Mid latitude cyclones Flashcards
(16 cards)
What do mid latitude cyclones travel
They are traveling low pressure systems
When do they form
They form when warm , subtropical air masses ( subtropical westerly winds ) meet with cold , polar air masses ( polar Easterling winds ) along the polar front
Where do fronts form
At the boundary between two air masses
When do mid latitude cyclones mostly affect south africa
In winter when the pressure belts have shifted northwards
Why do these low pressure systems cover vast distances
So that extended periods of similar weather conditions may be experienced
What can a cold front of a mid latitude cyclone extend up to
Up to 1200km over the interior of the country
Where do mid latitude cyclones form
They form to the south west of south africa and move in an eastern direction ( from west to east )
What are they driven by
They are driven along by the upper atmospheric jet streams which are located near the tropopause and the surface westerly winds
How can mid latitude cyclones occur as
They may occur in groups or families with one following directly after another
What are other names for mid latitude cyclones
Temperate cyclones, extra tropical cyclones, frontal depressions or wave cyclones
How do mid latitude cyclones circulate in the southern hemisphere
Clockwise direction around a low pressure centre
How do mid latitude cyclones circulate in the northern hemisphere
In an anti clockwise direction around a low pressure centre
Where do they form
Along the polar front which is found at 60 north and south
How is it formed
Warm air meets with cold air at the polar front and a low pressure system called mid latitude cyclone is formed
What happens once it is formed
It moves towards 30 degrees
