Distribution of Air Pressure and Pressure Belts

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  • Air pressure
  • Pressure belts
  • Trade winds
  • WesterliesWesterlies
  • Polar Easterlies
  • Horse latitudes
  • Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
  • Subtropical ridge
  • Subpolar low
  • Polar front
  • Jet streams
  • Coriolis effect
    Air pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air molecules above a given point. It is measured in units of millibars (mb). The average air pressure at sea level is 1013 mb. Air pressure decreases with altitude, so the air pressure at the top of Mount Everest is only about 33 mb.
  • Pressure belts are areas of the Earth’s AtmosphereAtmosphere where the air pressure is relatively high or low. The three main pressure belts are the equatorial low, the subtropical high, and the polar high. The equatorial low is located near the equator, where the air is warm and rises. The subtropical high is located at about 30 degrees north and south latitude, where the air is sinking. The polar high is located at the poles, where the air is cold and sinking.

    Trade winds are winds that blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere. They are caused by the difference in air pressure between the subtropical high and the equatorial low. The trade winds are important because they help to distribute heat and moisture around the globe.

    Westerlies are winds that blow from the west in the mid-latitudes. They are caused by the difference in air pressure between the subtropical high and the polar low. The westerlies are important because they help to bring storms to the mid-latitudes.

    Polar easterlies are winds that blow from the east in the polar regions. They are caused by the difference in air pressure between the polar high and the subpolar low. The polar easterlies are important because they help to keep the polar regions cold.

    Horse latitudes are areas of the Earth’s atmosphere where the air pressure is high and the winds are calm. They are located at about 30 degrees north and south latitude. The horse latitudes are named because sailors used to abandon their sick horses there when they were crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

    The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a belt of low pressure that circles the Earth near the equator. It is caused by the rising air at the equator. The ITCZ is a region of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

    The subtropical ridge is a belt of high pressure that circles the Earth at about 30 degrees north and south latitude. It is caused by the sinking air at the subtropical high. The subtropical ridge is a region of dry weather.

    The subpolar low is a belt of low pressure that circles the Earth at about 60 degrees north and south latitude. It is caused by the rising air at the polar front. The subpolar low is a region of heavy snowfall.

    The polar front is a boundary between the cold air from the polar regions and the warm air from the mid-latitudes. It is located at about 60 degrees north and south latitude. The polar front is a region of active weather, including storms.

    Jet streams are fast-flowing bands of air in the atmosphere. They are located at about 30 degrees north and south latitude. Jet streams are important because they help to steer storms and weather systems around the globe.

    The Coriolis effect is an apparent deflection of objects moving in a straight line on a rotating object. It is caused by the Earth’s rotation. The Coriolis effect is responsible for the Earth’s prevailing winds.
    Air pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air above a given point. It is measured in millibars (mb).

    Pressure belts are areas of the Earth’s atmosphere where air pressure is relatively high or low. The three main pressure belts are the equatorial low, the subtropical high, and the polar high.

    Trade winds are prevailing winds that blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere. They are caused by the difference in air pressure between the equatorial low and the subtropical high.

    Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from the west in the mid-latitudes. They are caused by the difference in air pressure between the subtropical high and the polar low.

    Polar easterlies are prevailing winds that blow from the east in the polar regions. They are caused by the difference in air pressure between the polar high and the subpolar low.

    Horse latitudes are subtropical regions where the trade winds converge and descend. They are characterized by calm winds, clear skies, and hot, dry conditions.

    Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is a belt of low pressure that circles the Earth near the equator. It is where the trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge.

    Subtropical ridge is a region of high pressure that lies north and south of the ITCZ. It is caused by the sinking of warm, dry air.

    Subpolar low is a region of low pressure that lies poleward of the subtropical ridge. It is caused by the rising of cold, moist air.

    Polar front is a boundary that separates cold polar air from warm tropical air. It is located at about 60 degrees north and south latitude.

    Jet streams are fast-flowing, narrow bands of air that occur in the upper atmosphere. They are caused by the difference in temperature between the equator and the poles.

    Coriolis effect is an apparent deflection of objects moving in a straight line due to the Earth’s rotation. It is responsible for the Earth’s prevailing winds.
    1. Which of the following is not a pressure belt?
    (A) Horse latitudes
    (B) Intertropical convergence zone
    (CC) Subtropical ridge
    (D) Polar front
    (E) Jet stream

    1. Which of the following winds blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere?
      (A) Trade winds
      (B) Westerlies
      (C) Polar easterlies
      (D) Horse latitudes
      (E) Intertropical convergence zone

    2. Which of the following is a zone of low pressure that lies near the equator?
      (A) Horse latitudes
      (B) Intertropical convergence zone
      (C) Subtropical ridge
      (D) Subpolar low
      (E) Polar front

    3. Which of the following is a zone of high pressure that lies near 30 degrees north and south latitude?
      (A) Horse latitudes
      (B) Intertropical convergence zone
      (C) Subtropical ridge
      (D) Subpolar low
      (E) Polar front

    4. Which of the following is a zone of strong winds that flows from west to east in the mid-latitudes?
      (A) Trade winds
      (B) Westerlies
      (C) Polar easterlies
      (D) Horse latitudes
      (E) Intertropical convergence zone

    5. Which of the following is a zone of strong winds that flows from east to west in the subtropics?
      (A) Trade winds
      (B) Westerlies
      (C) Polar easterlies
      (D) Horse latitudes
      (E) Intertropical convergence zone

    6. Which of the following is a zone of strong winds that flows from east to west in the polar regions?
      (A) Trade winds
      (B) Westerlies
      (C) Polar easterlies
      (D) Horse latitudes
      (E) Intertropical convergence zone

    7. Which of the following is a phenomenon that causes winds to curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere?
      (A) Air pressure
      (B) Pressure belts
      (C) Trade winds
      (D) Westerlies
      (E) Coriolis effect

    8. Which of the following is a zone of convergence where the trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet?
      (A) Horse latitudes
      (B) Intertropical convergence zone
      (C) Subtropical ridge
      (D) Subpolar low
      (E) Polar front

    9. Which of the following is a zone of divergence where the trade winds rise and create clouds and PrecipitationPrecipitation?
      (A) Horse latitudes
      (B) Intertropical convergence zone
      (C) Subtropical ridge
      (D) Subpolar low
      (E) Polar front