Therefore it would remain behind, the earth gliding, as it
were, from beneath it; or, in other words, it would have the
appearance of an east wind. Lieutenant Maury adopts the same
explanation. It is, indeed, that of Halley, slightly modified.
The warm air, ascending from the equatorial regions, rushes to the
poles to be cooled in turn, sliding over the heavy strata of cold air
below.
The northern trade-wind prevails in the Pacific between 2 deg. and 25 deg. of
N. Latitude; the southern trade, between 10 deg. and 21 deg. of S. Latitude.
In the Atlantic the trades are generally limited by the 8th and 28th
degrees of N. Latitude. The region of calms lies between these trades,
and beyond them are what are styled the Variables. In the former the
seaman finds baffling winds, rain, and storms. Occasionally, from
causes not yet fully explained, north and south periodical winds break
in upon them, such as the Northers which rage in the Gulf of Mexico.
There are many curious facts connected with the Trades, and with the
Monsoons, or trade-winds turned back by continental heat in the East
Indies, the Typhoons, the Siroccos, the Harmattans, land and sea
breezes and hurricanes, the Samiel or Poison Wind, and the Etesian.
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