The Michael Shermer Show Why Eastbound Flights Are Faster, and Other Strange Things About Wind (Simon Winchester)
Simon Winchester, an acclaimed author and historian, delves into the intriguing world of wind. He explains why eastbound flights are often faster due to jet streams, which were almost overlooked due to language barriers in research. Discover the fascinating history of extreme winds at Mount Washington and the consequences of wartime navigation through the jet stream. Winchester also shares Polynesian navigation techniques and explores the cultural significance of wind in language, showcasing how overlooked elements of nature tie into our history and daily lives.
01:20:41
Winds May Be Reaccelerating
- The "Great Terrestrial Stilling" claims global surface winds decreased due to reduced equator-to-pole temperature gradients.
- Newer data suggest a reversal called the "Great Terrestrial Reacceleration."
Mount Washington's Brutal Winds
- Mount Washington recorded a peak gust of 231 mph and provides hourly extreme-wind data.
- Its geography funnels storms via a Venturi effect, producing ferocious, cold winds.
Jet Stream Was Lost In Translation
- The jet stream was first discovered by Japanese radiosonde work in the 1930s but ignored.
- Oishi published many papers in Esperanto, so the discovery went largely unnoticed until translated into English.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Why Write a Book About Wind
01:42 • 3min
The Great Terrestrial Stilling Explained
04:49 • 4min
Mount Washington and Extreme Winds
08:39 • 3min
Jet Stream Discovery and Oishi's Esperanto Papers
11:50 • 5min
B-29s, Bombing Errors, and the Jet Stream
16:24 • 10sec
Ad break
16:35 • 1min
Flight Times and Jet Stream Effects
17:35 • 2min
Firebombing, Napalm and WWII Strategy
19:25 • 5min
Linguistics of Wind and Kamikaze
24:53 • 2min
Downwinders and Castle Bravo Fallout
27:10 • 5min
Francis Galton and Early Meteorology
32:02 • 7min
Dust Bowl, Shelterbelts, and Roosevelt's Response
38:53 • 6min
Mountains, Jet Streams, and Everest's Summit
45:19 • 5min
Ad break
50:15 • 1min
History of Sailing and Polynesian Navigation
51:16 • 5min
Hokulea Voyage and Mau Piailug's Skills
56:26 • 4min
Mutiny, Pitcairn, and Island Histories
01:00:08 • 10min
Ad break
01:10:01 • 1min
Tristan da Cunha and Remote Island Anecdotes
01:11:01 • 6min
Shipwreck Societies and Lessons for Mars
01:16:53 • 6min
Simon’s Falklands Arrest and Reporting
01:22:31 • 3min
Outro
01:25:32 • 9sec
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Have you ever thought about the science and history of … wind?
In this episode, Simon Winchester explains why eastbound flights are usually faster than flying west, and how the discovery of the jet stream was almost missed because the original research was published in Esperanto. He also talks about the debate over the Great Terrestrial Stilling—the idea that global wind speeds may be decreasing—and why newer measurements suggest the trend may be reversing.
Winchester describes how and where the highest wind speed ever recorded was measured, the increasing frequency of clear-air turbulence (the kind that causes sudden drops during flights), why only one flag placed on the Moon fell, the techniques used by Polynesian navigators to cross vast stretches of ocean without instruments, and the challenges faced by early wartime pilots who unintentionally flew into the jet stream.
Simon Winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including The Professor and the Madman, which was adapted into a film starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, as well as The Men Who United the United States, The Map That Changed the World, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, and Krakatoa. His books have been New York Times bestsellers and have appeared on numerous best-of-the-year lists. In 2006 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen.