Winds in the D and E regions of the Earth’s upper atmosphere are analysed here into contributions derived from a general circulation, planetary waves, tidal oscillations, gravity waves and turbulence. Some characteristics of each contribution are outlined in turn. All contributions occur naturally in a superimposed state, and the interactions between them are in many respects crucial to an understanding of the system as a whole. Many of the anticipated interactions are described, and suspected consequences to other areas of aeronomical investigation are indicated, explicitly and implicitly. Both the mapping of individual contributions, and the study of interactions and consequences, are found to provide much scope for further investigation. Some topics are highlighted, that might benefit particularly from concerted observations over Europe. A critique of ‘ionospheric drift’ measurements is included, since these measurements contain evidence of motion that must be associated with the winds of the regions to which they refer: but it is stressed that the manner of association is not yet unambiguous.