Question

Describe the prevailing winds that exist due to Earth’s three global wind belts.

Answer 1

Prevailing winds are winds that blow predominantly from a single general direction over a particular point on theEarth's surface. The dominant winds are the trends in direction of wind with the highest speed over a particular point on the Earth's surface. A region's prevailing and dominant winds acted by global patterns of movement in theEarth's atmosphere.[1]In general, easterly flow occurs at low and medium latitudes globally. In the mid-latitudes, westerly winds are the rule and their strength is largely determined by thepolar cyclone. In areas where winds tend to be light, thesea breeze/land breeze cycle is the most important to the prevailing wind; in areas which have variable terrain,mountain andvalley breezesdominate the wind pattern. Highly elevated surfaces can induce athermal low, which then augments the environmental wind flow.Wind rosesare tools used to determine the direction of the prevailing wind. Knowledgeof the prevailing wind allows the development of prevention strategies forwind erosionof agricultural land, such as across theGreat Plains.Sand dunescan orient themselves, or perpendicular to, theprevailing wind regime within coastal and desert locations. Insects drift along with the prevailing wind, while birds are able to fly more independently of it. Prevailing winds in moun locations can lead to significantrainfallgradients within the topography, ranging from wet across windward-facing slopes todesert-like conditions along their lee slopes. Prevailingwinds can have differences due to the uneven heating of the Earth.