Geography 1400F/G Lecture 6: 6 Lecture 05/10/2015
16 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
Understanding some basic controls on climate are necessary to understand some of the major implications of climate change. Around most intense point of insolation the inter-tropical convergence zone (itcz) Moves with seasons between tropics of cancer and capricorn. The inter-tropical convergence zone (itcz) is like a heat pump" producing warm, moist air that rises,and it is low pressure. 2 key principles of the itcz updraft: moist air lighter than dry air, warmer air holds more moisture than cooler air (= as rising air cools, it drops moisture as rain) Equals itcz - hot + wet conditions. This creates a low pressure zone (think updraft) Hot, moist, and lighter air rise at the itcz. = flows poleward = cools and loses moisture. Equinox (march/september) = sun hitting equator directly. Subtropical highs are areas of falling masses of dry air, such as deserts.
