Tropical Climates Flashcards
What are climates within the tropics influenced by
Latitude Pressure systems Winds Coastal or inland Ocean currents Mountain ranges
Define climatic hazard
Natural event brought about by weather or climate that threatens life and property
Define convection
When the lower air in the atmosphere is heated by the ground it expands and rises. This leads to instability within the atmosphere and formation of cumulonimbus clouds
Define tropical revoking storms
A term that covers hurricanes, tropical cyclones, typhoons and willy-willies. These intense low pressure weather systems are associated with catastrophic wind speeds and turtle risk rainfall
What is a major influence on all tropical climates
The position of the inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
Where does the ITCZ occur
Along a line where the northeast trade winds blowing away from the subtropical high pressure cell in the northern hemisphere meet the southeast trade winds blowing in a similar fashion on from the subtropical high in the Southern Hemisphere.
Where does convergence occur
At the point where the trade winds meet
How does the ITCZ encourage storms in the tropics
Convergence and intense heating in the low latitudes causes air to rise and this in turn is helped by divergence aloft. The tendency of air to be lifted by convergence is greater on the western sides of the oceans = storms
What does the ITCZ mark
An area of intense low pressure.
It is associated with an area of precipitation that moves north and south of the equator throughout the year, following the movement of the sun.
What happens to the ITCZ in the summer
Moves further away from the equator in the northern hemisphere than might be expected during the summer months, particularly over the great continental landmass of Asia.
(During these months the land is heated intensely)
