Prevailing Winds are a those winds which are formed as a result of various circulation patterns of the globe and they are a notable feature of weather phenomenon .

Formation of Prevailing Winds :

Prevailing winds are caused due to the unequal heating of the surface of the Earth. As the hot air goes up, cooler air moves to substitute it. In this way wind is formed. On reaching the Earth's troposphere the wind takes an orbital course around the Earth. The differences in heating gives rise to air circulations which flow from the equator to the poles in the upper parts of the atmosphere and vice versa in the lower parts.

Path of Prevailing Winds :

Prevailing winds generally blow from one region having high pressure to another which has low pressure. They do not follow the direct route from north to south between the belts of pressure. This happens because of the deflection of airflow by Coriolis force.

Types of Prevailing Winds :

•  Trade Winds : In olden days, sailors heavily depended on these prevailing winds to sail from Europe to America. The northeast trade winds are found between the latitudes of 30 to 0°N and the southeast trade winds occur between 0 to 30°S latitudes.

•  Westerlies : These prevailing winds are found below the Ferrel circulation cell in the mid latitudes.

•  Polar Easterlies are prevailing winds that are permanent cold winds which form a part of the polar circulation cell. These winds can mix with the Gulf Stream to form very violent and strong tornadoes and thunderstorms.

•  Jet Streams are prevailing winds which are very swift currents of the higher level.