Why is it always windy when you walk under Spaceship Earth?

[MommyPoppins]

We noticed that everytime we are at Epcot it is always really windy when you walk under Spaceship Earth, but it isn't windy when you are past it...what is the deal? We looked and looked but couldn't find fans or anything?

 

[JRawkSteady]

ghosts! (j/k) I'm not sure. I remember feeling this as well.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

i think its the "tunnel effect" like you get when walking down the streets in New York City, I'm sure someone who understands physics could explain it better than me!!

 

[kmebee]

I just read about this in someone's trip report I believe. It has something to do with the air being able to (or needing to) circulate under the "ball" and the way it is set up on the bases not flat on the ground or close to the ground. I wish I could remember whose report that was in now...

 

[CDizney]

This is such a funny question because I've always wondered the same thing! I think it is probably the "tunnell effect" through that area.

 

[blueangel]

It is the tunnel effect. The ball's shape pushes wind down around it and funnels it over the sidewalks - which are also bound by buildings on both sides. So the wind just has nowhere else to go.

 

[drdelsol]

I think technically its called a venturi effect. Large amount of air being forced through a smaller area. Works well for carbs and if I remember was used for air circulation at Argosante sp?, a complex in the southwest. Sorry about mistakes, but the studying of that place was a good 25 years ago for me.

 

[fwm]

"The Venturi effect is the speeding up of air, or another fluid, as it passes through a constriction. The effect is visible in the capillaries of the human circulatory system or in large cities where wind is forced between buildings. Currently some sports cars use rear diffusers at the bottom of the car as a way to exploit the advantages of the Venturi effect."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venturi_effect

 

[CVW]

The Venturi Effect is also what caused increased damage in downtown New Orleans. Hurricane wind speeds of 140-160 can increase to 180-190 mph when being forced between two buildings.