Short Answer 
The westerlies are prevailing winds found between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, blowing from west to east and significantly influencing global weather patterns and climate. They are created by atmospheric pressure systems and the Earth’s rotation, impacting temperature and precipitation distributions, and are crucial for the movement of weather systems across various regions.
Understanding the Westerlies
The westerlies are prevailing winds that form between the latitudes of 30 degrees and 60 degrees in both the northern and southern hemispheres. These winds have a significant influence on weather and climate. The main characteristics include:
- They blow from the west to the east.
- They are crucial for weather patterns and navigation.
- They impact temperature and precipitation distributions globally.
How Westerlies are Created
The formation of the westerlies is largely influenced by atmospheric pressure systems and the Earth’s rotation. The mechanisms involved are:
- Subtropical highs: These high-pressure areas push air towards higher latitudes.
- Coriolis effect: This effect causes moving air to twist, deflecting it to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
- The resulting air flow leads to the characteristic westerly direction of these winds.
The Impact of the Westerlies
The westerlies play a crucial role in shaping various climatic and weather patterns around the globe. Their influence can be summarized as:
- They carry weather systems, including storms and fronts, across continents and oceans.
- They contribute to significant climatic variations in regions such as the continental United States, southern Canada, Europe, and Russia.
- They help regulate temperatures and precipitation levels in affected areas.