As you climb in altitude, what happens to the winds?

As altitude increases, wind generally tends to veer, meaning it shifts direction into the right relative to the surface wind, and also tends to increase in speed. This phenomenon occurs because the influence of surface friction decreases with height, allowing stronger winds aloft to become more prominent as you ascend.

In the lower atmosphere, surface features such as terrain and buildings can disrupt wind flow, causing variations like turbulence near the ground. However, as you climb higher, the effects of these surface features are diminished, and the winds flow more freely and swiftly, guided primarily by the broader pressure systems and the Coriolis effect.

Additionally, the concept of the "jet stream," which represents fast-moving air currents found at higher altitudes, reinforces the understanding that winds will typically increase in intensity with altitude. This jet stream is influenced by temperature gradients and can lead to significant variations in wind speed and direction as an aircraft climbs or descends through different levels of the atmosphere.