Wind is the large-scale movement of air across the Earth’s surface, fundamentally driven by pressure differences in the atmosphere. Air flows from high pressure to low pressure, with speed determined by the pressure gradient force and modified by the planet’s rotation and surface friction. While the planet features many famously windy locations, the search for the least windy place focuses on meteorological extremes where the forces that create motion are essentially neutralized. These spots represent sanctuaries where air movement slows to a near-stagnant state, often occurring in remote and climatically severe regions. Determining the calmest location requires specific, long-term scientific data.
Identifying the World’s Calmest Spots
The scientifically recognized location with the lowest recorded sustained wind speeds is Dome Argus, often referred to as Dome A, situated on the highest part of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. This summit reaches an elevation of 4,093 meters above sea level deep within the continental interior. The remoteness and extreme cold make direct, continuous measurement challenging, yet the data reveals remarkable atmospheric stillness.
Automatic weather stations deployed at Dome A have recorded an extremely low average annual wind speed of approximately 2.4 meters per second (8.6 kilometers per hour). This figure represents the sustained surface wind speed across a large, high-elevation area. For comparison, a gentle breeze is considered to begin around 3.4 meters per second. The low wind regime at Dome A is a persistent feature, marking a unique point of near-stagnation.
The difficulty of accessing and maintaining equipment means that data collection has been intermittent. Anemometers, the instruments used to measure wind speed, are susceptible to failure in the brutal cold and heavy icing conditions. Despite these logistical hurdles, the data confirms that the immense, flat expanse of the highest Antarctic plateau experiences an extraordinary level of calm.
The Science of Calm: Factors Reducing Wind Speed
The profound atmospheric stillness at Dome A is a consequence of a combination of geographical and meteorological factors that suppress air movement.
Mitigation of Katabatic Winds
The first major mechanism is the mitigation of the katabatic wind system that dominates most of the Antarctic continent. Katabatic winds are gravity-driven flows of cold, dense air that drain down the sloping ice sheet toward the coast. Since Dome A is the highest point of the ice sheet, it sits where the continental slope gradient is minimal. This flat topography prevents the initiation of the downslope flow, ensuring the region remains outside the primary katabatic wind regime.
Stable High-Pressure System
The second factor is the presence of a persistent, stable high-pressure system centered over the East Antarctic Plateau. The air over the plateau is intensely cold, causing it to become dense and sink toward the surface. This sinking motion creates a stable atmospheric high-pressure zone that suppresses the horizontal movement of air masses. This high-pressure stability acts as a meteorological lid, discouraging the weather systems and pressure changes that generate wind.
Surface Temperature Inversions
A third element is the formation of intense surface temperature inversions. During the long polar night, the snow surface radiates heat away, causing the air layer immediately above it to become substantially colder than the air a few meters higher up. This super-chilled air is dense and remains trapped near the surface due to its weight. The lack of wind prevents this cold, dense air from mixing with the warmer air above, leading to a layer of stagnant air that contributes to the observed stillness.
Quantifying Wind: Measurement and Global Context
Measuring the extremely low wind speeds at remote polar locations requires specialized technology and reveals challenges in accurately quantifying stillness. Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) are deployed across the Antarctic plateau to record meteorological parameters, including wind speed, typically using precision anemometers. However, the extreme cold can cause instruments to ice over or seize, leading to gaps in winter data and potentially underreporting the true extent of the calm.
The data from these stations provides a stark contrast to the windiest regions on Earth. For example, Commonwealth Bay on the Antarctic coast, which is highly exposed to the katabatic system, records an average annual wind speed of 50 miles per hour (22.3 meters per second). This difference highlights the profound effect of the ice sheet’s topography on surface wind patterns.
The calmest spots are defined by a broad, large-scale meteorological phenomenon that stabilizes the atmosphere. The measurement of wind speed allows scientists to compare the relative stillness of the Antarctic plateau to other globally calm areas, such as the equatorial Doldrums. While the Doldrums are known for low wind, their stillness is characterized by a lack of horizontal pressure gradients, a different mechanism from the cold-air-driven stability of the high Antarctic domes.