Warm air rises, creating a low pressure zone; cool air sinks, creating a high pressure zone. Air that moves horizontally between high and low pressure zones makes wind. The greater the pressure difference between the pressure zones the faster the wind moves. Convection in the atmosphere creates the planet's weather.

What is it called when air moves?

Air is constantly moving around the earth. This moving air is called wind. Winds are created when there are differences in air pressure from one area to another. ... This is what makes air move, creating the wind.

What causes air to move up or down?

The movement of air through Earth's -- or any planet's -- atmosphere is called wind, and the main cause of Earth's winds is uneven heating by the sun. This uneven heating causes changes of atmospheric pressure, and winds blow from regions with high pressure to those with low pressure.