Understanding the wind

The natural wind element, essential to flying the kite, can be dangerous if the flyer does not understand it properly.

What is the wind?

The wind is the movement of a gaseous mass on the surface of the earth.

Differences in atmospheric pressure emerge which are primarily attributable to differences in temperature.

When a difference in air pressure occurs between two points, the air flows from the place where the pressure is highest towards the place where it is lowest. Warm air tends to move above cold air.

Wind speed

Force	Description	Wind speed		Sea conditions	Effect on the ground
Force	Description	in kmph	in knots	Sea conditions	Effect on the ground
0	Calm	less than 1	less than 1	The sea is like a mirror.	Smoke rises vertically.
1	Very light breeze	1 to 5	1 to 3	Ripples without crests.	Smoke indicates the wind direction, telltales do not give a direction.
2	Light breeze	6 to 11	4 to 6	Ripples without crests.	Wind felt on the face, leaves move.
3	Gentle breeze	12 to 19	7 to 10	Very small waves; glassy foam, scattered whitecaps.	Flags flutter, leaves move constantly.
4	Moderate breeze	20 to 28	11 to 15	Small waves becoming longer; many whitecaps.	Some spray, small branches move.
5	Fresh breeze	29 to 38	16 to 21	Moderate waves of some length ; many whitecaps.	Small branches move, treetops of all trees sway.
6	Strong breeze	39 to 49	22 to 26	Breakers form ; more frequent white foam crests, spray.	Wind can be heard whistling.
7	High wind	50 to 61	27 to 33	Sea swells ; the foam is blown into streaks; breakers.	All trees move.
8	Gale	62 to 74	34 to 40	Medium sized waves ; their crests are blown into airborne sprays.	Some branches break.
9	Strong gale	75 to 87	41 to 47	Large waves; their crests sometimes roll over and break, visibility reduced by spray.	Wind can cause damage to buildings.
10	Storm	88 to 102	48 to 55	Very high waves with overhanging crests; tumbling and breaking with a heavy impact.	widespread damage
11	Violent storm	103 to 117	56 to 63	exceptionally high waves; sea covered by large amounts of white foam.	widespread damage
12	Hurricane	over than 118	over than 64	Air full of foam and spray; sea is completely white; very reduced visibility.	widespread damage