Temperature Pattern of the Ocean

Latitudinal variation
It decreases from
equator to poles
But highest
temperature is not
at the equator but
at the tropics
Reason: high
rainfall, cloud cover
(high albedo/
reflection of
sunrays)

Temperature pattern of the Oceans

Hemispheric
variation
Northern
hemisphere
warmer than
southern
Reason: large
land mass in
northern
hemisphere
high energy

Temperature pattern of the Oceans

Enclosed seas
Marginal seas of
tropics warmer
than open Ocean
+ marginal seas of
temperate region
cooler than open
seas
Reason: less
mixing of water

Temperature pattern of the Oceans

Ocean
currents
Warm
ocean
current
warming
effect
Cold ocean
current
cooling
effect

Temperature pattern of the Oceans

Up-welling and
dow-welling
Upwelling bring
cool water from
depth lower
down the surface
temp

Temperature pattern of the Oceans

Down-welling
piling up of
warm water
increase the
temp

Diurnal range of temperature

Max temp of day
and min temp of
night time
Tropical water
higher diurnal
range than
equatorial
waters
Because,
Heating and
cooling of water
rapid under
clear sky

Annual range of temperature

Bigger the
size of oceanbetter mixing
of water and
heat
Lower annual
range
Pacific ocean
lower annual
range than
Atlantic Ocean

Questio
n
UPSC

Q. Consider the following

statements:
1) Annual range of
temperature is greater in
Pacific ocean than in
Prelims
Atlantic ocean
2) Annual range of
2007
temperature is greater in
northern hemisphere that
in southern hemisphere

Which of the statement is

correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 or 2
Ans. B)
Pacific Ocean better
mixing

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2007

Vertical distribution of temperature

1st layer upto 500m
(20-25 deg C)
2nd layer
thermocline 5001000m
3th layer cold layer
beyond 1000m

Vertical distribution of temperature

Temp decreases with
increasing depth
rate of decrement is
rapid at equator
tropics than towards
poles
1st layer permanent
in Tropics
temperate only in
summer

Temperature of the ocean

Salinity of Ocean water

Amount of salt found in 1000 gm of
water
Nacl (78%), MgCl2 (11%), MgSO4
(3.5%), CaSO4 (2.5%)
Na and Cl has high residual time in
ocean water very gradual removal
thats why, they remain in the
highest proportion

Salt Budget
Irrespective of absolute salinity of the
water, the proportion of the salt
remain same in all parts of the
oceans
Amount of addition or extraction of
fresh water compared to salt content
in the Ocean water decides absolute
salinity of the Oceans.

Sources of salts in ocean water

Sediments carried by rivers
Submarine volcanism at MOR
Chemical reaction between rocks of
geothermal vent of volcano and cold
water
Erosion of oceanic rocks

Removal of Salts in Ocean water

Physical removal waves break at
the beaches, salt-spray
Biological removal marine life forms
extract calcium from sea water for
their bones

Variation in salinity
Addition of fresh water => Rainfall,
inflow of large river, melting of
glacier => less salinity
Reduction of fresh water => increase
in temperature, high evaporation,
windy (wind accelerate the
evaporation)

Salinity of the oceans

Standard salinity of ocean water is =
35.5 ppt salinity of Atlantic Ocean
Dead Sea (350 salinity), Lake van
(400), Lake Urmia
Man seldom drowned in sea with
high salinity
Because, high salinity = high density

Pattern in variation of salinity

Salinity goes
decrease from
equator to poles
But highest
salinity is not at
the equator =
because high
rainfall, cloud
cover
Highest salinity
is at tropics

Pattern in variation of salinity

Northern
hemisphere
warmer high
evaporation
saline
But in southern
Pacific- roaring
40, furious 50
and shrinking 60
screaming 70
very fast winds
High evaporation
=> high salinity

Local Variations in Salinity

1st - Ocean
currents
warm ocean
current like,
high
evaporation
Cold current
led to Upwelling: cooler
water from
depth come at
the surface =>
low salinity

Local Variations in Salinity

2nd - Enclosed
seas
low latitude warmer than open
sea- high salinity
Ex. Mediterranean
Sea, Red sea
high latitudecooler than open
sea low salinity
Ex. Baltic Sea

Local Variations in Salinity

3th inflow of
large rivers
Ganga
Brahmaputra flow
into Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal less
saline than
Arabian sea

