Chapter 53.2, Problem 3R

Summary Introduction

To review:

The best route for sailing from the east coast of North America to Europe across the Atlantic Ocean.

Given:

Figure 1 shows the wind pattern across the earth’s surface, which results from the rotation of the earth and atmospheric circulation. The wind direction changes with the rotational speed and across various latitudes of the earth.

Figure 1: Global wind pattern over the surface of the earth.

Figure 2 shows the direction of water current in all the major oceans of the world. This variation is obtained due to the rotation of the earth, changing wind direction, and position of the continents. Other minor contributing factors may include the anthropogenic activities, which affect the water in a particular region so as to cause a change in the temperature and thus, change in the direction of the water current. The red arrows in Figure 2 depict the warm ocean current whereas, the blue ones show cold water currents.

Figure 2: The oceanic current pattern across the globe.

Introduction:

Prevailing winds are the winds, which blow from a particular direction during a particular time period over the earth’s surface. This establishes a circulation, which is created by the rotational force of the earth. These prevailing winds have a critical role in distributing the earth’s heat by ushering warm air toward the higher latitudes, whereas the cooler air toward the equator.