Wind
Wind speeds over the Arctic Basin and the western Canadian Archipelago average between 4 and 6 metres per second (14 and 22 kilometres per hour, 9 and 13 miles per hour) in all seasons. Stronger winds do occur in storms, often causing whiteout conditions, but they rarely exceed 25 m/s (90 km/h, 55 mph) in these areas (Przybylak 2003).
During all seasons, the strongest average winds are found in the North-Atlantic seas, Baffin Bay, and Bering and Chukchi Seas, where cyclone activity is most common. On the Atlantic side, the winds are strongest in winter, averaging 7 to 12 m/s (25 to 43 km/h, 16 to 27 mph), and weakest in summer, averaging 5 to 7 m/s (18 to 25 km/h, 11 to 16 mph). On the Pacific side they average 6 to 9 m/s (22 to 32 km/h, 13 to 20 mph) year round. Maximum wind speeds in the Atlantic region can approach 50 m/s (180 km/h, 110 mph) in winter (Przybylak 2003).
Read more about this topic: Climate Of The Arctic
Famous quotes containing the word wind:
“There, beyond the dykes
I heard wind flaking sapphire, like this summer,
And willows could not hold more steady sound.”
—Hart Crane (1899–1932)
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A wind that follows fast
And fills the white and rustling sail
And bends the gallant mast;”
—Allan Cunningham (1784–1842)
“Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
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The wind is passing through.”
—Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830–1894)