Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Trade winds are prevailing easterly winds that blow from east to west between 30 degrees latitude (both north and south) and the equator. They are named so because they were historically used by sailors for trade routes across oceans.
Doldrums: Areas near the equator where trade winds converge but lack strong horizontal movement due to weak pressure gradients.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): A low-pressure belt near the equator where trade winds from both hemispheres meet, causing rising air and abundant rainfall.
Westerlies: Prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres. They are influenced by the Coriolis effect and play a significant role in weather patterns.