Can anyone explain (or tell a link) why the wind is faster in open areas than in large cities.?

Answer 1

A good question; friction with the ground is the answer. Roughly, the bottom 3000 feet of the atmosphere is slowed down by friction with the ground. Above this, the wind speed is the "geostrophic speed"; that is, it's determined by the spacing of the isobars and nothing else. Below this altitude, different types of surface slow it down by different amounts. High-rise buildings and forests slow it down most, flat plains and water surfaces the least. So when the wind blows from the sea onto the land, it slows down, air is pushed upwards and you get coastal showers. This is called coastal convergence. For the same reason, coastal areas usually but not always get stronger winds than inland places. The southern hemisphere has much more ocean than the north, so down here in NZ we get stronger winds than at the corresponding latitude in the northern hemisphere.

Answer 2

Hold on here-!! I live in Providence, Rhode Island. I go to Boston quite frequently. The wind CAN and IS sometimes MUCH STRONGER in cities!!! The buildings which your other answerers tell you about do NOT block the wind, but they can and they DO act as "wind tunnels" for the wind to blow even much faster and much harder than in open areas-!! It is called the 'Venturi effect' since we want to get technical here. I was almost hit, and a woman friend of mine was hit - by a sign which was blown down by the Providence wind in downtown Providence a couple of years ago-!! Depending upon which city you visit - you may well experience stronger winds than if you had stayed home!!! I do know from Providence and Boston experience!!!

Answer 3

no natural or man made surface features from woods to buildings to block the wind.

On the other hand, a large city like NYC can get very windy within the city blocks. A phenomenon called "urbran wind effect" describes how winds will blow into a city but actually increase in speed because it is "squeezed" thru the large buildings.

Answer 4

Large cities have many buildings and tall sky scrapers that block the wind and slow it down. There is nothing to stop it in the open areas.

Answer 5

In larger cities, the buildings slow the wind down. Just think, you would run faster through a football field, than through a theme park the same size.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Well the answer is quite simple... There are not buildings to block the wind.

the wind slows down becuase it has to pass around all the buildings, cars, trees and anything else you would find around a city.

Answer 7

in the country there is less to impede the winds momentum, in a city there are many structures to block teh wind

Answer 8

Possibly because it doesn't have any obstacles that will stop it (eg: buildings, cars) so it can move more freely and therefore speed up. Hope that helps =)

xx