Atmospheric pressure belts refer to the zones of high and low air pressure found at Earth's surface, primarily driven by the unequal heating of the planet by the sun. There are several key pressure belts:Equatorial Low-Pressure Belt (Intertropical Convergence Zone, ITCZ): Located near the equator, this belt experiences consistently low pressure due to intense solar heating, causing warm air to rise and create convectional rainfall.Subtropical High-Pressure Belts: Found around 30° latitude north and south of the equator, these belts result from descending air from the troposphere, creating stable, dry conditions. They are associated with deserts like the Sahara and Sonoran.Polar High-Pressure Belts: Near the poles, around 90° latitude, cold air descends and forms high-pressure zones. These regions are characterized by cold temperatures and dry conditions.Subpolar Low-Pressure Belts: These are found around 60° latitude north and south, where the polar air masses meet warmer air from the mid-latitudes. This mixing creates stormy weather and variable conditions.
Category
📚
Learning