Near the equator, from about 5° north and 5° south, the northeast trade winds and southeast trade winds converge in a low pressure zone known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
The Intertropical Convergence Zone is also known as
The location of the ITCZ varies throughout the year and while it remains near the equator. Solar heating in the region forces air to rise through convection which results in a surplus of precipitation. The ITCZ is a key component of the global circulation system and consequently the Monsoon winds
The Intertropical Convergence Zone is also known as
- the ITCZ,
- the Equatorial Convergence Zone or
- the Intertropical Front.
The location of the ITCZ varies throughout the year and while it remains near the equator. Solar heating in the region forces air to rise through convection which results in a surplus of precipitation. The ITCZ is a key component of the global circulation system and consequently the Monsoon winds
The location of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) varies over time. Over land, it moves back and forth across the equator following the sun's zenith point. Over the oceans, where the convergence zone is better defined, the seasonal cycle is more subtle, as the convection is constrained by the distribution of ocean temperatures.
