Upwind – Downwind – Definition – What is Upwind? – What is Downwind?

UPWIND & DOWNWIND DEFINITIONS

Confused about the definitions for ‘Upwind’ and ‘Downwind’?…or even argue with colleagues about the exact definitions? Well, then here we’ll explain in simple to understand words the meanings and exact definitions with a few different examples. Try to memorize the interpretation which is the most logical to you.

Imagine you are traveling from the South towards the North. From your current position, South is ‘Upstream’ and North is ‘Downstream’. In Weather forecasting, reference is often made to ‘Upstream’ and ‘Downstream’ as it is important to describe the wind flow which is associated with the very fast flowing and narrow air currents of our planet’s ‘jet stream’.
Meteorologists use the following definition:

A. UPWIND = In the direction towards the source of the wind

B. DOWNWIND = In the direction away from the source of wind.

Here a very simple example –

A Southwest wind is a wind flowing from Southwest towards the Northeast. ‘Upwind’ is the direction from where the wind is coming from. In other words, if an object such as an airplane is flying upwind, then it is traveling against the wind. If it is flying ‘Downwind’, then the airplane is flying with the wind.


The alternative explanation – Upwind:

If something moves upwind, it moves in the opposite direction to the wind.
If something is upwind, the wind is blowing away from it.
Moving in the direction from which the wind is blowing

The alternative explanation – Downwind:

If something moves Downwind, it moves in the same direction as the wind.
If something is Downwind, the wind is blowing towards it.
Moving in the same direction which the wind is blowing

 

THESAURUS DEFINITION

Legend:

A= Synonyms B=Related Words C=Antonyms


Adj.1.upwind
– towards the side exposed to wind

AB – weather

B – windward – on the side exposed to the wind; “the windward islands”

Adv.1.upwind– toward the wind; “they were sailing leeward”

AB -leeward

C – windward, downwind – away from the wind; “they were sailing windward”

2.upwind – in the direction opposite to the direction the wind is blowing; “they flew upwind”

AB – against the wind, into the wind

C – downwind – with the wind; in the direction, the wind is blowing; “they flew downwind”

——————————————————————

Adj.1.downwind – towards the side away from the wind

A – leeward – on the side away from the wind; “on the leeward side of the island”

Adv.1.downwind– with the wind; in the direction, the wind is blowing; “they flew downwind”

AB -leeward

C – windward, downwind – away from the wind; “they were sailing windward”

2.downwind – away from the wind; “they were sailing windward”

AB – against the wind, into the wind

C – downwind – with the wind; in the direction, the wind is blowing; “they flew downwind”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The starting point aka ‘entrance sector’ is the “upstream sector” and the end point aka ‘exit sector’ is the “downstream sector”. See illustration graphic below:

upwind_downwind_entrance-sector_exit-sector-graphic

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