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Wind patterns are influenced by a wide range of factors, from large-scale pressure patterns to the time of day and the nature of the surrounding terrain. Wind speed and direction are highly variable but there are sources available to predict wind:

• The Earth Wind Map shows, in real time, wind speed and direction across the earth using a 3D map.
• Windy.Com shows information on wind speed, gusts and direction across the world every six hours. It also collects temperature and rain information.
• WillyWeather uses information from the Bureau of Meteorology to show real-time wind speed and gusts. It also has historical information on speed and direction averages.
• The Bureau of Meteorology provides a static map of wind direction and speed. It also provides information on pressure, climate influences, humidity, sunlight and water
• Learn more about the Indigenous Weather Knowledge (IWK) website and the Bureau of Meteorology's commitment to strengthening respectful and collaborative relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The smaller and lighter the waste, the more chance it will be transported by wind. Microplastics are easily transportable between air, soil, waterways and oceans[2]. For example, wind has been shown to transport significant amounts of microplastic from cities such as Barcelona to the remote Pyrenees mountains (an average of 365 particles landing per square metre).

Onshore winds and water levels can significantly affect the amount of debris on shorelines[1]. Once debris is washed ashore, wind moves waste pollution to the backshore where it gets caught on vegetation[1]. Population density also has an impact on the amount of waste pollution, particularly in communities close to the waterline[1].

Additional information

• The Wind Across Australia
• Meteorological factors
• Climate Driver Update

References

1. ^ a b c Olivelli, A, Hardesty, D & Wilcox, C (2020), 'Coastal margins and backshores represent a major sink for marine debris: insights from a continental-scale analysis.', Environmental Research Letters. [online] Available at: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7836/pdf.
2. ^ Rillig, MC, de Souza Machado, AA, Lehmann, A & Klümper, U (2019), 'Evolutionary implications of microplastics for soil biota', Environmental Chemistry. [online], vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 3-7. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1071/EN18118.
3. ^ University Corporation for Atmospheric Researc (n.d.), 'Weather and climate basics - What is wind?', The National Centre for Atmospheric Research and the UCAR Office of Programs. [online] Available at: https://eo.ucar.edu/basics/wx_2_c.html [Accessed 25 September 2020].

Last updated: 10 May 2021