Since swept area is, where r = radius of the rotor, a small increase in blade length results in a larger increase in the power available to the turbine. The larger the swept area (the size of the area through which the rotor spins), the more power the turbine can capture from the wind. All else being equal, turbines will produce more power at lower elevations and in locations with cooler average temperatures. Air is less dense at higher elevations than at sea level, and warm air is less dense than cold air. Air density varies with elevation and temperature. The more dense the air, the more energy received by the turbine. Small changes in wind speed have a large impact on the amount of power available in the wind. The amount of energy in the wind varies with the cube of the wind speed, in other words, if the wind speed doubles, there is eight times more energy in the wind ( ). Three key factors affect the amount of energy a turbine can harness from the wind: wind speed, air density, and swept area. The rotor turns the drive shaft, which turns an electric generator. Wind turbines convert the energy in wind to electricity by rotating propeller-like blades around a rotor. Mountains, bodies of water, and vegetation all influence wind flow patterns. Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, variations in the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth.
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