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westerlies
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A line graph shows how precipitation and evaporation vary by latitude, with peaks in precipitation near the equator and poles, and peaks in evaporation around 30 degrees north and south. Wind belts such as polar easterlies, westerlies, and trade winds are labeled across the top, illustrating their relationship to these patterns. Diagram comparing global atmospheric circulation patterns on an idealized Earth and the actual Earth, showing wind belts such as westerlies, trade winds, and major zones like the subtropical high, polar high, and intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), with labeled circulation cells and latitudinal lines.
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westerlies

meteorology
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A line graph shows how precipitation and evaporation vary by latitude, with peaks in precipitation near the equator and poles, and peaks in evaporation around 30 degrees north and south. Wind belts such as polar easterlies, westerlies, and trade winds are labeled across the top, illustrating their relationship to these patterns.
Latitudinal variation in precipitation and evaporation Latitudinal variation in precipitation and evaporation and its relationship to major wind belts and oceanic salinity.

The westerlies are prevailing winds in the middle latitudes that blow from west to east. These winds are part of Earth's larger atmospheric circulation system, driven by temperature differences and the planet's rotation.1234

In the mid-latitudes, cold air from polar regions meets warmer air from lower latitudes, creating a convergence zone known as the polar front. This interaction often leads to the formation of traveling depressions, or storm systems, characteristic of middle-latitude weather. The westerlies are also associated with jet streams, which are fast-flowing, narrow air currents found at high altitudes. These jet streams play a role in steering weather patterns and can influence aircraft travel. The Southern Hemisphere's westerlies are known for their steadiness and strength, earning them names like the "brave west winds" and the "roaring forties" due to frequent gales.13546

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6 Britannica Sources
  1. atmospheric circulation
  2. Pacific Ocean - The westerlies
  3. climate - Zonal surface winds
  4. climate - Jet streams
  5. jet stream
  6. prevailing westerlies

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