Tropical waves, also known as easterly waves, are elongated areas of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, causing areas of cloudiness and thunderstorms. They originate in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a belt of low pressure at the equator. Tropical waves are generally carried westward by the prevailing easterly winds along the tropics and subtropics near the equator. They are a precursor to tropical cyclones. The thunderstorms of the Intertropical Convergence Zone form a line across the eastern Pacific Ocean. ... A large low-pressure system swirls off the southeastern coast of Iceland, illustrating the maxim that nature abhors a vacuum. ... The equator is an imaginary circle drawn around a planet (or other astronomical object) at a distance halfway between the poles. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... The subtropics (also known as semitropics) are the geographic regions of the Earth immediately north and south, respectively, of the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn - i. ...

Atlantic

Tropical waves develop when warm air drifts off of the continent of Africa onto the Atlantic ocean. Over oceans, atmospheric pressure is higher outside of the tropics. Due to its clockwise circulation, the large transoceanic high-pressure cell or anticyclone centered near the Azores islands impels easterly waves away from the coastal areas of Africa towards North America. A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... diurnal (daily) rhythm of air pressure in northern Germany (black curve is air pressure) Atmospheric pressure is the pressure above any area in the Earths atmosphere caused by the weight of air. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... High pressure area - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... In meteorology, an anticyclone (i. ... Location Motto of the autonomous region: Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos (Portuguese: To die free rather than to be subjugated in peace) Official language Portuguese Capitals Ponta Delgada (Presidency of the autonomous government), Angra do Heroísmo (Supreme Court), Horta (Legislative Assembly) Other towns Praia da Vitória... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...

In the Atlantic Ocean, tropical waves typically originate in North Africa and move westward. Approximately 60% of Atlantic tropical cyclones originate from tropical waves, while approximately 85% of intense Atlantic hurricanes (Category 3 and greater) develop from tropical waves.^[1]  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes. ...

Tropical cyclones can sometimes degenerate back into a tropical wave. This normally occurs if upper level shear is too strong. Tropical storms can redevelop if the upper level shear abates.

If a tropical wave is moving too fast, it might not develop, but they can still have strong winds of over tropical storm force. An example of this is Hurricane Claudette in 2003, where the wave had winds of 50 mph before slowing enough to develop a circulation. ... First storm formed: April 20, 2003 Last storm dissipated: Dec. ...

East Pacific

Most eastern Pacific Ocean tropical cyclones are formed out of tropical waves that originate in North Africa and move across the Atlantic.^[2]  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ...

See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

• Tropical cyclone

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x662, 320 KB) http://eol. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ...

References

1. ↑  NOAA Tropical Cyclone FAQ