Pressure Belts

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PRESSURE BELTS

Patterns of high and low pressure belts exist over the Earth. They are not continuous because he Earth is made up of land and water. Both are heated in different ways !

At the equator warm air rises, this creates a low pressure belt.

At the polar regions cooler air sinks and creates a high pressure belt.

Around the sub polar regions of the Earth , the rotation of the Earth moves the air towards the equator which creates a low pressure belt.

Equatorial low pressure belt ( Dolddrums) - little wind , warm air

sub tropical high pressure belts - cools air, strong winds

sub polar pressure belts - storminess

polar high pressure belt - cold and heavy air ,

Pressure belts are caused mainly by the temperature difference on the Earths surface. They also move in response to the movement of the sun. The sun shines vertically over the tropic of cancer and all pressure belts move about 5 degrees north. The constant movement of pressure belts affect the wind flow.