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ITCZ Full Form

ITCZ Full Form

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jan 31, 2023 11:29 AM IST

What is the full form of ITCZ?

The full name of the ITCZ is Intertropical Convergence Zone. The area where the trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere converge is known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, and it circles the Earth close to the equator. The region surrounding the globe at the equator where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge is known by sailors as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), also referred to as the "dolphins." The ITCZ movement is ongoing. During the summer in the northern hemisphere, it swings north of the equator, giving Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada a lot of rain.

Characteristics Of The Intertropical Convergence Zone

The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone has been distinguished from other regions by some of its distinctive features. The main traits are:

  • The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone surrounds the Earth approximately parallel to the equatorial region, referred to as areas close to the equator.

  • The equatorial region's warm water heats the air in the ITCZ, which causes it to become buoyant and humid.

Shifting Nature Of The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)

The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is crucial to maintaining a stable climate since it determines the wet and dry seasons in tropical areas and those close to the equator. The zone, as mentioned above, shows poleward migration, which is more pronounced over land than water because water takes much longer to warm up than land. Tropical cyclones arise as the ITCZ moves into subtropical and tropical latitudes throughout the summer because of increased Coriolis force.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ) Importance

ITCZ is a system that describes how storms and air move over the surface of the Earth, and that depends on the direction and speed of the planet’s rotation. Due to its unpredictable weather, the area has grown significantly in prominence and was given the moniker "doldrums" by sailors. It is said to be a nautical phrase used by sailors since, in earlier times, ships would become stranded in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone because of the lack of wind creating windless waters. The safety of the aircraft may also be at risk in this area because of the possibility of turbulence, wind shear, ice, lightning, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why does ITCZ have heavy rain?

The intense sun and warm waters of the equatorial region heat the air in the ITCZ, making it more humid and buoyant.

2. Why are these winds called trade winds?

Wind blows both from the north and the south in the tropical zone. However, because of the rotation of the Earth, the trade winds are winds that blow from east to west.

3. Why does the InterTropical Convergence Zone's location continually shift?

The tilt of the Earth's axis and its rotating movement are two factors that contribute to the ITCZ's shifting.

4. How does ITCZ impact the Indian monsoon?

As the winds pass over the warm Indian Ocean, they pick up moisture. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is where the ITCZ shifts to in July, and the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal provide the wind source for the southwest monsoons.

5. Why is ITCZ crucial?

The ITCZ plays a significant role in the global circulation system. It generally encircles the earth at the equator as a low-pressure belt. The convergence point of the trade winds is there.

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