The general circulation of the atmosphere is greatly modified by various conditions. The high pressure in the horse latitudes is not uniformly , but tends to be accentuated at several points. These semi-permanent highs remain at about the same places with great persistence.

Semi-permanent lows also occur in various places, the most prominent ones being west of Iceland, and over the Aleutians (winter only) in the Northern Hemisphere, and in the Ross Sea and Weddell Sea in the Antarctic areas. The regions occupied by these semi-permanent lows are sometimes called the graveyards of the lows, sincemany lows move directly into these areas and lose their identity as they merge with and reinforce the semi-permanent lows. The low pressure in these areas is maintained largely by the migratory lows which stall there, with topography also important, especially in Antarctica.

Another modifying influence is land, which undergoes greater temperature changes than does the sea. During the summer, a continent is warmer than its adjacent oceans. Therefore, low pressures tend to prevail over the land. If a climatological belt of high pressure encounters a continent, its pattern is distorted or interrupted, whereas a belt of low pressure is intensified over the same area. In winter, the opposite effect takes place, belts of high pressure being intensified over land and those of low pressure being weakened.

The most striking example of a wind system produced by the alternate heating and cooling of a landmass is the monsoon (seasonal wind) of the China Sea and Indian Ocean. A portion of this effect is shown in two Figure below. In the summer, low pressure prevails over the warm continent of Asia, and relatively higher pressure prevails over the adjacent, cooler sea. Between these two systems the wind blows in a nearly steady direction. The lower portion of the pattern is in the Southern Hemisphere, extending to about 10° south latitude. Here the rotation of the Earth causes a deflection to the left, resulting in southeasterly winds. As they cross the equator, the deflection is in the opposite direction, causing them to curve toward the right, becoming southwesterly winds. In the winter, the positions of high and low pressure areas are interchanged, and the direction of flow is reversed.

In the China Sea, the summer monsoon blows from the southwest, usually from May to September. The strong winds are accompanied by heavy squalls and thunderstorms, the rainfall being much heavier than during the winter monsoon. As the season advances, squalls and rain become less frequent. In some places the wind becomes a light breeze which is unsteady in direction, or stops altogether, while in other places it continues almost undiminished, with changes in direction or calms being infrequent. The winter monsoon blows from the northeast, usually from October to April. It blows with a steadiness similar to that of the trade winds, often attaining the speed of a moderate gale (28-33 knots). Skies are generally clear during this season, and there is relatively little rain.

• Zone Time In Celestial Navigation - 2009-04-21 - 01:09:16
• Some common local winds are listed by local name - 2009-04-21 - 12:35:43
• Maneuvering to Avoid the Storm Center - 2009-04-21 - 05:03:03
• Weather Routing - Benefits - 2009-04-19 - 07:35:50
• Weather Routing - Communications - 2009-04-19 - 07:25:17
• Weather Routing - Southern Hemisphere Routing - 2009-04-19 - 07:21:29
• Weather Routing - Types of Recommendations and Advisories - 2009-04-19 - 07:16:12
• Special Weather and Environmental Considerations - 2009-04-19 - 07:06:59
• Weather Routing - Synoptic Weather Considerations - 2009-04-19 - 06:15:22

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