The Hyderabad Public School ,Begumpet

Class 9
Solved Worksheet
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE BELTS AND WIND SYSTEM

1. Define Atmospheric Pressure.

Ans. The force exerted by a vertical column of air per unit of area is called
atmospheric pressure.
2. What is the importance of atmospheric pressure?
Ans. i) Creation of Winds: Variation in the atmospheric pressure responsible
for horizontal movement of air is called wind.
ii) Impact of weather: Changes in weather are related to changes in
atmospheric pressure.
iii) Weather forecasting: Atmospheric pressure gives important clues in
forecasting the weather.
3. Mention the factors affecting the distribution of air pressure.
Ans. i) Temperature : Inverse relationship- Increase in temperature air
pressure decreases.
ii) Water vapour: Moist air exerts less pressure than dry air. Due to this the
content of heavier gases such as nitrogen and oxygen which are dominated
constituents of dry air is reduced in humid air and makes it lighter.
iii) Motion of the earth: Due to the rotation of the earth ,the air is pushed
outwards in the equatorial regions and pulled inwards in the polar areas which
tends to lower the pressure in the equatorial regions and increase it in polar
regions.
iv) Altitude: Atmospheric pressure decreases with increase in altitude.

4. Name the instruments used for measuring atmospheric pressure.

Ans. Barometer. A) Mercury(with liquid) and B) Aneroid( without liquid)
The actual air pressure on the surface of the earth generally ranges between 940
mb to 1040 mb.
Barograph: It is a self-recording instrument which is used to obtain atmospheric
pressure automatically in the form of a graph.
5. Explain the major pressure belts of the world.
Ans. 1. Equatorial Belt of Low Pressure:
a) Equatorial belt extends up to 5 0 North and South of the equator.
b) Due to low pressure the air keeps rising in this zone ,and ascending
currents of air called convection currents.
c) Equatorial Belt of low pressure experiences calm conditions , so it is also
called as Belt of Doldrums.
d) ITCZ- InterTropical Convergence Zone.
e) The areas near the equator receive a large amount of insolation all year
causing high temperature.
f) High moisture content in the air and centrifugal force also contribute to
the low pressure in the belt.
2.Sub tropical High-Pressure Belt:
a) These belts are found on both sides of the Equator – Near Tropic of Cancer
and the other one near Tropic of Capricorn in between 300 350 -North and South
latitudes.
b) These belts are formed because of earth’s rotation and sinking and settling
down of winds.
c) These belts of calm also known as Horse Latitude.
3.SubPolar Low-Pressure Belt:
a) Subpolar low-pressure belts are located between 600 -700 North and South
latitudes.
b) These belts owe their origin to the rotation of the earth.
c) Warm air coming from the subtropical areas of high pressure meets the cold
air coming from the polar areas and results in a lower pressure.
d)The belt is more developed in the southern hemisphere than in Northern
hemisphere because of overdominance of water in the southern hemisphere.
e) These belts of low pressure surround the two polar regions also called as
CircumPolar belts of Low Pressure.
4. Polar High-Pressure Belt:
a) These belts extend around the poles up to about 800North and South latitudes.
b) Temperature is very low in this area all year round.
c) The rotation of the earth causes a strong centripetal tendency in these regions
resulting in sinking of cold air in the polar areas, which is responsible for high
pressure zones.

4. Points to Remember on – World distribution of Pressure.

** Planetary belts of pressure:
An ideal pattern of pressure on the planet earth having uniform surface
conditions is called the Planetary Belts of Pressure.

** Seasonal migration or shift of pressure belts:

The vertical rays of the sun shift from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of
Capricorn. Due to the tilt in the Earth’s axis and revolution the planetary
distribution of the pressure belt is modified.
In the month of June, the Sun’s rays are vertical over the Tropic of Cancer and
the zone of maximum temperature shifts slightly north of the Equator.
In the month of December when the Sun’s rays are vertical over the Tropic of
Capricorn, all pressure belts shift slightly southwards.
Effect of seasonal shifting of pressure belts:
The shifting of pressure belts cause some regions to be in different wind belts
during the year and greatly influence their climate.
As the pressure belts shift with the seasons ,the belt of precipitation associated
with them also changes their pattern.
** Interruption of pressure belts:
The difference in pressure over land and oceans, alternating layers of low and
high pressure are found in the same latitudes. This is called Interruption of
pressure belts.
Interruption of pressure belts is more in the Northern Hemisphere than in
Southern Hemisphere, because the Southern hemisphere has more water bodies
and less land.
In the summer season the pressure over land is lower than over the sea.
In the winter season pressure over land is higher than over the sea.
** World pressure distribution in January:
1. January is the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere and Summer season
in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. Siberian region has highest pressure due to very low temperature.
3. North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific ocean have relatively low
pressure due to higher temperatures over the oceans.
4. In the Southern Hemisphere the pressure is lower due to the higher
temperature on land during summer and pressure is higher over the oceans
due to less temperature.
** World pressure distribution in July:
1) It is summer in the Northern hemisphere and winter in the southern
hemisphere.
2) At this time continents in the Northern Hemisphere have low pressure.
3) Parts of Asia and North America have the lowest pressure.
4) In the month of July the isobars in the Southern hemisphere are almost
parallel to the parallels of latitude, especially in the sub-tropical and
sub- polar regions.

