Where are easterly waves found?
3 min read
Asked by: Kim Crawford
Tropical waves form in the easterly flow along the equator-ward side of the subtropical ridge or belt of high air pressure which lies north and south of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Where do easterly waves occur?
Easterly waves usually develop in the western parts of the large ocean basins, between about 5° and 20° N.
What is easterly waves in geography?
east’erly wave’
a westward-moving, wavelike disturbance of low atmospheric pressure embedded in tropical easterly winds.
How is an easterly wave identifiable on a surface weather chart?
The weather associated with Easterly Waves is quite severe A line of cumulonimbus and thunderstorms aligned North/South will form along the trailing Easterly edge of an Easterly Wave. This line of active CB aligned North/South and moving from East to West is known as a tropical tornado.
How are easterly waves created?
The easterly wave creates a system of turbulent eddies. Which go on to develop into a cluster of thunderstorms. These travel west across the African continent.
How often do easterly waves occur?
Easterly waves last from a couple of days to several weeks and new waves are developing at intervals of 3 to 4 days. Generally more slowly than the current in which it is embedded a typical easterly wave travels at speeds between 10 to 15 knots resulting in a wavelength of about 2,000 to 2,500 km.
What does the easterly wave do?
A tropical wave (also called easterly wave, tropical easterly wave, and African easterly wave), in and around the Atlantic Ocean, is a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which moves from east to west across the tropics, causing areas of cloudiness and
What is easterly waves in the Philippines?
Tropical cyclones often develop along easterly waves. These waves, or oscillations, in the trade winds move from east to west across the tropics. Satellite imagery provides the best view of an easterly wave. As low-level winds enter the trough of the wave, they converge, causing convection.
How are easterly waves associated with hurricanes?
Easterly Waves are not associated with particularly high dew points, but can be associated with enough water vapor so that clusters of thunderstorms can form in association with them. Also, Easterly Waves are associated with only weak to moderately intense surface lows.
What is easterly winds?
adverb. toward the east. from the east. noun, plural east·er·lies. a wind that blows from the east.
What is an easterly current?
C. Easterly Surface Currents: As western boundary currents reach latitudes of the prevailing westerly winds, they become easterly currents. The best known examples are the continuation of the Gulf Stream as it moves toward Europe and the North Pacific Current.
What causes African easterly waves?
The mid-level African easterly jet develops because heating of the West African land mass during this time of year creates a surface temperature and moisture gradient between the Gulf of Guinea and the Sahara Desert. The atmosphere responds by generating vertical wind shear to maintain thermal wind balance.
What is a westerly wave?
An atmospheric wave disturbance embedded in a mean westerly flow, such as in the midlatitudes.
What are easterlies and westerlies?
When air moves in a definite direction, it is called wind. If the winds move from west to east, they are called westerlies. If they move from east to west, they are called easterlies. There are winds because there are differences in pressures. The direction of wind is also affected by coriolis affect.
Where are westerlies located?
The westerlies, anti-trades, or prevailing westerlies, are prevailing winds from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude. They originate from the high-pressure areas in the horse latitudes and trend towards the poles and steer extratropical cyclones in this general manner.
