Planetary winds
Planetary winds are also called primary winds, prevailing winds, and permanent winds.
The following are the main characteristics:
- The direction of planetary winds is the same throughout the year.
- Due to Coriolis force and Ferrel law, in the northern hemisphere, Planetary winds deflect right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern hemisphere.
- They travel large distances and blow extensive over continents and oceans.
- Planetary winds originated in a high-pressure belt from 30 to 35-degree latitude and 90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres and blow towards the low-pressure belt.
Planetary winds are 6 in number and 3 types:
- Trade winds
- Westerlies
- Easterlies
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| Planetary Winds |
Trade winds:
- Trade winds originated at 30-degree latitude in both hemisphere
- Trade winds blow from subtropical high pressure to equatorial low pressure in both hemispheres.
- In the northern hemisphere, due to Ferrel law, trade winds blow from the northeast direction.
- In the southern hemisphere, trade winds blow from the southeast direction.
The westerlies:
- The westerlies originated at a 35-degree latitude in both hemispheres and blow towards subpolar low pressure.
- It deflects right in the northern hemisphere and flows in the southwest direction.
- It deflects left in the southern hemisphere and flows in the northwest direction.
- In the southern hemisphere:
- In 40 degree latitude, it is called roaring forties.
- In 50 degree latitude, it is called furious fifteen.
- In 60 degree latitude, it is called shrinkage sixties.
Polar easterlies:
- Polar easterlies originated in the region of the pole (90 degrees)and flow towards the sub-polar low-pressure belts (65-degree latitude).
- It deflects right in the northern hemisphere and flows from the northeast direction.
- It deflects left in the southern hemisphere and flows from the southeast direction.
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