5. Define Isobars:
An isobar is an imaginary line joining places having the same atmospheric
pressure.
6. Define Pressure Gradient:
The spacing of isobars on a map indicates the pressure gradient, i.e. the rate of
fall of pressure per unit of horizontal distance.
7. Define Coriolis Force.
Due to the rotation of the earth winds and ocean currents deflect towards right
in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern hemisphere from their
original path. This is called the Coriolis force or Coriolis effect.
It is also known as Ferrell’s Law.
8. What are the different types of winds?
Ans: a) Planetary or Prevailing winds.
b) Seasonal wind
c) Local winds
d) Variable winds.
8. Mention the characteristic features of Planetary winds.
Ans. Trade Wind:
1. These winds blow from the subtropical high pressure belt to equatorial
low pressure belt.
2. In the Northern hemisphere it blows as Northeast trade and in the
southern hemisphere it blows as Southeast trade wind.
3. It blows between 50 and 300 North and South Latitudes.
4. They blow from north east and south east so by the time they reach
towards west it loses all its moisture, that is the reason that in the Tropical
zone the western margin of the continents are deserts.
Westerly Wind:
1. These winds blow from the sub-tropical high-pressure belt to sub-polar
low- pressure belt in the temperate latitudes between 300 and 600 on either
side of the equator.
2. In the Northern hemisphere it blows as South western westerly and in the
Southern hemisphere it blows as North Western westerly. As it blows
from the west it is called the Westerly wind. They are also called Anti
Trades.
3. In the Southern hemisphere because of the predominance of oceans and
lack of large landmasses westerly blow constantly without interruption
and become stronger. In 400 s – Roaring forties, 500 s – Furious fifties,600
s – Screeching sixties.
Polar Easterlies:
1. These winds blow from the polar high-pressure belt to the sub-polar
low-pressure belt between 60 0 latitudes and the poles on either side of the
equator.
2. In the northern hemisphere it blows as North East easterly and in the
southern hemisphere South East easterly.
3. These winds are the most deflected winds.
4. Polar winds blow from the ice cap regions ,hence they are extremely cold
and dry.
9. Write a short note about seasonal /Periodic winds.
Ans. Land breeze
i) They blow from land to sea at night ,when the land cools more rapidly
than the ocean and high pressure prevails over land.
Sea Breeze:
They blow from sea to land during day time ,when land gets heated up faster
and low pressure prevails over land and high pressure over sea.
Monsoon winds.
Monsoon winds develop due to the differential heating conditions of the
continent and the oceans.
Two types of Monsoon winds:
Summer Monsoon : South West Monsoon
i) June -September
ii) Blows from the Indian ocean to the Landmass of Asia.
Winter Monsoon: North East Monsoon
i) During winter a high pressure develops over a big land mass
stretching from central Asia up to north west Indian plain and a
low-pressure zone develops in the Indian ocean.
ii) Winter monsoon is cold and dry.
iii) It causes little rainfall only when a small part of it blows over the
ocean and absorbs moisture.
10.Write a short note on Local Winds.
 Ans. Valley wind or Anabatic wind- Blows from the bottom of the valley to
the hill slopes during the day.
Mountain wind or Katabatic Wind-It is a downhill wind, usually cold,
blowing into the valleys at night.
Name of the local wind Type Region /Area
Foehn Hot Valleys of the Alps – melt snow and
helps in ripening fruit in the swiss
valley
Chinook Hot Rockies to the Prairies in N/A known
as Snow eater
Loo Hot Northern plains of India
Sirocco Hot North Africa
Gibli Hot Libya
Khamsin Hot Egypt
Leveche Hot Southern Spain
Bora Cold Eastern coast of Adriatic sea and
North Italy
Mistral Cold Rhone valley in Southern France.

11.Variable Winds:
*They do not blow in any definite direction which varies with the movement of the
pressure system.
*Their speed depends on the intensity of the depression.
*They are two types:
Cyclone and Anticyclone.
Cyclone: A cyclone is a small low-pressure system with winds blowing from the
surrounding high- pressure areas in an anticlockwise direction in the
Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
Cyclones are associated with high velocity wind, cloudiness and rainfall.

Two types of Cyclone:

Temperate and Tropical cyclone

Temperate Cyclone:
i) Temperate cyclones are frontal in origin.
ii) These cyclones are more frequent in winter than in summer.
 iii) Develop in the sub polar pressure belt ,zone of contact well marked as
Front.
Tropical Cyclone:
i) Originate between 80 and 20 0 North and South latitudes.
ii) Develop over the tropical seas in the summer season.
iii) They are circular in shape.
Name of Tropical cyclones in different parts of the world.
Region Name of Cyclone
Bay of Bengal Depression
Caribbean Sea Hurricanes
Australia Willy Willy
China Typhoons
USA Tornado

12.Define Anticyclone.
Ans: Anticyclones are centres of high atmospheric pressure. The circulation of
wind is clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and anti- clockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere.
Anticyclone is associated with clear skies and pleasant weather.

The prominent anticyclone regions are Subtropical belts of high pressure and Polar
belts of High pressure.
13.What are Jet Streams?
Ans. Jet streams refers to the narrow belt of high-altitude high speed westerly
winds in the upper troposphere.
14.What is the importance of Jet Streams?
Ans. i) The Jet Streams which blow over the subtropical belts are intersected by the
Himalayas. It is the branch of westerly jet stream which is able to bring in
the temperate cyclonic influence from the Mediterranean region and give
moderate or heavy rainfall.
ii)The easterly jet streams help in monsoons moving into greater parts of India
and giving monsoon rain.
***** Practice Diagram - Pressure Belts and wind system
Land Breeze and Sea Breeze
Anticyclone and Cyclone