How does the Ideal Gas Law explain why the wind blows?

Question

Using the Ideal Gas Law (PV=nRT) can someone explain to me why the wind blows?

See, I know wind has something to do with the PGF, Coriolis Force and Friction...but I'm not precisely sure how the Ideal Gas Law explains it.

Answer 1

Previous responders gave only part of the answer (though they were all correct!)
The answer is a combination of all their answers:
PV/(nRT) = P'V'/(n'RT'), where P', V', n', and T' are new changes in the variable. If any two of the factors change in nature, then you can expect the third to change accordingly. For example, lets say you moved into a cold, damp cave from a hot and expansive forest. 1) V decreases 2) T decreases. Therefore, you can expect the pressure of the wind to increase, given that n remains constant (the moles of gas, which does tend to change).

Answer 2

Look. I know sod all about PGF, Coriolis Force, and Friction, but I DO know that when a gas is heated, as in By The Sun, it rises. It then pisses off at high level towards a cooler area (like North or South from the Equator , which is Hot) where it drops down again and returns overland to complete the loop.

The Earth's rotation complicates thhis simple scenario and confuses the Wind so it's sort of pulled sideways and returns sooner than otherwise. Apparently the major deserts on earth are situated at this transition zones, which are called the Horse latitudes.

If none of this is up-to-date, or simply Wrong, my apologies. It sort of worked for me as a working model for the last 60-odd years.

Answer 3

Gravity make most of the wind. The moon is the basic driving force for our weather. Yes, temperature variations over the equator do produce variations that spark hurricanes. PV= NRT in a non turning earth with no moon gravity would yield static variations in pressure just in height variations..

Answer 4

Because when the sun shines on the atmosphere, that part of the atmosphere warms up. Since the pressure (P) tends to remain roughly the same, the gases in the atmosphere expand (i.e. V increases with T) - causing movement that we perceive as wind.

Answer 5

Wind moves from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone.

Boyle's Law: pressure and volume are inversely related.

Answer 6

Earth. using fact the appropriate gas regulation assumes habit close to time-honored temperature (20 or 25C..i do no longer remember which) and stress (one EARTH ecosystem). Earth is the only planet that has situations everywhere close to that.