Topic > The mechanisms that produce high precipitation in the tropics

“Global circulation can be described as the worldwide system of winds in which the necessary transport of heat from tropical to polar latitudes occurs” (metoffice.gov.uk). These atmospheric warming and circulation patterns are controlled by three airflow cells between the Earth's poles and the equator. These three cells are the polar cell, the Ferrel cell and the Hadley cell. The polar cell originates at lower latitudes, its warm air rises and moves to higher altitudes, where the cooled air will sink due to high pressure. Ferrel cell winds are complicated; this is a high-altitude boomerang flow of air toward the tropics that joins descending air at lower latitudes near the Hadley cell. When moist, warm air from both hemispheres brought by the trade winds joins in the intertropical convergence zone, the low pressure areas move up to 30 degrees latitude until they descend into the high pressure areas which then causes convection in the atmosphere resulting in high precipitation in the air. tropics. This cycle of winds is called a Hadley cell. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay High precipitation occurs in areas where continuous and rapid ascension of air masses occurs. In the tropics there is a convergence of trade winds in the ITCZ ​​which rise due to low pressure. Furthermore, evaporation rates are high. Therefore, moist air rises as it cools. On the other hand, warm air is able to condense and retain more water, leading to high precipitation (Schumacher, 2003). It is in temperate latitudes where the convergence of moist subtropical air and cold polar air causes forced condensation. Furthermore, the region receives the most intense solar radiation per unit area, thus, greater evaporation. Additionally, the low pressure system causes more air to rise for precipitation. Clouds accumulate due to rising air absorbing moisture from land at lower latitudes (Schumacher, 2003). In the tropical zone, little precipitation may occur due to warm, prevailing winds that are hindered by mountain ranges as the mountains force the moisture from those winds down the mountainside which blocks the winds while the rain leaves the other side with little precipitation. As the air rises, moisture is picked up from arid regions at lower latitudes, it causes the formation of clouds which bring a high amount of precipitation as precipitation is largely temperature related, meaning the lower the the temperature, the less moisture it can hold because it is very hot near In the tropics the humidity in the air will have to interact with the colder climate to lose it. This causes precipitation to remain low. This levitation is known as a rain shadow. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Tropical dry forests and savanna biomes are located in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where high precipitation is observed, due to the amount of sunlight near the equator. Tropical savannas are covered with grasslands and a few scattered trees, while tropical dry forests have more trees that are green during rainy seasons and wither in dry seasons. The two biomes are usually warm throughout the year as wind movement causes the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) to shift. Sunlight causes the air to rise, causing a decrease in..