Wind, environment and territory

Abstract

This chapter provides a fairly consistent picture of the unlimited range of actions and effects induced by the wind on the environment and territory. Accordingly, it describes the transition from ancient windmills to modern wind turbines. It deals with the role of the wind in the transport and diffusion of minute materials, highlighting three issues: the diffusion of pollutants introduced in the air during combustion processes, soil erosion, a phenomenon able of changing the geomorphological features of nature and of making soil dry up with devastating consequences, and the snow drift that causes severe problems for road and rail traffic as well as for built areas. The chapter also deals with natural and artificial barriers and their manifold uses, first of all, the protection of crops. Finally, it continues the description of the efforts mankind carried out since ancient times to build settlements and dwellings taking inspiration from bioclimatic principles; in this framework, city planning and architecture came into contact with environmental and climatic issues reassessed on scientific grounds.