PREVAILING WESTERLY Meaning and
Definition
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The term "prevailing westerly" refers to a dominant pattern of wind flow in a westerly direction. It is a meteorological term used to describe the prevailing direction from which winds primarily originate. In this context, "prevailing" signifies the most common or frequently occurring wind direction, while "westerly" indicates a movement or flow from the west.
A prevailing westerly wind is typically observed in mid-latitudes, between approximately 30 and 60 degrees in both the northern and southern hemispheres. This wind pattern is attributed to the Earth's rotation and the complex interactions between atmospheric pressure systems, particularly the merging of polar and tropical air masses. The Coriolis effect, caused by the Earth's rotation, deflects the wind to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Prevailing westerlies have significant implications for weather patterns, air travel, and ocean currents. They are responsible for the dominant weather conditions experienced in regions located within their path. Prevailing westerlies often bring moderate, moist air from the ocean to coastal areas, resulting in mild and often rainy climates. These winds greatly influence the movement of storms and affect the formation of ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream. Additionally, air travel routes are often designed to take advantage of prevailing westerlies, as aircraft can take advantage of the tailwind, reducing travel time and fuel consumption.
In summary, prevailing westerly winds are a common meteorological occurrence characterized by dominant winds flowing from the west. They play a crucial role in shaping weather patterns, ocean currents, and air travel routes.
Common Misspellings for PREVAILING WESTERLY
- orevailing westerly
- lrevailing westerly
- -revailing westerly
- 0revailing westerly
- peevailing westerly
- pdevailing westerly
- pfevailing westerly
- ptevailing westerly
- p5evailing westerly
- p4evailing westerly
- prwvailing westerly
- prsvailing westerly
- prdvailing westerly
- prrvailing westerly
- pr4vailing westerly
- pr3vailing westerly
- precailing westerly
- prebailing westerly
- pregailing westerly
Etymology of PREVAILING WESTERLY
The term "prevailing westerly" is not a word with its own etymology, but rather a combination of two words: "prevailing" and "westerly".
"Prevailing" comes from the verb "prevail", which originated from the Latin word "praevalēre". "Prae-" means "before" or "superior", and "valēre" means "be strong or powerful". In English, "prevail" means to be dominant, widespread, or the most common.
"Westerly" is an adjective derived from "west". "West" has its roots in the Old English word "west", which is related to the Proto-Germanic word "wes-t-", meaning "to go down" or "evening". In this case, "westerly" describes something that is located in or coming from the west direction.
Similar spelling word for PREVAILING WESTERLY
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