Trade Winds Facts: Know About Causes, Effects & Coriolis Effect

Trade winds refer to the permanently flowing wind which courses from east to west across the Earth's equator region.

They blow from the north east in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere.

These are called trade winds because of their ability to allow ships to move from one continent to another in a shorter time than it would typically take. This made trading across oceans much easier and quicker, which helped increase trade between different countries.

The trade winds are responsible for maneuvering tropical storms that form over the Atlantic, Pacific, and the southern Indian Ocean to North America, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.

Causes Of Trade Winds

Trade winds are formed when hot air hits the equator after rising due to being lighter. From there, the wind is pulled towards the poles, where it gets chilled. The flow of these winds isn't properly straight and is instead diagonal in both the hemispheres.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone, commonly known as doldrums, is a low-pressure area with calm, light variable winds blowing near the equator.

The rising air at the equator towards the poles is part of the global atmospheric circulation phenomenon known as the Hadley cell, named after George Hadley.

The trade winds are also called easterlies due to their wind flow from east to west.

Coriolis Effect

The Coriolis effect is a phenomenon that causes the trade winds to travel in the east-to-west direction. Simply put, the Coriolis effect is the disruption that the Earth's rotation has on the flow of trade wind, stopping it from traveling in a straight direction. 

The Coriolis effect is what causes hurricanes and cyclones to spin in opposite directions in both the hemispheres.

When selecting trajectories for flights, pilots have to consider the Coriolis effect as it can alter the course widely.

The Coriolis effect observed on Jupiter is so strong it turns the north-to-south winds into east-to-west winds.

Effects Of Trade Wind: Weather And Biodiversity

Trade winds have a massive impact on the weather and the biodiversity on either side of the equator. Due to the removal of humidity over the tropics, trade winds cause the formation of deserts in such areas, and the supply of this humidity to the equator leads to the creation of rich, lush rainforests.

The trade winds cause dust to travel over the Sahara, which suppresses rainfall, changes the blue sky into white, and causes red sunsets around places such as Florida.

The Saharan dust which the trade winds transport is actually nitrate and phosphate-rich.

A phenomenon known as the Arctic Oscillation can strengthen the trade winds during its cold phase and similarly weaken it when it is in a warm phase.

Other Miscellaneous Facts

Trade winds blow over oceans between 30-45 degrees latitude in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The surface area is about 1/3 of Earth's. Most of this area is in the Western Pacific, across central and northern Australia, and off West Africa.

Prevailing winds are winds that blow in one direction most of the time. Prevailing winds cause the air currents to be pushed westward over the ocean.

Local winds are small, unlike the trade winds of the tropical regions or the periodic winds, usually with a diameter of fewer than 62 mi (99.7 km). They have little effect on the trade winds.

Moist air in the trade winds usually consists of warm moist air from the tropics sinking towards the Earth's surface. Moist air causes precipitation along with the wind flow.

The Earth's rotation happens around its axis, creating a strong wind blowing from the east. It blows across the Earth's surface westward. This contributes to deserts forming at the equator and lush forests growing towards the poles.

Ever wondered why trade winds blow north-east to south-west? As heat rises, the bottom half of the planet gets warmer than its top half.

The northeast trades blow from the northeast to about 25 degrees north latitude, becoming easterly. Southeast trade winds start at about 25 degrees south latitude, where they're easterly.

Tropical easterlies and air masses originating from the Sahara Desert are the primary drivers of the trade winds.

Tradewinds in gulf coast states and south west Atlantic coastal areas bring warm and moist ocean air to the mainland.

Trade winds in the northern hemisphere, and the corresponding trades in the southern, move from east to west, blowing predominantly from the northeast.

FAQs

Why are they called trade winds?

The trade winds got their name from the effect they had on the forming of trade routes across the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean.

Are trade winds strong?

Trade winds are often strong.

What causes trade winds?

Trade winds are caused by the heating of the winds around the equator.

How many trade winds are there?

Trade winds are of two types, with one flowing northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and the other flowing southeast in the Southern Hemisphere.

How do trade winds affect rainfall?

Trade winds carry heavy moisture with them, which causes heavy rainfall around mountainous regions.

What do the trade winds do?

Trade winds are helpful for sailors in navigating across the oceans and cause the transportation of moisture and nutrient-rich dust, among other materials, across the world.

How fast are the trade winds?

The average speed of trade winds is 11-13 mph (17.7-20.92 kph), sometimes reaching speeds of 30 mph (48.2 kph).

Where are you most likely to encounter trade winds?

Trade winds are most likely to be found around the 30 degrees north and south latitudes.

Are trade winds permanent winds?

Yes, trade winds flow throughout the year.

What is trade wind inversion?

When temperature inversion, which refers to the phenomena when temperature increases with height, occurs in the trajectory of trade winds, it is called trade wind inversion.

Who discovered the trade winds?

Christopher Columbus is frequently credited as the discoverer of trade winds, with some records suggesting otherwise.