In baseball, the round shape of the ball and strategically located seams, which have changed little since the beginning of the game, help the ball fly. In baseball, various weather conditions can influence the ball's trajectory and flight. Air temperature, humidity and the wind are the main weather elements acting on the ball.
Air Temperature
According to The Hardball Times, an online baseball magazine, home runs are less common in the cooler months of the baseball season, with just more than 3 percent of hits resulting in home runs than in the summer months, when more than 4 percent leave the park. In addition, a fair ball is more likely to result in a base hit when the temperature is warmer than cooler. The same is true with games played during the day opposed to those played at night. The magazine concludes that the heavier, cooler air increases the resistance on the ball.
Air Pressure
When it comes to the distance a baseball travels on the fly, air pressure rules supreme, according to meteorologist Jeff Haby. At baseball stadiums high above sea level, such as Coors Field in Colorado, the density of the air is lower, allowing the baseball to travel farther in flight due to less friction acting on the ball. This often results in more home runs than a stadium closer to sea level, such as Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. According to a study conducted in 2005 entitled "Park Elevation and Long Ball Flight in Major League Baseball," for every 500-foot increase above sea level a stadium is, and additional 10 home runs are hit per three-year period.
Wind
The Weather Prediction, a website interested in weather forecast education, says that wind adds or reduces the amount of friction generated around a baseball in flight. A tail wind will help a baseball travel farther, while a head wind will slow the ball's forward velocity, decreasing the overall distance in flight. Often, stadiums are designed based on the local weather conditions. At Target Field, where the Minnesota Twins play ball, a large canopy atop the stadium blocks wind from behind home plate, says Paul Huttner of Minnesota Public Radio.
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