westwardflowing

Westwardflowing is a descriptive term used in physics, oceanography, and meteorology to refer to flow or movement directed toward the west. It describes the westward component of a velocity field, regardless of the overall direction of the flow.

In atmospheric science, westward flow appears as components of planetary-scale winds or waves that propagate westward, such as portions of the jet stream or Rossby waves during certain seasons. In oceanography, it commonly describes westward-flowing surface currents along the equator, notably the North and South Equatorial Currents, which transport heat from east to west across the basins. In planetary science, analogous westward motion can describe plasmas or gases moving toward decreasing longitude on other planets.

Notation and usage: westward flow is typically represented by a negative eastward velocity component in standard longitude coordinates. The term is largely descriptive and varies by discipline; many authors prefer “westward flow” or hyphenated “westward-flowing” depending on style guides.

Related concepts include eastward flow, zonal flow, and westward drift.