Slowing winds maybe caused by global warming

      Rising temperatures

A new study shows that winds in the United States have slowed down from 15 to 30 percent over the past 30 years. Scientists are saying that global warming, something that wind power is supposed to be helping, maybe the cause. The report might not be as big a shock to wind farming, because the study also shows that wind speeds in certain parts of the country are actually speeding up.

The wind reduction seems to be taking place more in the eastern part of the country and predominantly in the great lakes. Scientists note that wind moves faster over ice than it does over water, because of the friction. This would confirm climate change as a possible candidate for the slowing winds. As the ice caps continue to melt, the increased friction of water will slow down the air flow. Eugene Takle, one of the leaders of the study and professor of atmosphere at Iowa State University, said that a drop in temperatures at the poles will lower the differential pressure over the earth’s surface. Takle said that this could be a cause of the slowing wind speeds.

Some scientists are skeptical about the results of the study, saying that the instruments used to measure the wind speeds have changed over the years. Similar results have been found however in Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

The current data is actually helpful to the wind energy industry, because it helps to educate us on where is the best place to put our generators. Global warming is not necessarily the cause of the slowing wind, but scientists have something else to think about as more information comes out.