SCIENCE 7

QUARTER 4
WEEK 4
Atmospheric
Phenomena
Atmospheric Phenomena: Breezes,
Monsoons, and Intertropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
MELC 25: Demonstrate an understanding on the
account for the occurrence of land and sea
breezes, monsoons, and intertropical convergence
zone (ITCZ). (S7ES-IVf-7)

1. Identify common atmospheric phenomena such as breezes,

monsoons and intertropical convergence zone;
2. Compare the types of breezes and monsoons; and
3. Give examples how the monsoons (amihan and habagat)
affect people.
How does a fan give us cool air?
A fan does not give cool air
 Why does hot air balloon float?
Because of density
– it is the measure
of mass present per
unit volume. Lesser
the density the
lighter will be the
object.
 We often look forward to
window-seats on a vehicle
to experience the feeling of
wind hitting our face.

The warm air blowing against our

face and hair is a pleasant feeling
for most of us.
The natural movement of
the air in the atmosphere
around us is called wind.

At times, we might experience a

light breeze or a low-intensity wind.
During a storm, we face winds of
extremely high intensity or velocity.
The air around us in
the atmosphere has
weight.
Gravity pulls the air
molecules toward the
earth, giving them
weight.
This weight of the air
collectively in the
atmosphere exerts a
pressure on the surface
of the earth and it is
known as air pressure.
This air pressure is
not uniformly
distributed over the
surface of the earth.
This air pressure
depends on both density
and temperature.
 What causes wind?
We know that the sun
is the major source of
heat and light energy
for the earth.

It is important to
note that the Sun
doesn’t heat up the
surface of the Earth
evenly.
Earth's axis is currently tilted 23.4 degrees

66.5°
23.5°

0°

23.5°

66.5°
 What causes wind?

Wind is caused The greater the

by a difference difference, the
in air pressure faster the wind
due to unequal moves.
heating of the
atmosphere.
As an area heats
up more, the
temperature of the
air in that region
also rises.
Subsequently, the hot air
rises up and expands
and as a result, it creates
a low-pressure area.
On the other hand, the air
with low temperature sinks
closer to the ground and
creates a high-pressure
region.
This colder air with high
pressure rushes to fill in the
region of hot air (where left
by the rising warm air at the
low-pressure regions.)
This movement of air from the
high-pressure region to the
low-pressure region is called
WIND
How this wind keeps
generating?

The hot air which rises up

and expands eventually
becomes cooler.
Once the air cools down, it
becomes heavy and sinks
again while contracting.
This cool air rushes to fill
the gap at some low-
pressure region again and
this process keeps
repeating.
This process of warm air
rising up and being
replaced by cooler air is
called convection.
 How does air behaves?

Hot air rises

Cold air sinks

The wind energy flowing
during convection is called
the convection current.

Remember: wind flows a

region of high air pressure
to a region of low air
pressure.
Global Atmospheric Circulation

Air sinking = high pressure = winds

moving outwards – 30 degrees N/S poles

Air rising = low pressure = winds moving

towards – 0, 60 degrees N/S poles
Global Atmospheric Circulation
Winds are distorted by the earth’s rotation
(Coriolis effect)

Surface winds transfer heat and moisture

from one place to another

Seasonal changes (due to earth’s tilt)

cause pressure belts to move
 There are two types of
winds:

1. Global Winds
2.Local Winds
 Global Winds
• Wind is the movement of
air caused by differences
in air pressure.
• Uneven heating produces
pressure belts which occur
every 30° latitude, which
cause winds; the air rises
and sinks (convection
currents).
Global Winds Low pressure

Global winds are

patterns of wind High pressure

that happen all Low pressure

over the world. They
are created by the High pressure
spin of the earth
and the difference
in temperatures. Low pressure
 4 types of Global Winds
Don’t travel North and South because
of the Earth rotating on its axis.

