If the earth revolves toward the east, why does the wind usually blow from the west?

Answer 1

While the question/answer below is about weather, the information is the same for just wind.

Q: Why does most of our weather come from the west if the Earth is rotating the opposite way?

A: When looking down at the North Pole, the Earth spins counterclockwise around its axis. A point on the equator travels at about 1,100 mph, while a point directly at the poles does not move at all. An apparent force called the Coriolis force results from this difference in speeds, deflecting objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis force, combined with solar heating patterns across the Earth, create distinctive wind patterns that drive weather systems.

One prevailing surface wind pattern that results is located in the mid-latitudes, between 30 and 60° North. Solar heating alone, without the Earth's rotation, would produce prevailing southerly winds. The Coriolis force, however, deflects these winds to the right, creating prevailing winds out of the west and southwest (the westerlies).

Solar heating patterns in the tropics, from the equator to about 30° North, combined with the Coriolis force, produce weak prevailing winds out of the east (the easterlies). Southern regions of the USA, including Florida, are affected by the westerlies at times and the easterlies at others."

Hope this helps explain it. Check the first link for other weather questions and second link to see a full explanation of the consequences of rotation on weather.

Source(s):
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resource...
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/...

Answer 2

The way the wind blows is dependent on the movenemt of air between air masses more so than the earth's spin (the earth's spin does cause the Coriolis effect, which does affect patterns of air movement, but that's for a different discussion). Basicaly wind is caused by difference of pressure between air masses. Areas of lower air pressure tend to suck in air from areas of higher pressure. The greater the difference, the tighter the gradient, and the higher the wind (which is why the extremely low pressures found in cyclonic storms like hurricanes and tornadoes generates such high winds).

Anyways, low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere draw air inward in a counterclockwise spiral. These "lows" can be found at the core of any frontal system, and they often track through the northern states. That means it is likely that you are usually on the south side of the circulation. Given that the flow is counterclockwise, this means that as the core approaches you from the west, you will get a south or southwest wind. As it tracks north of you, your winds will be nearly due west. And finally, as the system tracks farther east, you will find yourself on the colder side of the system as the winds shift to the northwest or north (the cold front occurs at the dividing line between the warmer air being drawn from the south and the colder air being drawn from the north).

If one of these systems ever tracks south of you, you will see easterly winds on the north side of the circulation. But because this is less common for most states, the westerly pattern is predominant.

Answer 3

It depends where you live that dictates where the wind comes from. Wind is often dependant upon sea temperature and behaviour as well as changing land temperatures - not by the spin of the earth.

Answer 4

rotation of the earth has little effect on wind direction. If it did we would deal with thousand mile an hour winds

Answer 5

counterclockwise. that is for this reason that the winds flow west to east. honestly they arent transferring in any respect. the earth is transferring when it comes to them which makes it look like they're transferring

Answer 6

jet stream and the way the earth is heated

Answer 7

this is wat the scientist discovered,actuelly i also want 2 know