Would there be winds if the Earth's surface were the same temperature everywhere?

1 Answer
May 18, 2016

It would depend on what the mechanism was that made the temperature equal.

Explanation:

This is a very interesting question and the answer depends on how exact the temperature was equal. If it was somehow possible that the Earth was evenly heated from all sides then the answer would be yes. If it was that the atmosphere was mixed 100% homogeneous then there would be no wind.

Wind is caused by a pressure gradient (two different surface air pressures). There are 2 ways to change the atmospheric pressure. We can heat or cool it or we can add water to it or take water away. Adding water will decrease the pressure.

If the Earth was heated uniformly from all directions, but the surface was still as it is now, the moisture content of the air would vary depending on the nearness to a water source. This would result in winds.

If the atmosphere suddenly became mixed 100% so that humidity was equal all around the Earth, with equal temperature then there would be no change in pressure and no wind.