Rivers inflow toAmu

the
seas
darya, Syr
Mississippi in G.of
Mexico

darya to Aral sea

Rivers inflow to the seas

Persian gulf
Black sea

Local Variations in Salinity

4th glaciers
Baltic sea receive
fresh water from
melting of glaciers
low salinity

Vertical pattern of salinity

Salinity decreases with increasing
depth
Temp of water decreases
Density of water increases
Salinity increases density water
sinks
Saline water freeze slowly compared
to pure water

Vertical pattern of salinity

Equator salinity increases with
depth upto some layer than
decreases with depth
Beyond equator salinity decreases
with depth
Vertical salinity variation of oceans is
complicated
No uniform layering

Temperature of ocean
water
variations
Salinity of ocean water
Salt budget
variations

Climatology

 Early atmosphere
Origin of the Atmosphere
on Earth

has H and He in
abundance
-lighter gases
escaped
During early life of
the earth
extensive
volcanismdegassing. N, S,
Water Vapour,
Argon and CO2
came out

Origin of the Atmosphere on Earth

Water vapour
condensed
clouds rainfall
washed out
bulk of the CO2
into Oceans. Co2
= 0.03%
Oxygen from
anaerobic
respiration of
bacteria like,
Cynobacteria

Proportion of gases
Gas

Propor
tion

Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Carbon
dioxide
Neon

78%
21%
0.93%
0.03%

Helium

0.0018
%
0.0000

Proportion of gases
N, O, H and Argon are permanent
gases
Water vapour, Co2, ozone -> variable
gases, GHG
N, Argon inert gases
Atmospheric gases- no chemical
interaction among them
They dont lose their properties
They act as a single unified gas

Structure of atmosphere

Troposphere

90% of
atmosphere
within 32 km
Tropopause =
Height 8 km at
poles, 18 km at
equator
At equator
cumulonimbus
clouds

Greenhouse effect in troposphere

Temperature
decrease as height
increases
Transparent to
insolation
(shortwave)
Heated by
terrestrial radiation
(longwave)
GHGs absorbs long
wave terrestrial
radiation

Questio
Q. normally, the temperature
n
decreases with increase in
height from the earths
UPSC
surface, because,
1. Atmosphere can be
heated upward only from
earths surface
2. There is more moisture in
upper atmosphere
3. The air is less dense in
upper atmosphere

Prelims
2012

a)
b)
c)
d)

1 only
2 and 3
1 and 3
1,2 and 3

Ans. C)
Less dense = less
amount of GHGs = low
temp

Questio
n
UPSC

Prelims
2012

stratosphere
Temperature
increases with
height
Because of
the presence
of ozone layer
Ozone
absorbs UV
rays from
isolation

Q. The jet aircrafts fly very

easily and smoothly in lower
stratosphere. Why?
1. There are no clouds or
water vapour in lower
stratosphere
2. There are no vertical
winds in lower
stratosphere
Ans. 1 in wrong, 2 is correct

Questio
n
UPSC

Prelims
2011

Mesosphere
Absence of GHGs
Temperature
decreases with
height

Noctilucent clouds
Mesospheric
clouds
Clouds visible
at high
latitudes
During summer
season
Condensation
of mixture of
meteoric dust
and some
moisture

Thermosphere
Temperature
increase with
height
Gases in ionic state
trap insolation
extremely hot
But ions are highly
dispersed
Up to 800 km from
earth

 From 80km to
Ionosphere640 km
Number of
ionic layers
Useful in
radiocommunicatio
n

Ionosphere

High energy
sunrays and
cosmic rays
break the atoms
of air molecules
become ionised
(+ve charged)
Behave as free
particles
At night time,
only cosmic rays
ionization -weak

Layers
of
Ionosphere
lay heigh Frequ Prese format
ers t
ency
D
60LF
90km

nce
Daytime

99130k
m

Daytime

150MF,
380k HF
m
>400k MF,

MF,
HF

Day
&night
Day &

ion
Solar
radiatio
n
UV with
N
molecul
e

Q. A layer in Earths
atmosphere called
ionosphere facilitates radio
communication. Why?
1. Presence of ozone cause
reflection of radio waves
to earth
2. Radio waves has long
wavelength
Both statements are wrong

Questio
n
UPSC

Prelims
2011

Exosphere

Beyond 640 km
Highly rarified
atmosphere
Very high
temperaturebut different
from air
temperaturebecause no
existence of airtemp cant be
felt

Aurora
Glowing lights
at mid-nights
at high
latitudes
At height of
exosphere and
magnetospher
e

Aurora
sun emit solar
wind/storm from
its corona
Solar wind
consist of plasma
(free electrons
and +ve ions)
Interaction of
solar wind with
earths
magnetosphere
-disturbance

Auroras

Collision of charged
particles
(isonization) in
magnetosphere
Ionised particles
emit light release
energy
charged particles
interact with
geomagnetic field
lines
Thus, visible on
high latitudes

Heat budget
The average
temperature of the
earth 15 degree
Earth maintains influx
and out-flux of the
energy, but out-flux is
not immediate, it has
long time gap. That is
why, the temperature
is maintained.

