Table of Contents
- 1 Is the equator associated with rising air?
- 2 What is the situation where the air above becomes warmer than that near Earth’s surface?
- 3 Why is there a high pressure belt at 30 S and 30 N of the equator?
- 4 What happens to the surrounding air as warm air rises in the troposphere?
- 5 What is the pressure zone associated with rising air?
- 6 How are the winds of a high pressure system related to the equator?
Is the equator associated with rising air?
In the tropics, near the equator, warm air rises. Air that rose just north of the equator flows north. Air that rose just south of the equator flows south. When the air cools, it drops back to the ground, flows back towards the Equator, and warm again.
What is the situation where the air above becomes warmer than that near Earth’s surface?
If the air mass sinks low enough, the air at higher altitudes becomes warmer than at lower altitudes, producing a temperature inversion.
Why does air at Earth’s surface usually flow from 30 N toward the equator?
Winds blow between areas of different atmospheric pressures. The Coriolis Effect influences the circulation pattern of the Earth’s atmosphere. In the zone between about 30° N. and 30° S., the surface air flows toward the Equator and the flow aloft is poleward.
Why is it called doldrums?
Because the air circulates in an upward direction, there is often little surface wind in the ITCZ. That is why sailors well know that the area can becalm sailing ships for weeks. And that’s why they call it the doldrums.
Why is there a high pressure belt at 30 S and 30 N of the equator?
The equator will become hotter than the poles. By allowing the earth to rotate slowly we spread this warmth out in a belt that circles the globe at the equator rather than concentrating it in a spot on the side of the earth facing the sun.
What happens to the surrounding air as warm air rises in the troposphere?
Within the troposphere are convection cells (Figure below). Warm air rises, creating a low pressure zone; cool air sinks, creating a high pressure zone. Air that moves horizontally between high and low pressure zones makes wind. The greater the pressure difference between the pressure zones the faster the wind moves.
What are equatorial westerlies?
Quick Reference. The westerly winds that sometimes develop within the equatorial trough when the Intertropical Convergence Zone is well north or south of the Equator. The north-easterly or south-easterly trade winds cross the Equator and, because of the reversal of the Coriolis effect, acquire a westerly component.
Why are horse latitudes called so?
Unable to sail and resupply due to lack of wind, crews often ran out of drinking water. To conserve scarce water, sailors on these ships would sometimes throw the horses they were transporting overboard. Thus, the phrase ‘horse latitudes’ was born.
What is the pressure zone associated with rising air?
Pressure zone, associated with rising air near the equator, is called equatorial low.
Swirling in the opposite direction from a low pressure system, the winds of a high pressure system rotate clockwise north of the equator and counterclockwise south of the equator. This is called anticyclonic flow. Air from higher in the atmosphere sinks down to fill the space left as air is blown outward.
Where does the air flow in a high pressure system?
Air near the surface flows down and away in a high pressure system (left) and air flows up and together at a low pressure system (right). Standing on the ground and looking up, you are looking through the atmosphere.
How much pressure is at the bottom of the atmosphere?
We live at the bottom of the atmosphere, and the weight of all the air above us is called air pressure. Above every square inch on the surface of the Earth is 14.7 pounds of air. That means air exerts 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure at Earth’s surface.