The middle latitudes are regions of great atmospheric restlessness and variability, dominated at the surface and in the upper atmosphere by westerly winds (Hare, 1960). The climate is controlled at the surface by a succession of cyclones and anticyclones, normally moving from west to east, that are steered by the upper flow. The fall of temperature toward the poles occurs not in a uniform manner, but with the strong thermal gradients concentrated in one or more narrow latitudinal bands, or fronts. Baroclinic conditions lead to the development of jet streams just below the tropopause (Barry and Carleton, 2001).
The equatorward limit of middle latitude climates is often taken as the surface subtropical high-pressure belt. The poleward limit is more diffuse and variable, although it is often marked by the subpolar lows. The latitudinal extent of the climatic zone will vary from month to month and year to year, depending on changes in the position of the bordering centers of action, but...
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Cross-references
Airmass Climatology
Climate Classification
Climatology
Continental Climate and Continentality
Europe, Climate of
Jet Streams
Mediterranean Climate
Maritime Climate
North America, Climate of
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Perry, A. (2005). Middle Latitude Climates. In: Oliver, J.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of World Climatology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht . https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3266-8_138
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