In the tropics, steady winds blow from the east toward the equator. These are the trade winds. In the Northern Hemisphere they come from the northeast; in the Southern Hemisphere they come from the southeast.

The trades are part of the Hadley circulation. Air rises near the equator, flows poleward aloft, sinks in the subtropics, and returns toward the equator at the surface. The Coriolis effect deflects the returning flow into the easterly trades.

Historically the trade winds powered sailing ships on routes between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Today they influence tropical rainfall, ocean currents, and the development of tropical cyclones. Their strength varies with the seasons and with larger climate patterns such as El Niño.

Over the open ocean the trades are among the most reliable winds on Earth.