Science Common Sense

267 - How do trade winds affect climate?

Trade winds are winds that blow from the east to the west near the equator. They affect the climate by:

  1. Bringing rain: Trade winds pick up moisture from the oceans and bring rain to the lands they pass over.
  2. Keeping temperatures cool: By blowing from the cooler parts of the ocean, trade winds help keep temperatures cooler in areas they reach.
  3. Creating deserts: Where trade winds lose their moisture, like on the other side of a mountain, they can create dry and hot deserts.

In short, trade winds help make some areas cool and rainy, and other areas hot and dry.

PrevHomeNext