Wind can weaken because of climate change

Global warming caused the wind speed to decrease over time, US meteorological experts warned.

Photo: blog.nj.com.

So far the theory that the greenhouse effect reduces wind power is a controversial topic in the scientific world, because many people think that cannot happen. But a recent study by the University of Iowa (USA), demonstrated that the average speed and maximum speed of wind in the United States has dropped sharply since 1973, especially in the west and north.

"Within a decade, the wind speed in the western states decreased by 10%," said Professor Eugene Takle, the leader of the study. Sara Pryor, an atmospheric researcher at Indinana University (USA) and Takle's research, said that the number of weak and windless days in the western states has increased over the years. The US wind map shows a decrease in wind speed along the Mississippi River, especially in the east.

According to Takle, we can explain the phenomenon of wind depletion based on the climate mechanism. When the earth warms up, the temperature rise of the two poles takes place faster than the rest of the earth. Scientific studies of Arctic temperatures have demonstrated this trend. That means the temperature difference between the two poles and the equator decreases. When the temperature difference between the polar and the equator is narrowed, the pressure difference between them also decreases. We all know that the greater the pressure difference, the stronger the wind, so the wind weakens as the pressure difference drops.

Many scientists not involved in Takle's research agree that there is much evidence that wind speed is declining and climate change may be the culprit.

However, Jeff Freedman, an atmospheric expert from energy consulting firm AWS Truewind (USA), thinks Takle's data is not clear evidence of a link between climate change and speed. wind. According to him, in the field of climate research, people need to consider all causes and put them into the simulation model to verify their impact. Freedman thinks that wind speed may decrease because of some other factors. Gavin Schmidt, a scientist from the US Aerospace Agency (NASA), also said that Takle's research results are in conflict with climate models (whereby global warming does not have any effects. Any movement to the wind speed).