Heat budget - Incoming

First 35%
absorbed by
Ozone layer
Then 15%
by cloud
cover
Only 50%
energy
reached to
the earth
surface

Heat budget - outgoing

20% is lost in
latent heat of
evaporation
10% lost in
sensible heat
(temperature of
the body)
15% absorbed
by GHGs
Remaining 5%
was released in
the space

Albedo
Ratio between the
total solar radiation
falling upon a
surface and the
amount reflected
Represents as %
Earths avg. Albedo
= 35%
Lowest- dark soil
highest - snowfall

Albedo - table

surface
Fresh
snow
Desert
Grasses
Crops
Brick -

Albedo
80%-90%
35-45%
26%
15%
10-20%

Questio
Q. Which one of the following
n
reflect back more sunlight as
compared to other three?
UPSC
a) sandy desert
b) Paddy crops
c) Land covered with fresh
snow
d) Prairie land
Ans. C)

Prelims
2010

Movement of air
vertical
Horizontal

when there is pressure

gradient
from high pressure to
low pressure =>
advection

when air get warm,

gets expands,
becomes lighter =>
move upwards =>
convection

Vertical movement of air - instability

When air gets
hotter than
surrounding air, it
rises upward
If it has moisture latent heat of
condensation
more heated will
go up - form
clouds -can bring
rainfall =
instability

Vertical movement of air - stability

When air is cooler
than surrounding
it cannot move
upward
sinking air
atmospheric
stability or anticyclonic condition
High pressure on
ground

Low pressure High pressure

Adiabatic lapse rate

The rate at which air
packet cools while
rising
Avg adiabatic lapse
rate is 6.4 degree/km
That is air packet
gets cool by 6.4
degree after
covering one km
upward

Wet adiabatic lapse rate

if air packet has high
moisture content- not
get cool so fast.
Its adiabatic lapse
rate <6.4 degree/km
~ 4 degree/km =>
WALR
Wet air can reach
higher distances with
low lapse rate =>
create instability

Dry Adiabatic Lapse rate

If air packet is dry,

it does not have
much moisture, it
will get cool very
fast. More than
6.4 degree/km
like, 10
degree/km.
Dry air create
stable condition

Conditions of stability and

Instability
situation
condition

Conditional when wet

stability
ALR< normal
ALR < dry ALR
Absolute
when normal
stability
ALR< wet ALR
< Dry ALR

with
increasing
Temperature Inversion
height
temperatur
e of air
decreasing,
but reverse
is
happened
than it is
called
temperatur

Ex. Of temperature Inversion

1st
At Tropopause
temperature
starts
increasing
from here
So air packet
reach till here,
start moving
downwards

Ex. Of temperature Inversion

2nd
A cool winter
night, the air
above the cold
surface gets cool.
But the air layer
above that cool
layer is till
warmer. Then, by
going upward, air
does not get
cooler but warmer

Ex. Of temperature Inversion

3th
Valley inversion
winter cool air
descends to
valley
Uplift the warm
air of valley
Descending
cool airdamage cropsfrost

Implications of temperature
Formation inversion
Warm air cooled
of fog
by cold air
below
condensation
tiny water
droplets- low
visibility
Formation of Water moisture
frost
frozen with
contact cold
surface- damage

Q. What do you
understand by
phenomenon of
temperature inversion
in meteorology? How
does it affect weather
and habitants of the
place? (5)

Questio
n
UPSC
mains
2013

Condensation of water droplets

Condensation of
water droplet
At heights
At lower level
on the cold
surface
Turn into ice
crystal in extreme

Result
Clouds
Fog
Dew
drop
Frost

Reason for formation of fog

Adve Moving of warm

ction air over cold
Radiat Winter nights
ion
loss of heat due
to terrestial
radiation cold
surface. Moving of
warm air over

Decreasing level of visibility

comparison
smog
fog

Water droplet
condensed around a
dust particle
It reduces the
visibility, damage the
crops

Water droplet
condensed around a
particle of pollutant,
like SO2
Reduce visibility +
health hazard

comparison
Photochemical smog
Smog

It occurs in cool humid

climate
It is a mixture of
smoke, fog and
sulphur dioxide (SO2).

