Prevailing Wind

A region's prevailing and dominant winds are the result of global patterns of movement in the Earth's sky.

Half way between the Top of Earth (North Pole) and the bottom of Earth (South Pole) is an imaginary line that scientists call the Equator. North of the Equator is the Tropic of Cancer, and south of the Equator is the Tropic of Capricorn that encompasses the Tropics here on Earth.

The Equator is slightly bulged like a spinning top and has relatively constant warm temperatures in relation to the rest of the planet because it is the closest place on Earth to the Sun at all times. 

Wind moves from East to West between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.  Wind moves West to East from the Tropic of Cancer to the near the North Pole, and from the Tropic of Capricorn to near Antarctica.  For further information on prevailing wind direction look up the Coriolis Effect.

This is important information to understand because Carbon Dioxide is transported throughout the globe by wind currents.  As Carbon Dioxide moves out of the Tropics it gradually begins to move in the opposite direction.  As Carbon Dioxide moves north of the Tropic of Cancer into the southern and eastern United States it brings with it warmer temperatures.  Warm air from the Tropics often carries with it large rainstorms as evaporated water from the Tropics is carried north and east into the United States, such as the large flash flooding that has occurred in Texas and New Mexico in July 2025.

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