THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REDUCTION IN THE KINETIC ENERGY OF THE WINDS AND THE WARMING OF THE EARTH

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.317452429019

• Palavras-chave: Atmospheric circulation; cooling of the planet; vertical expansion of cities; roughness of the earth's surface; urban Development

• Keywords: Atmospheric circulation; cooling of the planet; vertical expansion of cities; roughness of the earth's surface; urban Development

• Abstract:

  This work explores pivotal events since the Industrial Revolution that played a key role in reducing the kinetic energy of winds and its correlation with global warming. While the factors that contribute to rising temperatures are widely discussed, attention to the elements that directly contribute to the planet's cooling is remarkably scarce. Atmospheric circulation, essential in this context, is being increasingly impacted. In the atmosphere, the cohesion of air, acting as a unified body due to the absence of vacuum, highlights the importance of obstacles in the free circulation of air, significantly influencing the movement of air masses. The transport of heat from the surface to the upper layers of the troposphere by moist air is crucial for reducing Earth's temperature. Primary cooling occurs in trade winds, where rising moist air, upon reaching high altitudes, radiates heat into space, contributing to a reduction in temperature in tropical areas. The vital presence of winds in atmospheric circulation is compromised by the increase in the Earth's roughness due to urbanization, resulting in turbulence that reduces the kinetic energy of the winds. The Industrial Revolution and accelerated population growth since 1800 drove urban concentration, resulting in a vertical expansion of cities. Currently, 5% of the planet's surface is occupied by urban centers, and it is predicted that 61% of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2025, contributing to the increase in this statistic. The scarcity of measures that contribute to reducing the interference of buildings in wind circulation patterns in large cities is alarming, making it necessary to conduct studies and define guidelines to guide constructions in a sustainable manner, promoting more balanced approaches to urban Development. Urban expansion can be positively explored with efficient planning in the construction of new buildings, helping to mitigate wind turbulence caused by surface roughness, resulting in greater heat transfer from the earth's surface to space.