Subtropical ridge facts for kids

This picture shows where the subtropical ridge usually is. In these areas, the winds are often very calm. These calm areas are sometimes called the horse latitudes.

The subtropical ridge is a huge area of high pressure that circles the Earth. You can find it near 30 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also found near 30 degrees south of the Equator in the Southern Hemisphere. In these areas, the winds are usually very calm.

What is the Subtropical Ridge?

Imagine a giant, invisible belt of air that pushes down on the Earth. That's kind of like the subtropical ridge. It's a place where air from higher up in the atmosphere sinks. As this air sinks, it gets warmer and drier. This creates an area of high pressure.

How Does it Affect Weather?

Because the air is sinking, it's hard for clouds to form. This means areas under the subtropical ridge often have clear skies and sunny weather. It's why many deserts are found around 30 degrees latitude. The calm winds also mean that ships used to get stuck in these areas.

How Does it Create Winds?

Air always wants to move from high pressure to low pressure. So, from the center of the subtropical ridge, air flows outwards.

• Some air flows towards the Equator. This creates the trade winds, which blow from east to west. Sailors used these winds to travel across oceans.
• Other air flows towards the Poles. This creates the westerlies, which blow from west to east. These winds affect the weather in many parts of the world, including North America and Europe.

See also

In Spanish: Latitudes del caballo para niños

Images for kids

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  The subtropical ridge looks like a large black area on this satellite image from September 2000. Black means the air is very dry.

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  This map shows where the subtropical ridge is usually located in July.