Why do trade winds blow consistently?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Atmospheric circulation cells
Moon's gravity pulls air — Wrong. Moon affects tides, not consistent wind patterns. Trade winds come from global atmospheric circulation driven by solar heating.
Atmospheric circulation cells ✓ — Correct! Trade winds result from Hadley cell circulation. Equatorial air rises (heated), flows toward poles at altitude, descends at 30° latitude. Return surface flow toward equator is deflected westward by Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), creating northeast trades (Northern Hemisphere) and southeast trades (Southern). Remarkably consistent—enabled historic sailing routes!
Jet streams guide surface winds — Wrong. Jet streams are high-altitude westerlies, not surface trade winds. Trades form from Hadley circulation and Coriolis deflection.