The trade winds at the surface blow from the belts of high pressure toward the equatorial belts of low pressure. Because of the rotation of the Therefore, the trade winds in the Northern Hemisphere are from the northeast and are called the northeast trades, while those in the Southern Hemisphere are from the southeast and are called the southeast trades. The trade-wind directions are best defined over eastern ocean areas.

The trade winds are generally considered among the most constant of winds, blowing for days or even weeks with little change of direction or speed. However, at times they weaken or shift direction, and there are regions where the general pattern is disrupted. A notable example is found in the island groups of the South Pacific, where the trades are practically nonexistent during January and February. Their best development is attained in the South Atlantic and in the South Indian Ocean. In general, they are stronger during the winter than during the summer season.

In July and August, when the belt of equatorial low pressure moves to a position some distance north of the equator, the southeast trades blow across the equator, into the Northern Hemisphere, where the Earth's rotation diverts them toward the right, causing them to be southerly and southwesterly winds. The "southwest monsoons" of the African and Central American coasts originate partly in these diverted southeast trades.

Cyclones from the middle latitudes rarely enter the regions of the trade winds, although tropical cyclones originate within these areas.

• Zone Time In Celestial Navigation - 2009-04-21 - 01:09:16
• Some common local winds are listed by local name - 2009-04-21 - 12:35:43
• Wind Patterns - Modifications of the General Circulation - 2009-04-21 - 05:46:03
• Maneuvering to Avoid the Storm Center - 2009-04-21 - 05:03:03
• Weather Routing - Benefits - 2009-04-19 - 07:35:50
• Weather Routing - Communications - 2009-04-19 - 07:25:17
• Weather Routing - Southern Hemisphere Routing - 2009-04-19 - 07:21:29
• Weather Routing - Types of Recommendations and Advisories - 2009-04-19 - 07:16:12
• Special Weather and Environmental Considerations - 2009-04-19 - 07:06:59
• Weather Routing - Synoptic Weather Considerations - 2009-04-19 - 06:15:22

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