It occurs in warm, dry

and sunny climate
Mixture unsaturated
hydrocarbons and
nitrogen oxides (NO2)
in presence of
sunlight
Its components are
ozone, nitric oxide,
acrolein, and
formaldehyde and
peroxyacetyl nitrate
(PAN).

Q. Photochemical smog is
resultant of reaction among
a) NO2, O3 and peroxyacetyl
nitrate in the presence of
sunlight
b) CO2, O2 and peroxyacetyl
nitrate in the presence of
sunlight
c) CO,CO2 and NO2 at low
temperature
d) High concentration of NO2,
O3 and CO in the evening

Questio
n
UPSC

Prelims
2013

Photochemical smog:
NO2, Ozone + sunlight

Questio
n
UPSC

Ans. A)
Prelims
2013

Structure of
atmosphere
Vertical Movement of
air
Adiabatic lapse rate
Temperature inversion
and its effects
fog

evaporation

precipitation

Evaporation
1) High temperature
2) LP conditions
3) Fast moving wind
Water vapour
evaporate from the
water body
Evaporation adds
moisture in the air

Humidity
Specific Humidity
Absolute Humidity

Weight of water
vapour in unit volume
of moist air

Weight of water
vapour per unit weight
of dry air

Precipitation
Precipitation when
air is saturated with
water vapour and any
extra addition result
in precipitation
Relative Humidity:
Amount of water
vapour present in air
to amount of water
vapour required for
saturation

Precipitation
depends upon
temperature and
moisture content of
the air
Hot air saturation
reach with more
moisture content
than cold air

Types of clouds

Types of rainfall
Orographic rainfall
Convectional rainfall

Types of rainfall
Frontal rainfall
Cyclonic rainfall

Pressure system of the world

Entire earth is divided into 4 large pressure
belts
In reality, belts are not continuous but
pockets of low and high pressure.
But pressure can be created through
thermal or dynamic reasons
Thermal: high temperature=> LP, low
temperature => HP
Dynamic: air rises => LP, air descends =>
HP

Pressure system of the world

4 belts:
equatorial low
pressure belt
sub-tropical
high pressure
belt
sub-polar low
pressure belt
Polar High
pressure area

Equatorial LP belt
Constant insolation
Air gets warm -LP
Air move upward
-> cloud formation
-> instability ->
rain in the evening
daily
Cumulonimbus
clouds
Convectional
rainfall

Equatorial LP belt
Absence of
advection of air
Belt of calm /
Doldrum
Because light,
feeble winds calm region

Sub-tropical HP belt (STHP)

The air above

equator move
towards pole, but
coriolis force - their
path get deflected.
The length of path
increases. Their
energy reduced in
mid-path -cooled.
air subside near 3040 deg latitude.

Sub-tropical HP belt (STHP)

As descending air
HP
Dynamically
induced HP
Called horse
latitude

Sub-polar LP belt (SPLP)

From the pole, cold

winds move
towards equator
The both warm
and cold winds
collide, the warmer
winds from STHP
rise above the cold
polar winds
This rising of
warmer wind near
50-60 degree
create LP

 Air risen at
SPLP,
descends at
poles
High pressure
conditions
Thermally
induced

Polar high

Wind system of the world

Planetary winds
winds blowing at
the same direction
throughout the year
cover large
distances.
Horizontal
movement,
Pressure belt
system provide
them the pressure
gradient
Corilis force modify
their direction

Trade winds
The winds move

towards equatorial
low pressure =
ITCZ
ITCZ inter
tropical
convergence
zone, where wind
converges
Their direction is
east to west due
to coriolis force

Tropical deserts and trade winds

Tropical
easterlies flows
east to west
Wind becomes
dry when they
reaches the
western coast of
the continents
Off shore trade
winds
Trade wind
deserts

Tropical desert and cold currents

2nd
Cold currents
provide
desiccating
effect to trade
wind deserts
Cold current
flow on
western
margins of
continents

Q. Major hot deserts in

northern hemisphere
are located between
20-30 degree North
latitudes and on the
western side of the
continents. Why? (10)

Questio
n
UPSC
Mains
2013

Westerlies

From west to east

From STHP to SPLP

Westerlies

From west to east

From STHP to
SPLP
Less landmass in
southern
hemisphere
Fast flowing
winds in the open
sea
Roaring 40s,
furious 50s,
shrinking 60s and
screaming 70s

