World Pressure Belts

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The equatorial low-pressure belt is located around the equator. It is the hottest part of the Earth, and the air is warm and rises. This rising air creates an area of low pressure.

The subtropical high-pressure belt is located north and south of the equator. The air in this belt is sinking, which creates an area of high pressure.

The horse latitudes are located between the subtropical high-pressure belt and the roaring forties. They are so named because sailors used to abandon their sick horses here, as the lack of wind made it difficult to sail.

The roaring forties are located between 40 and 50 degrees south latitude. They are named for the strong winds that blow here.

The furious fifties are located between 50 and 60 degrees south latitude. They are even windier than the roaring forties.

The screaming sixties are located between 60 and 70 degrees south latitude. They are the windiest part of the Earth.

The Antarctic polar high-pressure belt is located at the South Pole. It is the coldest part of the Earth, and the air is cold and sinks. This sinking air creates an area of high pressure.

The Arctic polar high-pressure belt is located at the North Pole. It is the coldest part of the Earth, and the air is cold and sinks. This sinking air creates an area of high pressure.

The Earth’s atmosphere is constantly in motion, and the air in these belts can move around. This movement of air creates wind. The windiest parts of the Earth are the roaring forties, the furious fifties, and the screaming sixties. These winds are caused by the Earth’s rotation and the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun.

The Earth’s atmosphere is a complex system, and the belts of pressure are just one part of it. These belts play an important role in the Earth’s weather and climate.
Equatorial low-pressure belt

• What is the equatorial low-pressure belt?
  The equatorial low-pressure belt is a belt of low pressure that encircles the Earth at the equator.
• Why is there low pressure at the equator?
  The equatorial low-pressure belt is caused by the warm air rising at the equator. This rising air creates an area of low pressure at the surface.
• What are the effects of the equatorial low-pressure belt?
  The equatorial low-pressure belt is responsible for the formation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ is a band of thunderstorms that circles the Earth near the equator.

Subtropical high-pressure belt

• What is the subtropical high-pressure belt?
  The subtropical high-pressure belt is a belt of high pressure that encircles the Earth at about 30 degrees north and south latitude.
• Why is there high pressure at the subtropical high-pressure belt?
  The subtropical high-pressure belt is caused by the sinking air at the 30-degree latitude. This sinking air creates an area of high pressure at the surface.
• What are the effects of the subtropical high-pressure belt?
  The subtropical high-pressure belt is responsible for the formation of the trade winds. The trade winds are a belt of easterly winds that blow from the subtropical high-pressure belt to the equatorial low-pressure belt.

Horse latitudes

• What are the horse latitudes?
  The horse latitudes are a belt of calm winds and hot, dry weather that occurs between the subtropical high-pressure belt and the polar front.
• Why are they called the horse latitudes?
  The horse latitudes are called the horse latitudes because sailors used to abandon their horses there when they ran out of food and water.
• What are the effects of the horse latitudes?
  The horse latitudes are responsible for the formation of the subtropical AnticyclonesAnticyclones. The subtropical anticyclones are large areas of high pressure that are responsible for the dry, hot weather in the horse latitudes.

Roaring Forties

• What are the Roaring Forties?
  The Roaring Forties are a belt of strong westerly winds that occurs between 40 and 50 degrees south latitude.
• Why are they called the Roaring Forties?
  The Roaring Forties are called the Roaring Forties because of the strong winds that occur there.
• What are the effects of the Roaring Forties?
  The Roaring Forties are responsible for the formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is a strong current that flows around Antarctica.

Furious Fifties

• What are the Furious Fifties?
  The Furious Fifties are a belt of strong westerly winds that occurs between 50 and 60 degrees south latitude.
• Why are they called the Furious Fifties?
  The Furious Fifties are called the Furious Fifties because of the strong winds that occur there.
• What are the effects of the Furious Fifties?
  The Furious Fifties are responsible for the formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is a strong current that flows around Antarctica.

Screaming Sixties

• What are the Screaming Sixties?
  The Screaming Sixties are a belt of strong westerly winds that occurs between 60 and 70 degrees south latitude.
• Why are they called the Screaming Sixties?
  The Screaming Sixties are called the Screaming Sixties because of the strong winds that occur there.
• What are the effects of the Screaming Sixties?
  The Screaming Sixties are responsible for the formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is a strong current that flows around Antarctica.

Antarctic polar high-pressure belt

• What is the Antarctic polar high-pressure belt?
  The Antarctic polar high-pressure belt is a belt of high pressure that encircles Antarctica.
• Why is there high pressure at the Antarctic polar high-pressure belt?
  The Antarctic polar high-pressure belt is caused by the cold air sinking at the poles. This sinking air creates an area of high pressure at the surface.
• What are the effects of the Antarctic polar high-pressure belt?
  The Antarctic polar high-pressure belt is responsible for the formation of the Antarctic ice sheet. The Antarctic ice sheet is a large area of ice that covers most of Antarctica.

• Which of the following is a belt of low pressure that circles the Earth near the equator?
  (A) Equatorial low-pressure belt
  (B) Subtropical high-pressure belt
  (CC) Horse latitudes
  (D) Roaring Forties
  (E) Furious Fifties

• Which of the following is a belt of high pressure that circles the Earth near 30 degrees north and south latitude?
  (A) Equatorial low-pressure belt
  (B) Subtropical high-pressure belt
  (C) Horse latitudes
  (D) Roaring Forties
  (E) Furious Fifties

• Which of the following is a region of calm winds and dry weather that is located between the trade winds and the WesterliesWesterlies?
  (A) Equatorial low-pressure belt
  (B) Subtropical high-pressure belt
  (C) Horse latitudes
  (D) Roaring Forties
  (E) Furious Fifties

• Which of the following is a belt of strong westerly winds that is located between 40 and 50 degrees south latitude?
  (A) Roaring Forties
  (B) Furious Fifties
  (C) Screaming Sixties
  (D) Antarctic polar high-pressure belt
  (E) Arctic polar high-pressure belt

• Which of the following is a belt of strong westerly winds that is located between 50 and 60 degrees south latitude?
  (A) Furious Fifties
  (B) Screaming Sixties
  (C) Antarctic polar high-pressure belt
  (D) Arctic polar high-pressure belt

• Which of the following is a belt of strong westerly winds that is located between 60 and 70 degrees south latitude?
  (A) Screaming Sixties
  (B) Antarctic polar high-pressure belt
  (C) Arctic polar high-pressure belt

• Which of the following is a belt of high pressure that circles the Earth near the poles?
  (A) Antarctic polar high-pressure belt
  (B) Arctic polar high-pressure belt

• Which of the following is a belt of low pressure that circles the Earth near the poles?
  (A) Equatorial low-pressure belt
  (B) Subtropical high-pressure belt
  (C) Horse latitudes
  (D) Roaring Forties
  (E) Furious Fifties