The wind belt that causes the easterly movement of the mid-latitude cyclone:
A wind belt is a zone of wind that blows in a specific direction and is characterized by a distinct set of wind patterns. Wind belts are caused by the movement of air due to differences in temperature, pressure, and other factors.
There are several different wind belts on Earth, each associated with a different region and set of weather conditions. Some examples include:
- The trade winds, which blow from east to west near the equator and are associated with clear, sunny weather.
- The westerlies, which blow from west to east in the middle latitudes and are associated with the movement of mid-latitude cyclones.
- The polar easterlies, which blow from east to west near the poles and are associated with cold, snowy weather.
Each wind belt plays a crucial role in shaping the weather patterns and climate of the regions where it is found.
Video Lesson: Geography Lesson – Climatology (Mid-latitude Cyclones)
Which wind belt causes the easterly movement of the mid-latitude cyclone?
The wind belt that causes the easterly movement of the mid-latitude cyclone is known as the westerly wind belt. This wind belt is located in the middle latitudes, between 30 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator, and is characterized by west-to-east winds that blow primarily from the west.
One of the key factors that drives the movement of the mid-latitude cyclone is the difference in air pressure between the poles and the tropics. The poles are characterized by a high-pressure system, while the tropics have a low-pressure system. As the warm, moist air from the tropics moves towards the poles, it is forced to rise and cool, creating a low-pressure system. This low-pressure system then moves towards the east, driven by the westerly wind belt.
The wind belt that causes the easterly movement of the mid-latitude cyclone is known as the westerly wind belt. This wind belt is located in the middle latitudes, between 30 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator, and is characterized by west-to-east winds that blow primarily from the west.
Examples of mid-latitude cyclones include nor’easters along the east coast of North America, European windstorms, and the storms that bring heavy rain and snow to the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Historically, the westerly wind belt has been a key factor in the movement of storms throughout the middle latitudes. For example, in the early 20th century, the “Storm King” of the United States, meteorologist Cleveland Abbe, used observations of the westerly wind belt to predict the movement of storms and improve weather forecasting.
References:
- “Mid-Latitude Cyclones” by the National Weather Service
- “The Westerly Wind Belt” by the Met Office, UK
- “Cleveland Abbe and the Early Development of Weather Forecasting in the United States” by the American Meteorological Society
