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Soaring birds are too heavy to fly for long distances under their own power, so they gain altitude for free by circling inside columns of rising air called thermals. When they get sufficient altitude, they leave the thermal and glide to the next one. That, BTW, is exactly the way sailplane pilots travel cross-country.

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15y ago
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6mo ago

Birds use thermal currents to gain altitude by circling. As the bird circles, it gains lift from the rising warm air in the thermal, allowing it to climb higher without expending as much energy. This is a common technique used by soaring birds such as hawks and eagles.

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Q: How do birds gain altitude by circling?
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Related questions

What is an obstruction current?

an updraft caused by winds as they srtike such obstacles as mountains or cliffs and are deflected upward; used by soaring birds to gain altitude without flapping


Do birds live at greatest altitude?

Yes


Do you get denser when you gain altitude?

No, you do not get denser when you gain altitude. In fact, air density decreases as altitude increases due to reduced pressure and gravity. This is why it can be harder to breathe at higher altitudes.


Why do gliders rise when they go over a town?

Gliders can gain altitude when flying over a town due to thermals, which are pockets of warmer air that rise from the ground. When a glider encounters a thermal, it can circle within it to gain altitude, similar to how birds use thermals to soar without flapping their wings.


How would a hawk soar upward without flapping its wings using convection currents?

A hawk can soar upward by riding on rising columns of warm air called thermals. The hawk positions itself in the thermal and uses the updraft of warm air to gain altitude without flapping its wings. By circling within the thermal, the hawk can maintain its altitude or climb higher as it rides the convection currents.


What is the craft that uses heat to gain altitude?

A Hot Air balloon.


How do you fly up on a hornet on halo reach?

Hold down the right trigger to gain altitude but when you let it go you will lose altitude


How do you spell circling?

Circling is the correct spelling.


Does high altitude make you gain weight?

No. Continuously eating more calories than you use up is what makes you gain weight.


Why can glider pilots gain height by flying over a large plowed field?

Glider pilots gain altitude by circling over a large plowed field because a plowed area gives off heat. Heat rises so the glider takes advantage of that to gain altitude.


How do convection currents help gliders to stay up in the sky?

Convection currents provide rising warm air that can lift gliders to higher altitudes. Gliders can ride these currents by circling within them, allowing them to gain altitude without using engine power. This is a key technique used by glider pilots to stay aloft for extended periods of time.


What is something circling like running?

circling around