Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. TERMINOLOGIES
2. AREA OF DEVELOPMENT
3. CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR DEVELOPMENT
4. CHARACTERISTICS
5. WEATHER PATTERNS
COLD FRONT
WARM FRONT
OCCLUDED FRONTS
6. IMPACT ON HUMAN, ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY
7. STRATEGIES TO PREVENT IMPACT
TERMINOLOGIES
Polar Easterlies: Winds that blow from the pole towards
subpolar low-pressure belts 90°-60°).
Cold front: The border zone between a cold air mass and a warm
air mass.
Cold sector: The area on the ground affected by cold air in a mid-
latitude cyclone.
Cyclone (low pressure): Forms as a result of rising air. Air
movement is clockwise, convergent, rising in the southern
hemisphere.
Polar front: Zone where cold polar air mass and warm tropical air
mass meet.
Warm front: The border zone between a warm air mass and a cold
air mass.
Warm sector: The area on the ground affected by warm air in mid-
latitude cyclone.
Westerlies: Winds that blow from the subtropical high-pressure belts
to the subpolar low-pressure belts (30°-60°).
Veering: A change in the direction of winds in a clockwise direction.
Tropical easterlies/ trade winds: Winds that blow from the
subtropical high belts towards the equatorial low-pressure belt (0° to
30°).
Backing: A change in direction of wind in an anticlockwise direction
AREA OF DEVELOPMENT
Mid Latitude Cyclones develop in the Middle or temperature
latitudes, between latitudes 30°- 70° north and south of the equator.
Forms at a polar front where warm westerlies and cold polar
easterlies meet.
OTHER NAMES
Moderate Cyclones
Extratropical Cyclones
Temperate Cyclones
Conditions necessary for development
Cold polar air mass from cold polar easterlies and warm tropical air
from warm westerly winds meet.
Cause an imbalance in energy distribution because of difference in
temperature.
Differences in wind patterns (direction) contribute to resultant
formation
Wind Backs becomes SW Clockwise rotation from air around the low pressure
Cloud cover Increases Warm air rises over the approaching cold air, cools and
condenses
Cloud type Cumulonimbus Cold air forces the warm air to rise sharply therefore
condensation occurs to great heights
Pressure Drops then rises Pressure at its lowest just before cold front then it rises
as cold air arrives
Rainfall Heavy rainfall over small Strong convection and cumulonimbus clouds
area
Impact on humans
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Winter rainfall determines types of crops Snow that falls is dangerous for people
that are cultivated
Rain replenish eater in dams Extreme cold can result in power cuts and
disruption of human activities
Snow in mountains replenish water when Bergwinds that develop in warm sector is
melts hot and dry and can cause veld fires
Gale force winds behind cold front results
in stormy conditions over ocean and is a
danger to ships
Heavy rain from cold front leads to poor
visibility and traffic congestion
Mountain passes may be closed if there is
snow.
Impact on the Economy
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Production of winter crops benefits Expensive for farmers to protect
GDP crops and livestock
Floods can damage crops and
impact the economy negative
Impact on Environment
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Winter rainfall is necessary for winter Snow that falls is dangerous for
crops livestock
Production of winter crops results in Extreme cold damage crops and
food security livestock
Bergwinds damage vegetation
because of dry warm conditions
Gale force winds damage crops
Heavy rain cause floods and crops
and livestock are damaged
STRATEGIES TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF
MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES
Monitoring the development of Mid-Latitude Cyclones
Early warning and communication for people to prepare
Evacuate low lying areas to protect against floods
Keep livestock in barns to protect them against the cold plant winter
crops that can resist cold
People should stay indoors to protect them against the cold, wind
and rain