trade-wind inversion

trade-wind inversion [′trād ¦wind in‚vər·zhən]

(meteorology)

A characteristic temperature inversion usually present in the trade-wind streams over the eastern portions of the tropical oceans: it is formed by broad-scale subsidence of air from high altitudes in the eastern extremities of the subtropical highs; while descending, the current meets the opposition of the low-level maritime air flowing equatorward; the inversion forms at the meeting point of these two strata which flow horizontally in the same direction.