OVERVIEW 

Describe tropical phenomena associated with tropical analysis, and the life cycle, seasons, regions of occurrence, position estimates, and conditions of readiness associated with tropical cyclones.

OUTLINE

Shear line

Easterly waves Intertropical convergence zone

Tropical cyclones

Tropical easterly jet stream

The tropical phenomena (features) we are about to discuss do not, for the most part, correspond to any midlatitude phenomena. Shear lines, easterly waves, tropical cyclones, the tropical easterly jet stream, and the intertropical convergence zone are all a part of tropical analysis, and you must have an understanding of these phenomena in order to relate them to weather occurring within the tropics. Some of the features discussed will be in more detail than others; therefore, for a more indepth look at all the above features, I recommend that you refer to AWS Technical Report 240, Forecasters Guide to Tropical Meteorology.