1. Doldrums
2.Trade Winds
3.Polar Easterlies
4.Prevailing Westerlies
90°N

60°

30°

0°

30°

60°

90° S
 90°N
SE
60°
NW
30°
SE
0°
NE
30°
SW
60°
NE
90° S
Polar Easterlies
These winds blow
close to the north and
south poles. They blow
away from the poles
and curve east to west.
These winds are cold,
dry winds.
 Polar Easterlies
• Cold, but weak winds
• Near the north and south poles
• US weather is influenced by these
• Cooling takes place between the 50-60
degree latitude as it approaches the
poles
 90°N
SE
60°
NW
30°
SE
0°
NE
30°
SW
60°
NE
90° S
Prevailing Westerlies
Westerlies are prevailing
winds that blow from the
west at midlatitudes.
They are fed by polar
easterlies and winds
from the high-pressure
horse latitudes, which
sandwich them on either
side.
 Prevailing Westerlies
• Strong winds
• Located in the belt from 30-60
degrees latitude in both
hemispheres.
 90°N
SE
60°
NW
30°
SE
0°
NE
30°
SW
60°
NE
90° S
 Trade Winds
Trade winds are winds
that circle near the
equator. Trade winds
have been used by
ships sailing the ocean
for centuries. They help
ship captains know
which direction they are
going.
 Trade Winds
Named from their ability to quickly
propel trading ships across the ocean

- Found between about 30° latitude

and the equator
- Steady and blow about 11 to 13 mph
 Trade Winds
- In the Northern Hemisphere, the trade
winds blow from the Northeast and are
known as the Northeast Trade Winds.
- In the Southern Hemisphere, the winds
blow from the southeast and are called
the Southeast Trade Winds.
 90°N
SE
60°
NW
30°
SE
0°
NE
30°
SW
60°
NE
90° S
 90°N
SE
60°
NW
30°
SE
0°
NE
30°
SW
60°
NE
90° S
 90°N

60°

30°

Doldrums 0°

Horse Latitudes 30°

60°

90°S
➢Horse
Latitudes
- regions located at
about 30 degrees north
and south of the
equator. These latitudes
are characterized by
calm winds and little
precipitation.
➢Doldrums
- are placed at five
degrees north and
south of the equator.
Low atmospheric
pressure and a lack of
substantial wind
characterize the region.
In addition, the region's
weather is cloudy and
rainy.
➢ Why are they called
doldrums?
-Sailors found that there
were no winds near the
equator for a period of
time. The ships were
essentially stuck in one
place, not being able to
move forward. These
calm periods were
called doldrums.
 90°N

60°

30°

Doldrums 0°

Horse Latitudes 30°

60°

90°S
➢Polar Cell The smallest and
weakest cells are the
Polar cells, which extend
from between 60 and 70
degrees north and
south, to the poles. Air in
these cells sinks over the
highest latitudes and
flows out towards the
lower latitudes at the
surface.
➢Polar Cell • Air sinks forming high
pressure (polar high)
• Cold air flows
towards lower
latitudes
• Air mixes at 60
degrees to form
Polar Front
 • 30-60 degrees N/S
➢Ferrel Cell • Winds pulled towards
the poles picks up
moisture as they
travel over oceans
• Warm moist air meets
cold air at 60 degrees
• Warm air rises above
the cold air
• Causes low pressure =
unstable weather
conditions
 Proposed by George
➢Hadley Cell Hadley (1735) to explain
the trade winds. The low-
latitude overturning
circulations that have air
rising at the equator and
air sinking at roughly 30°
latitude. They are
responsible for the trade
winds in the Tropics and
control low-latitude
weather patterns.
 • The equator is
➢Hadley Cell intensely heated by
the sun.
• Rising air = low
pressure
• Rising air cools it forms
towards clouds = hot,
humid weather with
high rainfall
• Air starts to move
towards the north &
south poles
 • Sinks at 30 degrees
➢Hadley Cell north/south = high
pressure
• Sinking air warms and
dries = low rainfall &
desserts
• Air flows back to the
equator = trade winds
• 0 degrees = tropical
climate
• 30 degrees = dessert
climate
 90°N

