Wild, Wonderful, Winds at the Chattahoochee Nature Center

What can be felt, but can never be seen? Wind! Wind is the word we use to describe the movement of air. Wind could be light, gentle, and refreshing, or it could be highly dangerous and destructive. Wind is created due to convection caused by the uneven heating and cooling of the Earth. As Earth rotates on its axis, wind systems in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counter-clockwise, while the winds rotate clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. This is known as the Coriolis Effect.

Many forms of life have found ways to utilize wind. Bats and many types of insects and birds use the winds to gain lift and help make flight more efficient. Some baby spiders will spin a parachute-like web to catch winds to disperse. Plants, like dandelions and pine trees, also utilize winds for seed and pollen dispersal.

Humans have discovered a variety of uses for wind. Kite-flying and sailing are some recreational uses for wind. Wind farms using huge propeller-driven turbines provide power to millions of people and windmills have historically been used to help grind grains. Humans use wind in both powered and un-powered flight.

Winds can be very devastating, as well. Tornadoes, which are violently rotating columns of air associated with thunderstorms, can reach internal speeds of over 300 mph! This is strong enough to scour the very grass off of the earth! Hurricanes, dust devils, microbursts, and dust storms are also more destructive forms of wind. Good or bad, wind is wild and wonderful!

By Kim Davenport – Chattahoochee Nature Center Visitor Services Associate and Nature Exchange Naturalist

Come and visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center in July and learn more about wind! Let the wind wisp you away as you learn about how wind affects plants and animals. Make your own wind-powered craft as well. Enjoy walking our trails and visiting with native, non-releasable wildlife. Visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center website for more information on daily activities.

(Included with General Admission and Free to CNC Members)