Monday, September 11, 2006

Why are the roaring forties called so?

Western winds move in both the hemispheres (northern and southern) between 35 to 60 degrees latitudes. In the southern hemisphere, these winds show a very stormy nature after 40 degree latitude. This remains constant in summer as well as in winter. In the olden days, sailors called them 'roaring forties', 'furious fifties' and 'crying sixties' since these winds create a very noisy atmosphere and were not favourable for them at all.

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