GEOG 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Squall, Northern Hemisphere, Cumulonimbus Cloud
Document Summary
Two air masses coming into contact (a front), can create the possibility of a storm developing. If the contrasts in temperature and humidity are sufficiently great, or if wind directions of the two touching masses are opposite, a wave might develop in the front. On one side of the front, cooler air moves along the surface, while on the other side, warm air rises over the cold air, creating a low pressure center. The air moves counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. This is called a midlatitude cyclone - a large system of air circulation centered on a region of low atmospheric pressure. An intense tropical cyclone or hurricane begins in a low pressure zone over warm waters, usually in the northern hemisphere. In a developing hurricane, the warm, moist air at the surface rises which helps suck air from the surface. At the eye (calm, central core of the hurricane), air descends and results in gentle breezes.
