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Pressure Belts of Earth

There are seven pressure belts on Earth's surface - the Equatorial Low, two Subtropical highs, two Subpolar lows, and two Polar highs. These alternate between high and low pressure zones due to uneven heating from the sun. The Equatorial region receives the most direct sunlight, causing warm air to rise and creating low pressure. Cold air at the poles sinks, producing high pressure. Earth's rotation also influences pressure belts. The Subpolar regions experience low pressure because the Coriolis effect pushes air towards the Equator. Seasonal shifting of up to 5 degrees occurs as the sun's overhead position changes, affecting climate in mid-latitude regions.

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Pratima Mukherjee
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136 views

Pressure Belts of Earth

There are seven pressure belts on Earth's surface - the Equatorial Low, two Subtropical highs, two Subpolar lows, and two Polar highs. These alternate between high and low pressure zones due to uneven heating from the sun. The Equatorial region receives the most direct sunlight, causing warm air to rise and creating low pressure. Cold air at the poles sinks, producing high pressure. Earth's rotation also influences pressure belts. The Subpolar regions experience low pressure because the Coriolis effect pushes air towards the Equator. Seasonal shifting of up to 5 degrees occurs as the sun's overhead position changes, affecting climate in mid-latitude regions.

Uploaded by

Pratima Mukherjee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pressure Belts 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. Except the Equatorial low. the
others form matching pairs in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. There is a pattern of alternate
high and low pressure belts over the earth. This is due to the spherical shape of the earth—different
parts of the earth are heated unequally. The Equatorial region receives great amount of heat
throughout the year. Warm air being light, the air at the Equator rises, creating a low pressure. At the
poles the cold heavy air causes high pressure to be created/formed. It is also due to the rotation of the
earth. In the Subpolar region around latitudes 60° to 65° North and South of the Equator, the rotation
of the earth pushes up the bulk of the air towards the Equator, creating a low pressure belt in this
region.
(i) Equatorial Low Pressure Belts

This low pressure belt extends from 0 to 5° North and South of Equator. Due to the vertical rays of
the sun here, there is intense heating. The air therefore, expands and rises as convection current
causing a low pressure to develop here. This low pressure belt is also called as doldrums, because it is
a zone of total calm without any breeze.

(ii) Subtropical High Pressure Belts

At about 30°North and South of Equator lies the area where the ascending equatorial air currents
descend. This area is thus an area of high pressure. It is also called as the Horse latitude. Winds
always blow from high pressure to low pressure. So the winds from subtropical region blow towards
Equator as Trade winds and another wind blows towards Sub-Polar Low-Pressure as Westerlies.

(iii) Circum-Polar Low Pressure Belts

These belts located between 60° and 70° in each hemisphere are known as Circum-Polar Low
Pressure Belts. In the Subtropical region the descending air gets divided into two parts. One part
blows towards the Equatorial Low Pressure Belt. The other part blows towards the Circum- Polar
Low Pressure Belt. This zone is marked by ascent of warm Subtropical air over cold polar air blowing
from poles. Due to earth s rotation, the winds surrounding the Polar region blow towards the Equator.
Centrifugal forces operating in this region create the low pressure belt appropriately called
Circumpolar Low Pressure Belt. This region is marked by violent storms in winter.

(iv) Polar High Pressure Areas

At the North and South Poles, between 70° to 90° North and South, the temperatures are always
extremely low. The cold descending air gives rise to high pressures over the Poles. These areas of
Polar high pressure are known as the Polar Highs. These regions are characterised by permanent Ice
Caps.

SHIFTING OF PRESSURE BELTS

If the earth had not been inclined towards the sun, the pressure belts, as described above, would have
been as they are. But it is not so, because the earth is inclined 23 1/2° towards the sun. On account of
this inclination, differences in heating of the continents, oceans and pressure conditions in January
and July vary greatly. January represents winter season and July, summer season in the Northern
Hemisphere. Opposite conditions prevail in the Southern Hemisphere. When the sun is overhead on
the Tropic of Cancer (21 June) the pressure belts shift 5° northward and when it shines vertically
overhead on Tropic of Capricorn (22 December), they shift 5° southward from their original position.
The shifting of the pressure belts cause seasonal changes in the climate, especially between latitudes
30° and 40° in both hemispheres. In this region the Mediterranean type of climate is experienced
because of shifting of permanent belts southwards and northwards with the overhead position of the
sun. During winters Westerlies prevail and cause rain. During summers dry Trade Winds blow
offshore and are unable to give rainfall in these regions. When the sun shines vertically over the
Equator on 21st March and 23rd September (the Equinoxes), the pressure belts remain balanced in
both the hemispheres.

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