prevailing winds prevailing winds winds blow predominantly single general direction particular point earth surface dominant winds trends direction wind highest speed particular point earth surface region prevailing dominant winds affected global patterns movement earth atmosphere general easterly flow occurs low medium latitudes globally mid latitudes westerly winds rule strength largely determined polar cyclone areas winds tend light sea breeze land breeze cycle important prevailing wind areas variable terrain mountain valley dominate wind pattern highly elevated surfaces induce thermal low environmental wind flow wind roses tools determine direction prevailing wind knowledge prevailing wind allows development prevention strategies wind erosion agricultural land great plains sand dunes orient perpendicular prevailing wind regime coastal desert locations insects drift prevailing wind birds able fly independently prevailing winds mountainous locations lead significant rainfall topography ranging wet facing slopes desert like conditions lee slopes prevailing winds differences uneven heating earth determination location wind rose graphic tool view wind speed direction typically distributed particular location presented polar coordinate grid wind rose shows frequency winds blowing particular directions length spoke circle related frequency wind blows particular direction unit time concentric circle represents different frequency zero center increasing frequencies outer circles wind rose plot contain additional information spoke broken color coded bands wind direction ranges wind roses typically use cardinal directions north etc subdivided directions trades impact trade winds called trades prevailing pattern easterly surface winds found tropics near earth equator subtropical ridge winds blow predominantly northeast southeast trade winds act steering flow tropical cyclones form world oceans guiding path westward trade winds steer african dust westward atlantic ocean caribbean sea portions southeast north_america impact prevailing prevailing winds middle latitudes degrees latitude blow areas high pressure area known subtropical ridge horse latitudes prevailing winds blow west east steer extra tropical cyclones general manner winds predominantly southwest northwest strongest winter pressure lower poles polar cyclone strongest weakest summer polar cyclone weakest pressures higher poles trade winds enabled round trip trade route sailing ships crossing atlantic pacific oceans lead development strong ocean currents particularly strong especially southern hemisphere land middle latitudes cause flow pattern winds strongest westerly winds middle latitudes called degrees south latitude play important role carrying warm waters winds western coasts continents especially southern hemisphere vast oceanic explain coastal north_america tends wet especially alaska winter differential heating sun land cool ocean relatively warm causes areas low pressure develop land results moisture rich air pacific_ocean flow west resulting frequent wind coast moisture continues flow eastward lift caused cascade columbia rocky_mountains cause rain shadow effect limits penetration systems associated rainfall eastward trend summer strong heating land causes high pressure tends block moisture rich air pacific reaching land explains coastal north_america middle latitudes experiences dry summers despite abundant rainfall winter polar polar known cells dry cold prevailing winds blow high pressure areas polar highs north south poles low pressure areas high latitudes like trade winds unlike prevailing winds blow east west weak irregular low sun angle cold air builds pole creating surface high pressure areas forcing outflow air outflow westward effect local considerations sea land areas wind flow light sea land important factors location prevailing winds sea warmed sun greater depth land greater specific heat sea greater capacity absorbing heat land surface sea slowly land surface temperature surface land rises land heats air warm air dense rises rising air land sea level pressure cooler air sea higher sea level pressure flows land lower pressure creating cooler breeze near coast strength sea breeze directly proportional temperature difference land mass sea offshore wind knots exists sea breeze likely develop night land quickly ocean differences specific heat values forces daytime sea breeze dissipate temperature onshore temperature offshore pressure water lower land establishing land breeze long onshore wind strong oppose circulation elevated regions elevated surfaces heating ground exceeds heating surrounding air altitude sea level creating associated thermal low terrain enhancing lows existed changing wind circulation region areas rugged topography significantly environmental wind flow wind change direction accelerate parallel wind barrier jet increase low level wind percent mountainous areas local distortion severe terrain combines produce unpredictable flow patterns strong develop air flows hills valleys wind direction changes land pass mountain range winds rush pass considerable speed principle describes relationship speed pressure remain turbulent erratic distance countryside conditions dangerous ascending descending daytime heating nighttime cooling hilly slopes lead day night variations similar relationship sea breeze land breeze night sides hills cool radiation heat air hills cooler blowing valley drawn gravity known wind mountain breeze slopes covered ice snow wind blow day carrying cold dense air warmer barren valleys slopes hills covered snow warmed day air comes contact warmed slopes warmer dense flows known wind valley breeze effect precipitation precipitation occurs mountains caused rising air motion large scale flow moist air mountain ridge resulting cooling mountainous parts world subjected consistent winds example trade winds moist climate usually mountain moisture removed lift leaving drier air wind descending generally warming rain shadow observed south_america mountain range blocks pacific moisture arrives continent resulting climate western argentina sierra nevada range creates effect north_america forming effect nature insects swept prevailing winds birds follow course fine line patterns weather radar imagery associated winds dominated insect returns great plains wind erosion agricultural land significant problem mainly driven prevailing wind wind barrier strips developed minimize type erosion strips form soil ridges crop strips crops rows trees act wind breaks oriented right angle wind order effective regions minimal vegetation coastal desert areas transverse sand dunes orient perpendicular prevailing wind direction longitudinal dunes orient parallel prevailing winds
Prevailing winds