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Westerlies to trigger Rains
Context
Under the influence of strong westerly winds along the Kerala coast, the State is likely to experience widespread rainfall.
Air Circulation Pattern
- The equatorial regions of Earth receive more heat from the Sun compared to other parts of the world. This results in differences in air temperature, density, and pressure, which cause air to move, creating wind.
- This movement of air is part of the general circulation of the atmosphere, which plays a crucial role in transporting heat from the equatorial regions to the poles and returning cooler air to the tropics.
- Due to Earth's rotation, winds do not travel directly from high-pressure to low-pressure areas.
- The Coriolis force influences the direction of the wind, causing it to deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
- There are six major air circulation patterns, three in each hemisphere. Each one of them rules roughly 30 degrees of latitude, like wind belts around the Earth.
- Polar Easterlies: These winds form between 90 degrees (the North and South Poles) and 60 degrees latitude. Cold air at the poles moves towards 60 degrees, where it heats up, expands, rises, and then cycles back in a counterclockwise loop.
- Trade Winds: These winds occur between the Equator (0 degrees) and 30 degrees latitude in both hemispheres. Warm air at the Equator rises, moves towards 30 degrees, cools down, and sinks, creating a consistent wind pattern.
- Prevailing Westerlies: These winds form between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres. Air trapped between these latitudes forms a new convection current, moving in a clockwise direction.
Fact Box: Jet Stream
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