Which one of the following may be the true characteristic of cyclones?...
Temperate Cyclones are cyclones of mid-latitudes and hence are primarily under influence of permanent winds of mid-latitudes i.e. westerlies. Their movement is therefore eastwards of their origin with average velocity of 32km per hour in summers and 48km per hour in winters.
Movement of Tropical Cyclones
Normally, they move from east to west under the influence of trade winds because trade winds are permanent winds of tropical latitudes. The general direction is therefore westwards from their origin. They advance with varying velocities. Weak cyclones move at the speed of about 32km per hour while hurricanes attain the velocity of 180km per hour or more.
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Which one of the following may be the true characteristic of cyclones?...
Temperate cyclones move from west to east with westerlies whereas tropical cyclones follow trade winds.
Explanation:
- Temperate cyclones are low-pressure systems that occur in the middle latitudes, between 30° and 60° latitude. They are also known as extratropical cyclones because they form outside of the tropics.
- These cyclones are associated with the westerlies, which are prevailing winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes. As a result, temperate cyclones move from west to east following the direction of the westerlies.
- The westerlies are part of the global circulation pattern in the middle latitudes, where warm air from the tropics meets cold air from the polar regions. This creates a temperature gradient that fuels the development of temperate cyclones.
- On the other hand, tropical cyclones are low-pressure systems that form over warm tropical waters. They are characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall.
- Tropical cyclones are driven by the trade winds, which are prevailing winds that blow from east to west in the tropics. These winds are part of the Hadley cell circulation, which is responsible for distributing heat from the equator to the poles.
- Unlike temperate cyclones, tropical cyclones do not move from west to east with the westerlies. Instead, they generally move towards the west or northwest due to the influence of the trade winds.
- However, it's important to note that tropical cyclones can also be influenced by other factors such as steering winds and the presence of high-pressure systems. This can cause them to deviate from their initial track and move in different directions.
- Overall, the movement of cyclones is influenced by the prevailing winds in their respective regions. Temperate cyclones move from west to east with the westerlies, while tropical cyclones follow the trade winds.