MCQ Detailed View

Global winds are large-scale wind patterns that blow steadily across the Earth’s surface due to the rotation of the Earth and differences in solar heating. The winds that blow from the east toward the west in the tropical regions of Earth are called Trade Winds.

Trade winds are consistent winds found between approximately 30°N and 30°S latitudes. These winds move from the subtropical high-pressure zones toward the equator. Due to the Earth's rotation (the Coriolis Effect), these winds are deflected and appear to move westward.

In the Northern Hemisphere, trade winds blow from the northeast toward the southwest, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they blow from the southeast toward the northwest. Even though they originate from different directions in each hemisphere, their general movement is always toward the west.

These winds played an important role in maritime history, especially for sailing ships crossing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Today, trade winds still influence global weather patterns and ocean currents, such as the formation of hurricanes and the operation of the Hadley Cell circulation.

It is important not to confuse trade winds with "westerlies" or "western winds," which blow from west to east in mid-latitude regions. There is no such scientific term as “Reynolds wind” in meteorology.

Trade winds are a key topic in environmental science, particularly in the study of Earth’s atmosphere, wind belts, and global climate systems. Understanding them helps explain how heat and moisture are distributed around the planet.