midlatitude

Midlatitude refers to a broad belt of latitude around the temperate zones between roughly 30 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator. In meteorology and climatology, the term describes a climatic and atmospheric region where westerly winds, cyclones, and frontogenesis are common. It contrasts with the tropics to the equator and the polar regions toward the poles.

Geographic extent: In the Northern Hemisphere it includes much of Europe, northern Asia, and North America; in the Southern Hemisphere it includes parts of southern South America, southern Africa, southern Australia, and New Zealand. The exact boundary fluctuates with seasonal shifts in climate and prevailing wind patterns.

Climate and atmospheric circulation: The midlatitudes experience a temperate climate with marked seasonal variability, including winters with snowfall in many regions and warm summers. The region is characterized by strong westerly currents and a persistent jet stream that guides storm systems along a midlatitude cyclone track.

Weather systems: Extratropical cyclones form and intensify along the polar front, producing fronts, precipitation, and varying weather. Anticyclones bring periods of settled weather. Fronts interact with topography and sea surface temperatures, creating regional climate differences, such as Mediterranean dryness or oceanic dampness.

Human relevance and climate change: The midlatitudes are home to a large proportion of the world’s population and agriculture. Climate change is expected to alter storm tracks, precipitation patterns, and frequency of extremes in these regions, with regional implications for water resources and infrastructure.