User Tools
explain_great_lakes_winds
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Next revision | Previous revision | ||
|
explain_great_lakes_winds [2023/12/28 15:20] preavley created |
explain_great_lakes_winds [2025/03/23 19:48] (current) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| - | ====== Understanding the Two Main Causes of Sailing Winds on the Great Lake sharethis sharing button ====== | + | ====== Understanding the Two Main Causes of Sailing Winds on the Great Lake ====== |
| This text from - [[https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/news/sailing/understanding-the-two-main-causes-of-sailing-winds-on-the-great-lakes/|Wind on the Great Lakes]] (Great Lakes Skuttlebutt website) | This text from - [[https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/news/sailing/understanding-the-two-main-causes-of-sailing-winds-on-the-great-lakes/|Wind on the Great Lakes]] (Great Lakes Skuttlebutt website) | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
| **By:** Ken Quant | **By:** Ken Quant | ||
| - | The Great Lakes are known for highly variable wind conditions. It’s not uncommon to see everything from dead calm, to strong winds, all in the same day. No matter what the strength or direction, all winds on the Great Lakes are created from two predominate sources: Lake Breezes and System Breezes. By understanding the dynamics of these two types of winds, you will have a better chance of enjoying your sailing day on the water. | + | The Great Lakes are known for highly variable wind conditions. It’s not uncommon to see everything from dead calm, to strong winds, all in the same day. No matter what the strength or direction, all winds on the Great Lakes are created from two predominate sources: Lake Breezes and System Breezes. By understanding the dynamics of these two types of winds, you will have a better chance of enjoying your sailing day on the water. |
| **Three Basic Weather Factors You Should Know:** | **Three Basic Weather Factors You Should Know:** | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| * In the northern hemisphere, high pressure systems spins clockwise and low pressure spins counterclockwise. | * In the northern hemisphere, high pressure systems spins clockwise and low pressure spins counterclockwise. | ||
| - | **{{https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/clientuploads/news/August 2012/SailingWinds_KenQ1.jpg?nolink&}} ** | + | **{{https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/clientuploads/news/August 2012/SailingWinds_KenQ1.jpg?nolink&|sailingwinds_kenq1.jpg}}** |
| **Lake Breezes** \\ One of the most common type of wind on the Great Lakes is a lake breeze. They are generated mostly on sunny days because the sun creates a temperature difference between the water and the land. | **Lake Breezes** \\ One of the most common type of wind on the Great Lakes is a lake breeze. They are generated mostly on sunny days because the sun creates a temperature difference between the water and the land. | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
| **Two Factors that Determine Pressure Gradient and System Wind Strength** \\ First is the strength of the pressure at the center of the high and low pressure system itself. Generally the higher or lower a systems center pressure is, the tighter the pressure gradient between systems and the greater the wind. | **Two Factors that Determine Pressure Gradient and System Wind Strength** \\ First is the strength of the pressure at the center of the high and low pressure system itself. Generally the higher or lower a systems center pressure is, the tighter the pressure gradient between systems and the greater the wind. | ||
| - | **{{https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/clientuploads/news/August 2012/SailingWinds_KenQ2.jpg?nolink&}}** | + | **{{https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/clientuploads/news/August 2012/SailingWinds_KenQ2.jpg?nolink&|sailingwinds_kenq2.jpg}}** |
| - | The second factor to system wind strength is the physical proximity of the highs and lows to each other. Generally, the closer they are together, the stronger the pressure gradient between the two, so the stronger the wind. | + | The second factor to system wind strength is the physical proximity of the highs and lows to each other. Generally, the closer they are together, the stronger the pressure gradient between the two, so the stronger the wind. |
| In some parts of the Great Lakes, the lake breezes are stronger then in other parts, so you actually need a strong system of overtake the lake breeze. In favored Lake Breeze locations, if the pressure gradient is tight enough to generate a system wind direction greater than 15 knots offshore, it will generally overcome the usual lake breeze creating offshore sailing conditions near shore. The stronger the wind, the more likely it is to kill any potential for lake breeze development. | In some parts of the Great Lakes, the lake breezes are stronger then in other parts, so you actually need a strong system of overtake the lake breeze. In favored Lake Breeze locations, if the pressure gradient is tight enough to generate a system wind direction greater than 15 knots offshore, it will generally overcome the usual lake breeze creating offshore sailing conditions near shore. The stronger the wind, the more likely it is to kill any potential for lake breeze development. | ||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
| **System Enhancement of Lake Side Breezes** \\ Because there are no buildings or trees to slow surface winds over the lake, onshore breezes are often stronger at the lake than inland. This lack of surface friction is also the reason why system winds off the lake seem to blow so hard. | **System Enhancement of Lake Side Breezes** \\ Because there are no buildings or trees to slow surface winds over the lake, onshore breezes are often stronger at the lake than inland. This lack of surface friction is also the reason why system winds off the lake seem to blow so hard. | ||
| - | **{{https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/clientuploads/news/August 2012/SailingWinds_KenQ3.jpg?nolink&}}****Why Does the Wind Always Seem to Die in the Evening, Even on an Offshore Day?** \\ There are almost always upper level winds blowing above the surface. During the day, the uneven heating of the land by the sun creates raising pockets of air that mix with the upper level winds. This mixing of the air pulls some of the upper level winds down during the day creating windier conditions at the surface. In the evening, as the sun sets, this mixing subsides and the upper level winds return to a more stable position above the water surface. | + | **{{https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/clientuploads/news/August 2012/SailingWinds_KenQ3.jpg?nolink&|sailingwinds_kenq3.jpg}}** |
| + | |||
| + | **Why Does the Wind Always Seem to Die in the Evening, Even on an Offshore Day?** | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are almost always upper level winds blowing above the surface. During the day, the uneven heating of the land by the sun creates raising pockets of air that mix with the upper level winds. This mixing of the air pulls some of the upper level winds down during the day creating windier conditions at the surface. In the evening, as the sun sets, this mixing subsides and the upper level winds return to a more stable position above the water surface. | ||
| **Watch for the Dreaded Transition Zone** \\ A transition zone is the area where the lake breeze meets the system breeze. This convergence of wind directions often creates an area of little or no wind. This moves around during the day as the lake breeze builds and subsides. You often see a near shore transition zone in the late morning and early evening as the lake breeze forms or dies. | **Watch for the Dreaded Transition Zone** \\ A transition zone is the area where the lake breeze meets the system breeze. This convergence of wind directions often creates an area of little or no wind. This moves around during the day as the lake breeze builds and subsides. You often see a near shore transition zone in the late morning and early evening as the lake breeze forms or dies. | ||
Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