60°

30°

Doldrums 0°
(Intertropical Convergence Zone)
Horse Latitudes 30°

60°

90°S
 ITCZ

The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is

the place where the trade winds from northern
hemisphere and southern hemisphere
converge or meet at, or near, the equator.
 ITCZ

Breeding ground of low pressure area where

weather disturbances can form such as
typhoons.
We always hear about the Intertropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in weather
reports. ITCZ is the place where winds in the
tropics meet or converge. Because the
equator is warmer than the North and South
poles, the cooler air is drawn towards the
equator to replace the rising warm air.
Vapor pressure condenses as air rises and
cools in the ITCZ, forming clouds and rain.
This is where monsoon rainfall occurs.
 Local Winds

Local winds in one particular area.

Cover short distances and blows from
any direction. Types of local winds
include:

• Sea breeze – from sea to land

• Land breeze – from land to sea
 Local Winds
The land surface
heats up faster
than bodies of
water during the
day .
However the land
loses heat faster
than bodies of
water at night.
During the day, the sun
heats the ocean and
the land. The land
heats up much quicker
than the large ocean
does. This causes the
air above the land to
heat up and rise. The
cool air from the water
moves toward the land
to replace the rising Sea Breeze
warm air.
 When the air
moves from the sea
to the land, this is
called a sea breeze.

Sea Breeze
At night, a land breeze
occurs near the
ocean. The air above
the land cools down
fast, while the air
above water stays
warm. The cool air
from the land sinks
and moves toward
the ocean to replace
the rising warm air. Land Breeze
When the air blows
from the land out
to the sea, this is
called a land breeze

Land Breeze
 Northeast
Monsoons Monsoon
Sea and land breezes
(Amihan)
over a large region
that change direction Southwest
with the seasons are
called monsoons. Monsoon
(Habagat)
Monsoons occur when the air moves toward
the place where warm air is rising

Low pressure area High pressure area

Air moves from high pressure area to low
pressure area

High Low
pressure pressure
area area
 Northeast Monsoon
H H (Amihan)

Dry and cool wind

Slight to moderate
rainfall
L L
October to March
L (occurrence may vary
each year)
 Southwest Monsoon
(Habagat)
L
L L
Warm and moist
wind
Moderate to heavy
rainfall
H June to September
H (occurrence may
also vary each year)
 Northeast Monsoon
(Amihan)
The northeast monsoon locally known as
amihan in the Philippines affects the eastern
parts of the country from October to March. This
is brought by the cold air mass that comes from
Siberia and gathers moisture as it travels over
the Pacific Ocean. Amihan is characterized by
widespread cloudiness with slight to moderate
rainfall and prevailing cold winds.
 Northeast Monsoon
(Amihan)
Amihan season brings the best weather
conditions. The air is cool, there is less rain,
and humidity is low, plus the sunshine is
less threatening. Northeast monsoon
contributes to colder Christmas nights
which gives a better ambience fit for the
festive season.
 Southwest Monsoon
(Habagat)
The southwest monsoon or habagat affects the
western part of the country from June to
September. It is characterized by heavy rainfall,
humid weather and bring the rainy season to the
western parts of the country. Habagat is brought
about by the cool air from the high pressure area
in the Australian continent absorbing moisture by
passing over the warm equatorial oceans.
 Southwest Monsoon
(Habagat)
While the rain may ease farmers to irrigate the
rice fields, the heavy rainfall may trigger floods,
landslides, and potentially endanger
residents living near riverbanks. The typhoons
that habagat brings, unfortunately, cause
millions, sometimes billions, worth of
reconstruction damage and kill hundreds of
Filipinos.
 Effect of
Monsoons
• Monsoons can bring
moderate to
occasional heavy
rains which can
cause flood in our
country