As you can see in the diagram above, the polar easterlies are located near the poles, starting at 60ºN and S latitude and extending poleward. The polar easterlies in the northern hemisphere blow from the northeast towards the southwest, while the polar easterlies in the southern hemisphere blow from the southeast towards the northwest. The polar easterly winds begin to blow towards the equator as cold dense air sinks. As the Earth spins on its axis, the Coriolis Effect causes these cold polar winds to be deflected in an easterly direction from each pole.

The prevailing westerlies are located in the northern and southern hemispheres in a zone between 30-60ºN and S latitude. In the northern hemisphere, the prevailing westerlies blow from the southwest towards the northeast and they blow from the northwest towards the southeast in the southern hemisphere. The westerlies are strong, steady winds. In the United States, it is the westerlies that carry most of the weather and storms from the west coast to the east coast.

Between the polar easterlies and the prevailing westerlies is a zone of low pressure called the subpolar low. These low pressure areas are associated with cold, stormy weather.

The trade winds are located between 30ºN and 30ºS latitude. The trade winds blow towards the southwest in the northern hemisphere and towards the northwest in the southern hemisphere. The convection cells located in these regions cause air to warm and rise near the equator and move towards latitudes 30ºN and 30ºS. When the air reaches these latitudes, it sinks and moves back towards the equator and the process repeats.

Due to the sinking air associated with the trade winds at 30ºN and 30ºS latitude, a high pressure system is established, known as the subtropical high pressure zone (or horse latitudes). The subtropical high pressure zones are associated with little precipitation and weak winds; in fact, many of the world's deserts (e.g. the Sahara) are located in the horse latitudes.

Also associated with the air movement of the trade winds is the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ is located where the northern and southern trade winds meet at the equator. This area is also known as the doldrums. The warm, rising air at the ITCZ creates thunderstorms, which is responsible for the high amounts of precipitation that characterize most of the planet's tropical rainforests.

To help you remember the wind systems and their locations relative to the high and low pressure zones across the globe, here is a poem that Abigail Gardner wrote: