WESTERLIES
WESTERLIES Westerlies are winds that blow from the subtropical high-pressure belts towards the sub-polar low-pressure belts. They blow southwest to northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and northwest to southeast in
TRADE WINDS
TRADE WINDS Trade winds are winds blowing from subtropical high-pressure areas toward the equatorial low-pressure belt. They generally occur between 30°N and 30°S latitudes. These winds blow as northeastern trades
SOUTH ATLANTIC ANOMALY
SOUTH ATLANTIC ANOMALY The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is an area where Earth’s inner Van Allen radiation belt comes closest to the Earth’s surface, reaching an altitude as low as
POLAR VORTEX
POLAR VORTEX The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air that surrounds both of the Earth’s poles. It typically exists near the poles and weakens
JET STREAMS
JET STREAMS A jet stream is a fast-moving wind current flowing horizontally at high altitudes (20,000–50,000 feet) in the upper layers of the troposphere. Jet streams typically move from west
INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE
INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE The ITCZ is a belt of low pressure that circles the Earth near the equator, where the trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge. This
HORSE LATITUDES
HORSE LATITUDES The Horse Latitudes are located at approximately 30° north and south of the equator. In these regions, winds either diverge toward the poles (forming westerlies) or flow back
HEAT ISLAND
HEAT ISLAND An Urban Heat Island (UHI) is an urban or industrial area that experiences significantly higher temperatures compared to its surrounding rural areas, mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Example:
FLOODS IN INDIA
FLOODS IN INDIA Floods are defined as a high-water level that overflows natural banks along a stream or river. Flood-prone areas in India are divided into four regions: The Brahmaputra
EARTH’S ENERGY BUDGET
EARTH’S ENERGY BUDGET Earth’s energy budget represents the balance between the energy the planet receives from the Sun and the energy it radiates back into space. While smaller energy sources
CYCLONES
CYCLONES Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation around a low-pressure area, often accompanied by violent storms and destructive air circulation. In the Northern Hemisphere, cyclones move counter-clockwise, while in the
CRYOSPHERE
CRYOSPHERE The Cryosphere refers to regions of the Earth where water exists in its solid form (ice or snow) for a significant part of the year. This includes ice caps,
CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION
CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION A cloud is an accumulation of tiny water droplets and ice crystals suspended in the Earth’s atmosphere. Clouds are essential in the climate system as they reflect
ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE Composition: The Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, helium, and other gases, along with water vapor and dust particles. The two