Final answer:
The polar easterlies are cold, dry winds blowing from the polar highs towards lower latitudes, located between 60° and 90° latitude near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. They are part of the global wind system influenced by Earth's rotation and the celestial poles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The polar easterlies are cold, dry prevailing winds that blow from the high-pressure areas of the polar highs at the North and South Poles towards the low-pressure areas within the Westerlies at high latitudes. These winds are part of Earth's global wind system and can have significant impacts on weather patterns. The polar easterlies are located in the Polar Regions near or to the north of the Arctic Circle and near or to the south of the Antarctic Circle, specifically between 60° and 90° latitude in both hemispheres.
Despite the Earth's round shape, the four cardinal directions on the surface, namely north, south, east, and west, are well-defined except exactly at the North and South Poles. The polar easterlies are influenced by the celestial poles and the rotation of Earth. They form part of the atmospheric circulation that acts as a counterpart to the warmer, westward-moving jet streams situated closer to the equator. As the Earth is tilted on its axis, the celestial poles appear as the points about which the celestial sphere rotates, creating intersections with Earth's polar axis that directly impact the wind patterns on our planet.