As you travel from 15° south latitude to 15° north latitude, you would expect to see significant changes in air currents due to the influence of Earth's rotation, solar heating, and the associated convection patterns. Here are some key aspects to consider:
1. Convection Patterns
- Northern Hemisphere: In the Northern Hemisphere, warm air rises near the equator (around 0° latitude) and creates a low-pressure area. This rising air cools and descends at around 30° latitude, creating a high-pressure zone (the subtropical highs).
- Southern Hemisphere: Similarly, in the Southern Hemisphere, warm air rises near the equator and descends at 30° south latitude.
- As you move from 15° south to 15° north, you would transition from the Hadley Cell circulation in the Southern Hemisphere to the Hadley Cell circulation in the Northern Hemisphere.
2. Jet Streams
- Position of the Jet Stream: Jet streams are fast-flowing air currents found in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) and typically exist at the boundaries of different air masses. The subtropical jet stream is generally located around 30° latitude in both hemispheres.
- As you move northwards, you may encounter the subtropical jet stream, which is influenced by the temperature difference between tropical and polar regions.
3. Air Current Directions
- Trade Winds: Close to the equator (between 0° and 30° latitude), the trade winds blow from east to west. In the Northern Hemisphere, they are generally called the Northeast Trade Winds, and in the Southern Hemisphere, they are called the Southeast Trade Winds.
- As you move from 15° south to 15° north, you would transition through these trade wind regions, where the wind direction would shift from southeast to northeast.
4. Wind Directions
- Surface Winds: At 15° south, you would predominantly experience the southeast trade winds. As you cross the equator to 15° north, these winds will shift to the northeast trade winds.
- The Coriolis effect causes moving air to veer to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, changing the wind patterns as you cross the equator.
In summary, moving from 15° south to 15° north latitude would result in changes in convection patterns due to the shift from the Southern to Northern Hemisphere, interactions with jet streams, and a transition in wind and air current directions, primarily marked by the switch from southeast to northeast trade winds.