What is equatorial low pressure belt?

Equatorial Low Pressure Belt or ‘Doldrums’

This belt happens to be the zone of convergence of trade winds from two hemispheres from sub-tropical high pressure belts. This belt is also called the Doldrums, because of the extremely calm air movements. The position of the belt varies with the apparent movement of the Sun.

What are the characteristics of pressure belt?

1. The expanse of this belt is found in both the sides of the equator between 5° latitudes. 2. Due to rays of the sun falling direct in this belt, the temperature is always high and the air pressure is low.

Why is equatorial low pressure belt 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.

What causes low pressure in equatorial region?

A. Equatorial regions is hotter and the air above expands, becomes less dense and rises. This produces a low pressure belt at this latitude.

What is a characteristic of subtropical highs?

They are characterized by sunny skies, calm winds, and very little precipitation. They are also known as subtropical ridges, or highs. It is a high-pressure area at the divergence of trade winds and the westerlies.

Why are subtropical belts high pressure?

Subtropical high pressure belt is a high pressure area exists along 30° N and 30° S. The sun is the ultimate source of energy that drives the earth’s weather. Most of the energy reaches the equatorial regions and the least energy reaches the poles, causing the tropics to warm and the poles to cool.

Which belt is known as doldrums and why?

The equatorial low-pressure belt is also known as ‘Doldrums’, meaning ‘the zone with no winds’. There is often little surface wind in the region as air rises due to the heat of the Sun. Geography.

Why the subtropical high pressure belt is called the horse latitude?

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.

How is sub polar low pressure belt formed?

Sub polar low pressure belts are formed due to dynamically induced pressure belts that is to counteract the subtropical high belt and polar high pressure belt. EXPLANATION: All the wind systems of the earth are formed due to uneven heating of Earth’s surface by the Sun.

Why does the temperate zone have low pressure?

Low pressure develops when air rises. … The rest travels towards the higher latitudes, delivering warm air masses to the temperate regions of the world at 50 to 60° latitude. Here they collide with cold polar air, and the warm air is forced to rise, developing a zone of low pressure.

In which ocean is air pressure the lowest?

The lowest non-tornadic atmospheric pressure ever measured was 870 hPa (0.858 atm; 25.69 inHg), set on 12 October 1979, during Typhoon Tip in the western Pacific Ocean.

What is atmospheric pressure describe the pressure belts of the world?

Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. On the earth’s surface, there are seven pressure belts. They are the Equatorial Low, the two Subtropical highs, the two Subpolar lows, and the two Polar highs.

What is temperate low pressure belt?

30°-60°North and South Belt region is of temperate low pressure belt or anti-trade wind area. It is marked by cyclones and anticyclones. 60°North and South are the two Temperate Low Pressure belts which are also called zones of convergence with Cyclonic activity. The 90° North and South are called Polar High belts.

What is the difference between low pressure and high pressure?

During high pressure, the atmospheric pressure is more than that of its surrounding area. During low pressure, the atmospheric pressure is less than that of its surrounding area. The air sinks and becomes warm. The air rises up and becomes cool.

Why does low pressure occur?

Areas of high and low pressure are caused by ascending and descending air. As air warms it ascends, leading to low pressure at the surface. As air cools it descends, leading to high pressure at the surface.

What is the difference between temperature zones and pressure belts?

Answer: the temperature zone has moderate climatic conditions acquired for the growth of the plant while pressure belts is the region in which the earth is dominated to the high pressure cells or low pressures.

Which pressure belt is known as horse latitude?

The subtropical high pressure belt region is also known as the horse latitude. These latitudes are characterised by calm winds and little precipitation.

How are equatorial low pressure belt created?

(i) The Equatorial Low Pressure Belt

The sun shines almost vertically on the equator throughout the year. As a result the air gets warm and rises over the equatorial region and produce equatorial low pressure. This belt extends from equator to 10º N and 10 º S latitudes.

What are the 4 pressure belts?

These belts exist in pattern of alternate high and low pressure zones over the earth and they are four in numbers: equatorial low pressure belt, sub-tropical high pressure belt, sub-polar low pressure belt and polar high pressure belt (Figure below).

What are the six wind belts?

What are the 6 global wind belts?
  • Prevailing Winds. …
  • Circulation Cells and Prevailing Wind Belts. …
  • Trade Winds. …
  • Polar Easterlies. …
  • Prevailing Westerlies. …
  • Convergence Zones. …
  • Complexity of Atmospheric Circulation.

How does altitude influence the air pressure?

As altitude increases, the amount of gas molecules in the air decreases—the air becomes less dense than air nearer to sea level. This is what meteorologists and mountaineers mean by “thin air.” Thin air exerts less pressure than air at a lower altitude.