Prevailing winds

<p>In <a href="/facts/Meteorology/xblFr28q">meteorology</a>, prevailing wind in a region of the <a href="/facts/Earth/HLLmDfj0">Earth</a>'s surface is a surface <a href="/facts/Wind/Nt0QIu5B">wind</a> that blows predominantly from a particular <a href="/facts/Wind_direction/IjdaT59D">direction</a>. The dominant winds are the trends in direction of wind with the highest speed over a particular point on the Earth's surface at any given time. A region's prevailing and dominant winds are the result of global patterns of movement in the <a href="/facts/Earth%2527s_atmosphere/FV97Am25">Earth's atmosphere</a>.  In general, winds are predominantly easterly at low <a href="/facts/Latitude/IBYqkjhU">latitudes</a> globally. In the mid-latitudes, westerly winds are dominant, and their strength is largely determined by the <a href="/facts/Polar_cyclone/RM34TWNk">polar cyclone</a>. In areas where winds tend to be light, the <a href="/facts/Sea_breeze/yEsnwFG3">sea breeze</a>-land breeze cycle (powered by differential solar heating and night cooling of sea and land) is the most important cause of the prevailing wind. In areas which have variable terrain, <a href="/facts/Mountain_breeze_and_valley_breeze/Pc3untzK">mountain and valley breezes</a> dominate the wind pattern. Highly elevated surfaces can induce a <a href="/facts/Thermal_low/YCT3Hqc3">thermal low</a>, which then augments the environmental wind flow. Wind direction at any given time is influenced by <a href="/facts/Synoptic-scale_meteorology/PMYwbEWA">synoptic-scale</a> and <a href="/facts/Mesoscale_meteorology/E0Tdj8SK">mesoscale</a> weather like <a href="/facts/Pressure_system/tf3Lo8KH">pressure systems</a> and <a href="/facts/Weather_front/n4PXdp1f">fronts</a>. Local wind direction can also be influenced by <a href="/facts/Microscale_meteorology/JTTNI2Xy">microscale</a> features like buildings.
</p><p><a href="/facts/Wind_rose/tRdVqJ8p">Wind roses</a> are tools used to display the history of wind direction and intensity. Knowledge of the prevailing wind allows the development of prevention strategies for <a href="/facts/Soil_erosion/pbwuyY5H">wind erosion</a> of agricultural land, such as across the <a href="/facts/Great_Plains/LWPW30WU">Great Plains</a>. <a href="/facts/Sand_dune/Hq26h9hh">Sand dunes</a> can orient themselves perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction in coastal and <a href="/facts/Desert/Mknp4bXq">desert</a> locations. Insects drift along with the prevailing wind, but the flight of birds is less dependent on it. Prevailing winds in mountain locations can lead to significant <a href="/facts/Precipitation_(meteorology)/uq3nGQc8">rainfall</a> gradients, ranging from wet across windward-facing slopes to desert-like conditions along their lee slopes.
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Prevailing winds open-in-new

Prevailing winds