HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Wind is an ever-present part of life. Air is constantly moving around us, leading to a gentle breeze or potentially even a devastating and life-changing cyclone.

It is also an essential part of life and a major element of our weather conditions here in Hawaii.

Wind is the movement of air from high pressure to low pressure. This pressure difference drives the movement of air molecules.

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• High pressure is a big pile of air that is always ready to get rid of extra air particles.
• Low pressure, on the other hand, is a void of air, ready to be filled with more air particles.

Air always wants to move from the large high pressure pile to the lower pressure void. This motion is what we experience as wind.

This happens on a large scale, spanning thousands of miles. For example, high pressure is usually north of our islands, while low pressure is located to the south.

This pressure pattern is reversed over the continent. Higher pressure is located in the south and lower pressure is in the north.

This pressure difference also happens on a smaller scale, even in your own home. If there is a pressure difference between the chambers, air will rush to equalize the space. Sometimes you can feel this when you open doors between rooms that have different temperatures.

Temperature also plays a role in creating these pressure differences. The sun heats an area and causes warm air to rise higher in the atmosphere.

The lower pressure is then left behind by the rising air.

Instead, cold air sinks. It forms at the surface and creates an area of ​​high pressure that rushes in to fill the gap left by the rising warm air.

This movement is also the phenomenon we know as wind.

In reality, there is more to wind than just the difference between high and low pressure. Other forces affect the air molecules that move around us daily.

However, this basic meteorological concept is a good start to understanding why the atmosphere around us is constantly moving and changing.

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