poleward

adverb or adjective

pole·​ward ˈpōl-wərd How to pronounce poleward (audio)
: toward or in the direction of a pole of the earth
as the sun moves poleward
poleward variation in temperature

Examples of poleward in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The unprecedented polar bloom represents an evolving public health threat, says Christopher Gobler, an ecologist at Stony Brook University who published a 2017 study showing ocean warming has expanded the range of harmful algal blooms poleward in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Bymegan Gannon, science.org, 16 July 2024 In a few places, including Australia and Japan, coral appear to be migrating poleward, beginning to occupy new places. Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024 Other scientists say further research is required, questioning whether there’s evidence for a shift poleward and, if there is one, the cause of it. Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2023 Researchers found that more intense storms brought on by climate change would expose millions more properties to wind damage in the next 30 years, particularly as tropical cyclone winds penetrate farther inland and as storms migrate poleward up the East Coast. Denise Chow, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2023 In contrast, the larger numbers of whales in the southwest Pacific Ocean are heading poleward at certain times of the year, suggesting krill are still plentiful in that ocean basin. Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 27 Feb. 2023 Normally, when hurricanes get above 30 degrees North in latitude, they get pulled poleward by the westerly pattern in the atmosphere between the tropics and poles. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2018 During warming events when southern waters move poleward, especially those related to El Niño, countless crustaceans ride currents up to southern and central California. Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 12 June 2018 The force from Jupiter’s rotation, combined with its smaller radius at the pole, would be expected to move many more cyclones poleward continuously, but this seems not to happen. Andrew Coates, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poleward was in 1835

Dictionary Entries Near poleward

Cite this Entry

“Poleward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poleward. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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