Atmospheric Pressure - What Makes The Wind Blow?

Many of the forces within our atmosphere are easily recognized by us. This is due to the fact that we can use our senses to feel these forces. We can for example quickly determine the approximate temperature outside simply by stepping outside. We immediately know whether it is cold, warm, or hot. Likewise, we can feel the amount of wind, or see the level of windiness by looking at how forcefully the trees are swaying back and forth. Even humidity is easily perceived. This is not the case with pressure.

Atmospheric pressure is the amount of force or pressure exerted by the atmosphere on the objects located within it. The more pressure there is, the stronger that force will be, or the harder the atmosphere will push against animals, plants, rocks, and the surface of the Earth.

Right this minute, as you sit reading this article, the atmosphere is pressing down around you. When it pressing down with more force, we say that it is a high pressure. When the atmosphere presses in with less force we say that there is a low pressure in the area.

What type of pressure is there around you right now? Is your area surrounded by a high or low pressure? Unlike temperature, moisture, and wind, you can’t easily determine the pressure through your five senses.

Because it is difficult to perceive pressure through our senses, it is tempting to assume that pressure is not very important. This assumption would be very incorrect. Pressure is extremely important, and has a dramatic effect on our weather.