Geography climate exam notes:
Mid-latitude cyclones:
Definition: A low pressure cell that develops in the mid-latitudes and
moves from west to east.
Converging: Coming together.
General characteristics of a mid-latitude cyclone:
The general characteristics of mid-latitude cyclones are due to the wind
patterns, air masses and pressure involved in their formation.
Effect of pressure and wind pattern on mid-latitude cyclones:
A mid-latitude cyclone is a low-pressure cell, and the air converges in
this cell.
Winds blow in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.
The effect of air masses on mid-latitude cyclones:
Develop in the mid-latitude regions.
Between 40 degrees and 60 degrees N and S of the equator.
Areas where mid-latitude cyclones form:
Mid-latitude cyclones develop in the mid-latitudes, 35 degrees to 70
degrees N of the equator and 35 to 70 degrees S of the equator at the
polar front.
Stages of a mid-latitude cyclone:
1. Initial: A bend forms in the polar front. A cell of low-pressure forms and
winds begin to deflect and blow into the low-pressure cell.
Strengthening of winds and clouds begin to form.
2. Mature: The bend in the polar front deepens and the pressure gradient
steepens. The polar front now forms the cold front and the warm front.
Where cold air moves towards the warm sector is a cold front and
where warm air moves towards the cold sector is a warm front.
3. Partially occluded stage/occluded stage: The air in the warmer sector is
warmer and lighter than the air in the cold sector. That air is cold and
dense. The cold air cuts off the warm air and overtakes the warm front.
This is partially occluded. When all warm air has been cut off =
occluded.
4. Degeneration: The mid-latitude cyclone ends up as a little gust of cold
air at ground level. There is only cold air left.
Mid-latitude cyclones:
Definition: A low pressure cell that develops in the mid-latitudes and
moves from west to east.
Converging: Coming together.
General characteristics of a mid-latitude cyclone:
The general characteristics of mid-latitude cyclones are due to the wind
patterns, air masses and pressure involved in their formation.
Effect of pressure and wind pattern on mid-latitude cyclones:
A mid-latitude cyclone is a low-pressure cell, and the air converges in
this cell.
Winds blow in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.
The effect of air masses on mid-latitude cyclones:
Develop in the mid-latitude regions.
Between 40 degrees and 60 degrees N and S of the equator.
Areas where mid-latitude cyclones form:
Mid-latitude cyclones develop in the mid-latitudes, 35 degrees to 70
degrees N of the equator and 35 to 70 degrees S of the equator at the
polar front.
Stages of a mid-latitude cyclone:
1. Initial: A bend forms in the polar front. A cell of low-pressure forms and
winds begin to deflect and blow into the low-pressure cell.
Strengthening of winds and clouds begin to form.
2. Mature: The bend in the polar front deepens and the pressure gradient
steepens. The polar front now forms the cold front and the warm front.
Where cold air moves towards the warm sector is a cold front and
where warm air moves towards the cold sector is a warm front.
3. Partially occluded stage/occluded stage: The air in the warmer sector is
warmer and lighter than the air in the cold sector. That air is cold and
dense. The cold air cuts off the warm air and overtakes the warm front.
This is partially occluded. When all warm air has been cut off =
occluded.
4. Degeneration: The mid-latitude cyclone ends up as a little gust of cold
air at ground level. There is only cold air left.
