Monday, January 07, 2019

12 Months of Global Winds


Reddit user anvaka has created an impressive video visualizing 12 month's of global surface winds. The 2018 Global Wind map uses GFS (global forecasting system) data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

While watching the video it is possible to spot the world's prevailing winds. There are a number of dominant wind patterns around the globe which are influenced by the Coriolis effect. The trade winds move in an easterly direction at low and medium latitudes nearer the equator. In the mid-latitudes, further from the equator, the westerlies move in a westward direction around the world. Both the trade winds and the westerlies are clearly legible on anvaka's map.

Across the globe there are many names for local wind patterns. Even at the global extent of the 2018 Global Wind map it is possible to pick out some of these local wind patterns. Can you spot the Haboob and the Chinook on the 2018 Global Wind map?

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