LYRICS
Pressure gradient force
Of course
The initial driving force for wind
The calm chagrined
Under pressure
I’ve got to go
Under pressure
Enhance the flow
Centrifugal force
Of course
Given birth
By the curvature of the Earth
(For what it’s worth)
Coriolis force
Of course
The varying rotational velocities
Fueled by Man’s atrocities
(Modern cities)
Turbulent drag
A snag
Make it tough
Make it rough
Make the wind rescind
- Force-of-Nature-Part-I.mp3 (unplugged to conserve energy)
- Force-of-Nature-Part-II.mp3
- Force-of-Nature-Part-II-Instrumental.mp3
- Force-of-Nature-LH-Casio-WK-3500.MID (Left Hand / also controlled Korg PS60)
- Force-of-Nature-RH-Yamaha-PSR-740.MID (Right Hand / also controlled microKorg and miniNOVA vocorder)
- Force-of-Nature-piano.MID
Chords: F#m Fm E D# D C# C / C B C; Part II @ 152 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)
ABOUT THE SONG
These lyrics describe the various forces that influence wind patterns, particularly in the context of atmospheric physics. Let’s break down the interpretation:
- Pressure Gradient Force:
- Describes the force responsible for initiating wind, moving air from high to low-pressure areas.
- The mention of “calm chagrined” could imply that the absence of this force results in calm conditions, perhaps expressing concern about disruptions in this force.
- Centrifugal Force:
- Refers to the force generated by the Earth’s curvature, which influences wind patterns.
- The line “Given birth by the curvature of the Earth” suggests a natural and fundamental aspect of atmospheric dynamics.
- Coriolis Force:
- Describes the force arising from the Earth’s rotation, influencing the direction of winds.
- The line “Fueled by Man’s atrocities” may metaphorically indicate that human actions, possibly detrimental to the environment, impact the Coriolis force and, by extension, wind patterns.
- Turbulent Drag:
- Reflects on the resistance and disruptions caused by turbulent conditions in the atmosphere.
- “Make it tough, Make it rough, Make the wind rescind” suggests a concern about adverse impacts on wind patterns, possibly alluding to the consequences of human activities on atmospheric stability.
The lyrics convey an understanding of the scientific forces governing wind, with subtle hints at the potential consequences of human actions on these natural processes, especially in the context of climate change.
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
Wind and water flow forces scale as the square of velocity, so as flow speeds increase (say due to more intense heating or heavier rain) the damage scales as the square of the velocity. Look at drag physics and you will see that force is proportional to density times square of velocity (v^2). So a twenty mile an hour wind exerts four times as much force as a ten mile an hour wind. And a forty mile an hour wind exerts sixteen times as much force as a ten mile an hour wind. A wind of fifty miles an hour exerts twenty five times and a wind of sixty miles an hour exerts thirty six times as much force as one of ten miles an hour. Then you have the density term. Water is about eight hundred times denser than air, So the force exerted by a ten mile an hour flow of water is eight hundred times that of a ten mile an hour wind. So as flow velocities go up due to climate change, force and damage scale as square of the velocities. What is not clear is how much these velocities increase with climate change. But in a sense we are seeing this already as, for example, flood and sewage systems succumb and hillsides fall down, and so on.
— from The Reign of Violent Rain / Brouse and Mukherjee (2023)
The speed and direction of horizontal winds are influenced by several forces, each playing a crucial role in shaping atmospheric circulation patterns. Here’s an expanded overview of the five forces that impact horizontal winds:
- Pressure Gradient Force:
- Explanation: The pressure gradient force is the initial driving force for wind. It arises due to differences in air pressure over a given distance. Air naturally moves from areas of higher pressure to lower pressure, creating a force that influences the wind’s speed and direction.
- Effect on Winds: The steeper the pressure gradient (greater pressure difference over a short distance), the stronger the force and, consequently, the higher the wind speed. Wind flows perpendicular to the isobars, which are lines connecting points of equal pressure.
- Advection:
- Explanation: Advection refers to the horizontal movement of air masses. When air is transported from one region to another, it carries its properties, including temperature and moisture, affecting the atmospheric conditions in the destination area.
- Effect on Winds: Advection influences wind patterns by introducing air with different characteristics. For example, the movement of a warm air mass into a colder region can result in a change in wind direction and speed.
- Centrifugal Force:
- Explanation: Centrifugal force is an apparent force that appears when an object is moving in a curved path. In the context of wind, it arises as air follows the curvature of the Earth.
- Effect on Winds: In curved trajectories, such as around high or low-pressure systems, the centrifugal force acts outward. It opposes the pressure gradient force, influencing wind direction. It is particularly important in the circulation around low-pressure centers.
- Coriolis Force:
- Explanation: The Coriolis force results from the Earth’s rotation. As air moves across latitudes, its speed is affected by the varying rotational velocities of different latitudinal circles.
- Effect on Winds: The Coriolis force deflects moving air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. It influences the development of large-scale wind patterns such as trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies.
- Turbulent Drag:
- Explanation: Turbulent drag occurs due to the friction between the moving air and the Earth’s surface. Surface roughness, including features like mountains, forests, or bodies of water, affects the degree of turbulent drag.
- Effect on Winds: Turbulent drag slows down the wind near the Earth’s surface. The rougher the surface, the more drag is exerted, causing a decrease in wind speed and altering its direction.
Understanding the interplay of these forces is essential for meteorologists and climatologists to predict and explain atmospheric circulation, weather patterns, and long-term climate trends. Each force contributes to the intricate dance of winds across the globe, shaping the Earth’s dynamic atmospheric system.
Human-induced climate change is a dynamic component of an intricate and unordered system, as per chaos theory. This implies that global warming is accelerating exponentially in a complex manner. Over the period from 1992 to 2023, we have presented compelling evidence, proposed remedies to mitigate climate change, and amassed valuable information through the engagement of millions with this climate model. Your participation has been invaluable. The incontrovertible data underscores that human-induced climate change is rapidly deteriorating our habitat.
Our climate model / experiment employs chaos theory to comprehensively consider human impacts and projects a potential global average temperature increase of 9℃ above pre-industrial levels. Global warming is a consequence of elevated thermal energy in the climate system, which comprises various subsystems. Chaos theory underscores the intricate and nonlinear nature of dynamic systems. Human well-being is compromised above a 1.5-degree temperature rise, rendering much of the Earth uninhabitable. A 9-degree Celsius increase would bring the Earth close to a wet-bulb temperature incapable of sustaining human life.
What Can I Do? There are numerous actions you can take to contribute to saving the planet. Each person bears the responsibility to minimize pollution, discontinue the use of fossil fuels, reduce consumption, and foster a culture of love and care. The Butterfly Effect illustrates that a small change in one area can lead to significant alterations in conditions anywhere on the globe. Hence, the frequently heard statement that a fluttering butterfly in China can cause a hurricane in the Atlantic. Be a butterfly and affect the world.
Here is a list of additional actions you can take.