1001 Space Earth Earth Rocks and Minerals Landscape Sea Weather and Climate Natural Disasters Resources Nature History Human World Science and Technology

Choose a Page:What is the troposphere?Why do we have seasons?What is happening to the ozone layer?Where does rain come from?What is convection?Where do hot and cold winds blow?What is the 'greenhouse' effect?What is a weather front?What happens when air is heated?What is air pressure?What are clouds?*What are the prevailing winds?* What are the prevailing winds? The winds are described as prevailing because they always blow in the same pattern. This happens because of two effects: convection, in which hot air rises and cool air flows in to take its place, combined with the Earth's rotation. There are always winds blowing toward the Equator, and others that blow away from the tropics. The winds that blow outward from the poles are diverted to east and west by the Earth's rotation.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: Earth Chapter: Weather and Climate