Surface Winds
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 1.3.3
The Different Types of Surface Winds
At 30o north and south, the air from the equator cools and falls. When the cool air reaches the Earth's surface, surface winds blow the cool air either towards the equator, or away from the equator towards the Poles.
What are trade winds?
- Trade winds are surface winds that blow from 30o north or 30o south back towards the equator.
- In the southern hemisphere, trade winds will blow from south-east to north-west until they reach the equator.
- In the northern hemisphere, trade winds blow from north-east to south-west until they reach the equator.
- Trade winds from the northern & southern hemisphere meet at the equator, where they are heated and the cycle begins again.
What are westerlies?
- Westerlies are surface winds that blow from 30o north towards the North Pole or from 30o south out towards the South Pole.
- In the southern hemisphere, westerlies blow from north-west to south-east until they reach the South Pole.
- In the northern hemisphere, westerlies blow from south-west to north-east until they reach the North Pole.
Test yourself on Surface Winds
Which is NOT a type of surface wind?