In meteorology, wind (Latin ventus for blowing) is a directional, stronger movement of air in the earth's atmosphere as one of the many factors in the weather or in the long-term weather patterns of the climate. The main cause of wind is spatial differences in air pressure distribution. Air particles move from the area with the higher air pressure (the high pressure area) to the area with the lower air pressure (the low pressure area) until the air pressure is equalised.

The greater the difference between the air pressure values, the more violently the air masses flow into the area with the lower air pressure and the stronger the wind resulting from the air movement. A wind speed of 62 km/h or more is considered a storm (wind force 8) and a wind speed of 118 km/h or more is considered a hurricane (wind force 12). The wind direction is usually given in the form of a compass direction from which the wind is coming.

Types of wind

There are different types of wind, including localised winds such as sea and land breezes, downslope winds, mountain and valley winds, as well as large-scale winds such as trade winds, polar and westerly winds. In addition, winds are categorised according to the height of the contraction into surface winds, high-altitude winds and tubular jet streams. Whirlwinds are winds that blow in vortices or rotate. Strong air movements can have both positive and negative effects in viticulture. Lower wind strength helps to maintain the important humidity in the rows of vines, which is particularly important in dry areas. Moist sea winds can have a positive moderating influence in dry or low-precipitation areas such as Portugal, California and South Australia.

Autan

Autan (lat. Altanus = "the one blowing from the high sea") is a south-easterly wind in south-west France around Toulouse and in the department of Tarn (e.g. in Gaillac and Pays d'Oc). It is a continuation of the Marin, which blows along the Mediterranean coast. Its gusts can reach over 100 km/h. It is divided into the "Autan blanc" (cold, dry fair-weather wind) and "Autan noir" (warm, humid wind that can bring rain and thunderstorms).

Bise

Bise (from the Germanic word Bĭsōn = to storm around) is a cold, dry wind. Cool air usually flows southwards from a strong area of high pressure in the north or north-east of Europe. The wind occurs in southern France (in the Rhône valley, for example, in the Côte Rôtie area), Switzerland and Italy. It is usually associated with clear weather. However, it can also bring overcast weather as "bise noire", possibly combined with clouds and rain.

Bora

The gusty downslope wind bora (derived from Boreas, the god of the north winds in Greek mythology; Croatian Bura, Slovenian Burja, Italian Bora scura = cold gust of wind, cold downpour) is particularly dangerous and occurs on various coasts of the Adriatic Sea, mainly in winter. It affects Italy (see Carso), Slovenia (see Primorska), Montenegro and Croatia. With wind speeds of up to 250 km/h, it is...