The trade winds are part of the earth's atmospheric circulation

The trade winds are a pattern of wind that are found in bands around the Earth's equatorial region. Wind is the flow of Air or other Gases that compose an Atmosphere (including but not limited to the Earth's) The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth 's surface with the plane perpendicular to the The trade winds are the prevailing winds in the tropics, blowing from the high-pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the low-pressure area around the equator. The prevailing winds are the trends in speed and direction of Wind over a particular point on the Earth 's surface The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 This article refers to the geographical area For other uses see Horse latitudes (disambiguation Horsey latitudes or Subtropical High The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth 's surface with the plane perpendicular to the The trade winds blow predominantly from the northeast in the northern hemisphere and from the southeast in the southern hemisphere. Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' Southern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is South of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball'

Their name derives from the Middle English 'trade', meaning "path" or "track," and thus the phrase "the wind blows trade," that is to say, on track. In German they are known as Passat winds.

The surface air flows toward the equator and the flow aloft is poleward. A geographical pole, or geographic pole, is either of two fixed points on the surface of a spinning body or Planet, at 90 degrees from the Equator, based A low-pressure area of calm, light variable winds near the equator is known to mariners as the doldrums. A low pressure area, or " low " is a region where the Atmospheric pressure is lower in relation to the surrounding area The Doldrums (often capitalized when referring to the geographic region is an area of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean affected by the Intertropical Around 30° N. and S. , the poleward flowing air begins to descend toward the surface in subtropical high-pressure belts. The sinking air is relatively dry because its moisture has already been released near the Equator above the tropical rain forests. Near the center of this high-pressure zone of descending air, called the "Horse Latitudes," the winds at the surface are weak and variable. A high pressure area (also called a high or high-pressure is a region where the Atmospheric pressure is greater than surrounding areas This article refers to the geographical area For other uses see Horse latitudes (disambiguation Horsey latitudes or Subtropical High The name for this area is believed to have been given by colonial sailors, who, becalmed sometimes at these latitudes while crossing the oceans with horses as cargo, were forced to throw some overboard to conserve water.

The surface air that flows from these subtropical high-pressure belts toward the Equator is deflected toward the west in both hemispheres by the Coriolis effect. In physics the Coriolis effect is an apparent deflection of moving objects when they are viewed from a Rotating frame of reference. Because winds are named for the direction from which the wind is blowing, these winds are called the northeast trade winds in the Northern Hemisphere and the southeast trade winds in the Southern Hemisphere. The trade winds meet at the doldrums. Surface winds known as "westerlies" flow from the Horse Latitudes toward the poles. The Westerlies or the Prevailing Westerlies are the prevailing winds in the Middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees Latitude, blowing from The "westerlies" meet "easterlies" from the polar highs at about 50-60° N. and S.

Among the most well known trade winds is the alizé (sometimes alize), a steady, mild northeasterly wind which blows across central Africa and the Caribbean. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting It brings cool temperatures between November and February.

Trade winds are known to blow across Madagascar and other regions in the area. They are usually strongest in April to October but they do blow all year long.