Q. Westerlies in southern
hemisphere are stronger and
persistent than northern
hemisphere. Why?
1. Southern hemisphere has
less landmass as compared
to northern hemisphere
2. Coriolis force is higher in
southern hemisphere as
compared to northern
hemisphere
Ans. 1 is correct, 2 is wrong

Questio
n
UPSC

Prelims
2011

Polar Easterlies
From east to
west
From poles to
SPLP

Apparent movement of the sun

Winter
Summer

movement of the pressure system

Winter
Summer

Wind system of the world

Seasonal winds

Monsoon winds:
seasonal reversal
of winds
Feature of
tropical latitude
In winter trade
wind blows north
to south, in
summer trade
wind blows south
to north [but in
limited area]

Monson winds

Due to apparent
northward
movement of the
sun in summer.
Thus, the ITCZ (LP)
also moves upward
Thus, the area which
was under northern
trade winds in
winter, will come
under southern trade
winds in the summer

Wind system of the world

Local winds : mountains winds

Warm winds
Cold wind

coun wind
try
Greec Grag
e
ale
Italy Trem
onta

Moun
tains
Alps
Rockie
s
Andes

Win
d
Fohn
Chin
ook
Zon

Local winds : land

Warm wind: desert
Cold wind: land

HP condition in winter
Divergence of cold air
Siberia Buran
Canada - Blizzard

deser Winds
t
Sahara Sirocc
o
Egypt Khams
in
Libya Gibli

Local winds: India

Pre-monsoon
thunderstorm
summer

Hot-dusty wind = loo

states
Bihar,
WB,
Assam
KN

KR

Wind
Kalbais
hakhi
Blosso
m
shower
Mango

Wind system of the world

Mountain breeze

During night
time: top gets
cooler than
valley = HP,
valley =LP
Wind move hilltop to valley =>
mountain breeze
Agriculture
frost bite, chill in
habitation in the
valley

Valley breeze
During day
time: top
gets warmer
than valley
= LP, valley
= HP
So wind
moves from
valley to the
top =>
valley
breeze

Wind system of the world

Land breezes
Differential
cooling of land
and water
During night:
land cooler =HP,
water =LP
Wind move land
to water => land
breeze

Sea-breeze
During day time:
land gets warmer
=>LP , water =HP
Wind move from
water to land =>
sea breeze

Pressure belts of the

world
Planetary wind system
Variable winds
Seasonal, local winds
Mountain- valley breeze
Land-sea breeze

Upper tropospheric
winds
Around
tropopause, there
is only one
gradient
Wind accumulated
above equator
and rarified
atmosphere above
poles
HP at the equator
and LP at the
poles

Geo-strophic winds

strong coriolis
force at
tropopause
Because friction is
less - high speed stronger the
coriolis force
So the deflection
is 90 degree
Such winds called
geo-strophic
winds

Westerlies winds
The upper
tropospher
ic winds /
geostrophic
winds blow
from west
to east at
the very
high speed

Rossby waves

Westerlies at
poles to
maintain the
angular
momentum- they
meander =>
Rossby waves
Rossby waves do
not meander
consistently, but
follow a cycle =
Index cycle

Jet streams
In westerlies,
there are strong,
narrow bands of
high speed wind
=> Jet stream
Speed of Jet
stream
300kmph

Jet streams location

There are
situated at the
margins of
meridional cells
4 permanent
Jet streams: 2
Polar Jet and 2
Sub-Tropical
Westerly Jet
STWJ

Jet streams
Permanent jet stream

Temporary jet
stream

Jet streams
Jet stream
embedded in
westerlies
(Rossby waves)
at high
latitude, cause
pressure
variability
Thats why
they are called
travelling
depression

Jet Stream travelling depressions

Weather of Mid and high latitude

Weather of higher latitude is more complex
than weather of equatorial or tropical regions
Because tropical and equatorial region are
heat surplus region thermal reasons play
the dominant role.
But higher latitude are heat deficit region
dynamic reasons play dominant role
These include localised + uppertropospheric circulations (Rossby waves, Jet
streams, temperate cyclones)

Air mass

Large extensive body

of air-mass
(1000sqkm)
Height upto
Tropopause
At particular height,
one air mass will have
uniform temperature
and moisture across its
width
Airmasses can be
differentiate according
to their temperature
and moisture content

Air mass
Air mass acquired
properties from
the source regions
land, marine,
polar, arctic,
Antarctic = give
them identity. Ex.
mP, cT
Extensive
homogeneous
surface + longer
stay (HP)

Air masses
Air masses do not
stay at their
source regions
forever, they
move out. While
moving they came
across other air
masses.

