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eolian sound
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Also spelled:
Aeolian
Related Topics:
Wind
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eolian sound

wind noise
Also known as: aeolian sound
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

eolian sound, sound produced by wind when it encounters an obstacle. Fixed objects, such as buildings and wires, cause humming or other constant sounds called eolian tones; moving objects, such as twigs and leaves, cause irregular sounds. A wind that flows over a cylinder or stretched wire produces a sound the frequency (pitch) of which is a function of wind speed and the diameter of the cylinder or wire; it is independent of the tension, composition, and length of the wire.