EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from the west at midlatitudes. They are fed by polar easterlies and winds from the high-pressure horse latitudes, which sandwich them on either side.

Detailed explanation-2: -Here, in the United States, it is common for weather patterns to follow winds in a west to east movement. Although the prevailing winds typically follow this general pattern, seasonal changes in wind direction can also occur.

Detailed explanation-3: -In general, the winds that cross the United States come from the west. These are known as the “prevailing westerlies” and they affect much of the Northern Hemisphere between 30 and 60 degrees north latitude. There is another set of westerlies in the Southern Hemisphere from 30 to 60 degrees latitude south.

Detailed explanation-4: -Winds. California lies within the zone of prevailing westerlies and on the east side of the semi-permanent high pressure area of the northeast Pacific Ocean. The basic flow in the free air above the state, therefore, is from the west or northwest during most of the year.

Detailed explanation-5: -This is called the Coriolis Effect. The Coriolis Effect, in combination with an area of high pressure, causes the prevailing winds-the trade winds-to move from east to west on both sides of the equator across this 60-degree “belt."