Does an intense wind or a lack of wind causes erratic behavior in people or animals? The answer is that it depends – mainly on whether the wind contributes to comfort or detracts from it. For example, a 15-mile-an- hour wind on a humid summer day will provide a nice cooling effect. A similar wind on a raw February morning will produce thoughts of uncomfortable wind chills and a desire for an early summer. Similarly, persistent strong winds might bring unwelcome dust and pollen that aggravate allergies. On the other hand, it might clear a stagnant air mass and thus reduce pollution levels in the area. As with any irritant the longer it persists, the more likely it is to provoke irritability, whether in animals or humans. In fact, there are diary accounts of settlers unaccustomed to the prevalent wind being driven crazy by the persistent Plains winds.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu