Weather Tidbits: Intertropical Convergence Zone

This edition of Weather Tidbits will be discussing the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). As Earth rotates, atmospheric circulations are created that induce general areas of rising and sinking air. This creates the trade winds. The ITCZ is the region where the northeasterly and southeasterly trade winds converge near the equator. This often forms a continuous band of clouds and thunderstorms. The ITCZ migrates north and south throughout the year depending on the season and where the sun is shining on Earth. The ITCZ moves north in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer and south in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter. The ITCZ initiates clusters of thunderstorms in Africa. When the ITCZ is further north in the summer and through the fall, those thunderstorm clusters can migrate west through the Atlantic basin. Those clusters can eventually develop into tropical cyclones given favorable conditions over the waters. The ITCZ also creates dry and wet seasons in different parts of the world, including India.

Categories: Weather Tidbits