What is the meaning of Windward and Leeward?
An island’s windward side faces the prevailing, or trade, winds, whereas the island’s leeward side faces away from the wind, sheltered from prevailing winds by hills and mountains.
Why is leeward important?
The leeward—or “lee”—side is the one sheltered from the wind by the reference point. Windward and leeward aren’t frivolous terms. When applied to mountains, they are important factors in weather and climate—one is responsible for enhancing precipitation in the vicinity of mountain ranges, while the other withholds it.
What best describes the leeward side?
The adjective leeward describes an area or side of a boat that’s facing away from the wind. If you move to the leeward side of your sailboat, you’re shifting to the sheltered, downwind side. You’re likely to hear the word leeward when you’re on a boat, since wind direction is hugely important when you’re sailing.
What does leeward mean in earth science?
/ˈli·wərd, ˈlu·ərd/ earth science. on the side away from the wind, or in the direction toward which the wind is blowing.
What do you understand by the windward side and rain shadow area?
A rain shadow describes the dry area on one side of a mountain or mountain range where less rain falls. This side of the mountain or mountain range is called the leeward side, while the side which has greater rainfall is called the windward side.
What do they grow and eat in leeward?
Some were fruit trees, such as limes and mangoes, coconuts and papaya. But the settlers and their enslaved workforce also brought food crops such as maize and yams, or plants for medicinal purposes, like the arrowroot or the castor oil plant.
What do they grow and eat in windward?
brassicas, lettuces and peas, root/tuber crops such as potatoes, carrots, turnips and beets.
Why is it called leeward?
The name of this island group, Leeward Islands, dates from previous centuries, when sailing ships were the sole form of transportation across the Atlantic Ocean. In sailing terminology, ‘windward’ means towards the source of the wind (upwind), while ‘leeward’ is the opposite direction (downwind).
What is meant by a rain shadow area give an example and state the mountain responsible for the rain shadow area?
High mountains act as barriers for cold or hot winds; they may also cause precipitation if they are high enough and lie in the path of rain-bearing winds. The leeward side of the mountains remains dry. e.g. the eastern slope of the Western Ghats is the rain shadow area.
What is the meaning of rain shadow area?
A rain shadow is a patch of land that has been forced to become a desert because mountain ranges blocked all plant-growing, rainy weather. On one side of the mountain, wet weather systems drop rain and snow. On the other side of the mountain—the rain shadow side—all that precipitation is blocked.
What is the windward side of a mountain?
When air runs into a mountain, the side of the mountain that it hits first is called the windward side. This is where air is forced to rise, and this is the side of the mountain that often sees the heaviest precipitation.
What is the meaning of Leeward and Windward?
THE TERMS leeward and windward are used in a number of ways to describe specific places, physical features, and climatic processes. In one sense, windward and leeward generally refer to the location of a place relative to the prevailing wind direction. A windward location is one that is exposed to the prevailing winds.
Which vessel is more maneuverable windward or leeward?
The windward vessel is normally the more maneuverable vessel. For this reason, rule 12 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, applying to sailing vessels, stipulates that where two are sailing in similar directions in relation to the wind, the windward vessel gives way to the leeward vessel.
What is the meaning of leeward side?
Leeward (/ˈliːwərd, ˈljuːərd/) is the direction downwind (or downward) from the point of reference. The leeward region of mountains generally remains dry as compared to the windward. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the “lower side”.
Is Hawaii windward or leeward?
In general, the north and/or east sides of each Hawaiian Island tend to have the windward climate. In contrast, the south and/or west sides of the islands are leeward. The following satellite map of Hawaii’s Big Island illustrates this climate trend.