Front
The relative
difference between
temperature and
moisture decide
their interaction
with one another
The border/
meeting region of
the two air-mass
=> Front

Cold front
If cold air mass
move faster than
the other than it will
lift the warmer one
upward => cold
front
the slope will be
steep = there will
be sudden upliftment of the warm
air = cumulonimbus
clouds =frontal
rainfall

Warm front

If warmer air
mass is more
active than cold
front => warm
front
slope will be
gentler = there
wont be sudden
up-liftment of
warm air =
uniform
prolonged rain
drizzle

Fronts

Frontal cyclone
Also called as
extra-tropical
cyclone,
travelling
depressions,
cold-core
cyclone,
wave
cyclones

Meaning of cyclone
1)

Intense LP system

2) Air converges towards the

centre
3) Closed isobars
4) In Northern hemisphere
convergence anticlockwise

Isobar
Closed isobar
Normal isobar

Conditions for LP
Dynamically induced
Thermally induced

Because of high
temperature
Ex. LP at equator
Convectional rainfall
at equator

Upliftment of warm air

Ex. LP at sub-polar LP
belt
Frontal rainfall

Development of Frontal cyclone

Movement of
airmasses from
their source region
The warm and
cold air mass face
each other
A front is created
between them
Called Stationary
front

Formative stage of frontal cyclone

Location of air
masses

Circular movement

Development of Frontal cyclone

Cold air mass
pushed the warm
air mass
Forced upliftment
of warm air mass
at the cold front
=LP
Two cold air mass
convergence
circular due to
coriolis force

Mature stage
Interaction of air
masses

LP closed isobars

Occluded front

One cold air mass

climb over other
cold air masswarm
front is destroyed
Called occluded
front
Rapid change in
temperature and
pressure
Unstable weather
conditions

Dissipation of frontal
cyclone
Frontolysis
no great
temperature
difference
between two
cold air
masses
front
dissipated
LP reduced
cyclone
dissipated

Stationary
front

Front

Occluded
front

Frontolysis

Path of the temperate cyclone

Always west to
east direction
Because influence
of the wetserlies
Gradual
movementPredictable
weather

Distribution of temperate cyclones

Tropical cyclone

Hurricane N.
America
Typhoon - China
Late summer
Increased sea
surface
temperature = LP
Convergence of air
around LP zone
Rising moist (wet)
air => absolute
instability

Tropical cyclone
Cloud formation
=more and more
moisture latent
heat of evaporation
=> cumulo nimbus
cloud => cyclone
Coriolis force
induce spiral
movement of air

Mature Tropical cyclone

Intensification of
LP
Converging air
near water
surface
Circulating air
rises above
(coriolis force)
Diverging air at
the top of
cyclone

Eye of the tropical cyclone

At the centre of the
cyclone eye of the
tropical cyclone.
It is a pressure
defect. Because, at
eye a narrow
stream of wind
descend = is HP at
eye
At the eye, there is
clear sky.
Beyond eye wall
extreme low pressure

Properties of tropical cyclones

Move swiftly
It is fuelled by
moisture so
when cyclone is
cut-off from sea
and move
towards land it
starts
weakening

Distribution of tropical cyclone

comparison
Tropical cyclone
Temperate cyclone
30-40 degree latitude
Dynamically induced
Due to frontal
interaction
Formed over large
area
Move west to east
Gradual movement
predictable

8-20 degree latitude

Thermally induced
Due to increasing SST
Small area
Move east to west
Swift movementdifficult to predict path

comparison
Tropical cyclone
Temperate cyclone
Wind speed 40-50
kmph
Pressure gradient 980
mb
Powerful on land
Affect mainland
More time to dissipate

Wind speed >120

kmph
Pressure gradient
<880 mb
Weakens on land
Affect only coastal
areas
Quickly dissipate after
coming on land

Questio
Q. Tropical cyclones are
n
largely confined to
South China Sea, Bay of UPSC
Bengal and Gulf of
Mexico. Why? (10)
Mains
2014

Reason for location of Tropical

cyclone 1) Tropical
2)
3)

4)

5)

water
Warm ocean
currents
Increase SST
in late
summer
Tropical
cyclone
move east to
west
Landmass on
western
coast