How do human structures like walls and buildings affect wind speed?

How do human structures like walls and buildings affect wind speed?

• A. They provide shelter, which can decrease wind speed or change its direction.
• B. They have no effect on wind.
• C. They always increase wind speed.
• D. They create tornado-like gusts.

Answer: (A)

Obstacles that air moves around disrupt the flow, so wind doesn’t hit everything evenly. Walls and buildings block the direct path, creating sheltered areas where wind slows down behind them and forcing air to bend around or over the obstacle. This can also set up gusts and changes in direction near edges, but the general effect is protection and redirection rather than universal speeding up of the wind. So walls and buildings provide shelter, which can decrease wind speed or change its direction.

Obstacles that air moves around disrupt the flow, so wind doesn’t hit everything evenly. Walls and buildings block the direct path, creating sheltered areas where wind slows down behind them and forcing air to bend around or over the obstacle. This can also set up gusts and changes in direction near edges, but the general effect is protection and redirection rather than universal speeding up of the wind. So walls and buildings provide shelter, which can decrease wind speed or change its direction.