

Why is it important to study the winds?

In addition to the fact that information about wind speed is included in the weather forecast, which every inhabitant of the planet takes into account in his life, air movement plays an important role in a number of natural processes.

So, he is a carrier of plant pollen and is involved in the distribution of their seeds. In addition, wind is one of the main sources of erosion. Its destructive effect is most pronounced in deserts, when the terrain changes dramatically during the day.

It should also not be forgotten that the wind is the energy that people use in economic activity. According to general estimates, wind energy makes up about 2% of all solar energy falling on our planet.

One of the main questions small aviation- these are the necessary weather conditions for flights, this is especially true in St. Petersburg, because The weather doesn't spoil us at all. But there is no need to despair and immediately think that flying on small private jets in our region is something amazing and hardly feasible. Small aircraft are capable of flying all year round under certain conditions. And so, there are three basic conditions for a successful safe flight on an airplane:

Thus, the best weather for flying is clear skies, light or no wind. Such weather can be both in summer and winter, as well as in spring and autumn. Many people think that small aircraft do not fly in winter and sub-zero temperatures are an obstacle to flying, but this is not so. IN winter period the air has a denser atmosphere, due to which the plane flies more smoothly, and the flight is more comfortable for both the pilot and the passenger himself. In summer, clear weather without precipitation is more often issued, but due to high-temperature evaporation from the earth's surface, small air fluctuations occur, which slightly affects the flight.

The helicopter is less whimsical to weather conditions and can fly with winds of 10-15 m / s, but storm gusts and hurricane wind not safe for him either. Precipitation is not a major problem, but for a helicopter tour, precipitation is undesirable, because you will want to make beautiful pictures and fully enjoy the beauty of the city from a bird's eye view. The same applies to the presence of clouds.

The most important thing is your desire to fly, and the weather will definitely be, if you really want to - checked by the PiterPolet aviation club.

The horizontal movement of air above the Earth's surface is called wind. The wind always blows from an area of ​​high pressure to an area of ​​low pressure.

Wind characterized by speed, strength and direction.

Wind speed and strength

Wind speed measured in meters per second or points (one point is approximately equal to 2 m/s). The speed depends on the baric gradient: the greater the baric gradient, the higher the wind speed.

The force of the wind depends on the speed (Table 1). The greater the difference between adjacent areas of the earth's surface, the stronger the wind.

Beaufort scale- a conditional scale for visual assessment of the strength (speed) of the wind in points according to its effect on ground objects or on waves at sea. It was developed by the English admiral F. Beaufort in 1806 and at first was used only by him. In 1874, the Standing Committee of the First Meteorological Congress adopted the Beaufort scale for use in International synoptic practice. In subsequent years, the scale has changed and refined. The Beaufort scale is widely used in marine navigation.

Direction of the wind

Direction of the wind is determined by the side of the horizon from which it blows, for example, the wind blowing from the south is south. The direction of the wind depends on the pressure distribution and on the deflecting effect of the Earth's rotation.

On the climate map, the prevailing winds are shown by arrows (Fig. 1). The winds observed near the earth's surface are very diverse.

You already know that the surface of land and water heats up in different ways. On a summer day, the land surface heats up more. From heating, the air above the land expands and becomes lighter. Over the pond at this time the air is colder and therefore heavier. If the reservoir is relatively large, on a quiet hot summer day on the shore you can feel a light breeze blowing from the water, above which it is higher than above land. Such a light breeze is called daytime. breeze(from the French brise - light wind) (Fig. 2, a). The night breeze (Fig. 2, b), on the contrary, blows from the land, since the water cools much more slowly and the air above it is warmer. Breezes can also occur at the edge of the forest. The scheme of breezes is shown in fig. 3.

Rice. 1. Scheme of distribution of prevailing winds on the globe

Local winds can occur not only on the coast, but also in the mountains.

Föhn- a warm and dry wind blowing from the mountains to the valley.

Bora- impetuous, cold and strong wind, which appears when cold air crosses over low ridges to the warm sea.

Monsoon

If the breeze changes direction twice a day - day and night, then seasonal winds - monsoons— change their direction twice a year (Fig. 4). In summer, the land warms up quickly, and the air pressure over its surface hits. At this time, cooler air begins to move to land. In winter, the opposite is true, so the monsoon blows from land to sea. With the change of the winter monsoon to the summer monsoon, dry, slightly cloudy weather changes to rainy.

The action of monsoons is strongly manifested in the eastern parts of the continents, where they are adjacent to vast expanses of oceans, so such winds often bring heavy rainfall to the continents.

The unequal nature of the circulation of the atmosphere in different areas of the globe determines the differences in the causes and nature of the monsoons. As a result, extratropical and tropical monsoons are distinguished.

Rice. 2. Breeze: a - daytime; b - night

Rice. Fig. 3. Scheme of breezes: a - in the afternoon; b - at night

Rice. 4. Monsoons: a - in summer; b - in winter

extratropical monsoons - monsoons of temperate and polar latitudes. They are formed as a result of seasonal fluctuations in pressure over the sea and land. The most typical area of ​​their distribution is Far East, Northeast China, Korea, to a lesser extent - Japan and the northeast coast of Eurasia.

tropical monsoons - monsoons of tropical latitudes. They are due to seasonal differences in the heating and cooling of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. As a result, pressure zones shift seasonally relative to the equator to the hemisphere in which it is summer at a given time. Tropical monsoons are most typical and persistent in the northern part of the basin indian ocean. This is largely facilitated by the seasonal change in the atmospheric pressure regime over the Asian continent. The fundamental features of the climate of this region are associated with the South Asian monsoons.

The formation of tropical monsoons in other regions of the globe is less characteristic when one of them, the winter or summer monsoon, is more clearly expressed. Such monsoons are observed in Tropical Africa, in northern australia and in equatorial regions of South America.

Earth's constant winds - trade winds And westerly winds- depend on the position of atmospheric pressure belts. Since low pressure prevails in the equatorial belt, and near 30 ° N. sh. and yu. sh. - high, near the surface of the Earth throughout the year the winds blow from the thirtieth latitudes to the equator. These are trade winds. Under the influence of the rotation of the Earth around its axis, the trade winds deviate to the west in the Northern Hemisphere and blow from the northeast to the southwest, and in the Southern they are directed from the southeast to the northwest.

From the high pressure belts (25-30°N and S), the winds blow not only towards the equator, but also towards the poles, since at 65°N. sh. and yu. sh. low pressure prevails. However, due to the rotation of the Earth, they gradually deviate to the east and create air currents moving from west to east. Therefore, westerly winds prevail in temperate latitudes.