Global and Local Winds in Zimbabwe

Location and Global Wind

    Zimbabwe sits within approximately -15.5 Degrees South to -22.5 Degrees South Latitudes. The longitude it sits in is 25 Degrees East to 33.5 Degrees East. Zimbabwe sits within the lower Southern Hemisphere, and resides in the Hadley Tropical Cell. The wind belt that my country resides in is the Southeasterly Tradewind belt. The tradewinds by nature are extremely predominant in that area and is extremely consistent. This would mean that the wind actually blows Northwest towards the Equator, originating from the southeast of Zimbabwe. It is actually located fairly close to the Subtropical High pressure belt, which is located at 30 Degrees South Latitude. Zimbabwe is located semi-close to the Horse latitudes, which are located around 30-35 Degrees South. However, it is still far enough to not be considered very close, subjective to the person.

Global Wind and Weather & Map

Zimbabwe has a fairly temperate climate, and is considered a subtropical climate.  It is located relatively central to the Hadley cell, which gives it a very mild climate and gives it a mix between the heavy rain of the North ad the drier, desert like climates to the South. The Northern section of Zimbabwe actually receives quite a bit of rain the wet months while the South is much drier and hotter. This is due to the warm moist air rising in the area closest to the equator just North of Zimbabwe and the drier air sinking to the South of Zimbabwe. The pressure belt it is located near to its Southern border dictates the direction of the wind. To the South, there is a subtropical high-pressure system and to the North, there is the equatorial convergence low-pressure system. Naturally air goes from high to low pressure, which explains the predominant Southeasterly winds. This shows that Zimbabwe is located in the Southeasterly Tradewind Belt.  The country of Zimbabwe is actually bisected somewhat from the Southwest towards the Northeast with a relatively high ridge of mountains and plateaus. From the known wind direction, we can see where orographic lift would occur and that the Southern facing slopes are the windward and most likely moist side and the Northern facing slopes are the leeward slopes and most likely quite a bit drier, despite the subtropical climate, and formidable precipitation.

Zimbabwe is located fairly central to the Southern Hadley Cell

Zimbabwe is located almost centrally in the Southern Trades

Local Winds 

 Zimbabwe is actually a fairly mountainous country, especially towards its eastern border. The five types of winds/breezes that are associated with mountains are Valley Breezes, Mountain Breezes, Katabatic Winds, Eddys, and the Chinook/Foehn Winds (Rockies and Alps). Zimbabwe can definitely experience a few of these winds, especially in the Eastern mountainous region. The ones that Zimbabwe can experience are the Valley Breezes, Mountain Breezes, Katabatic Winds, and Eddys. Since the Chinook and Foehn winds are associated with the Rockies and Alps, Zimbabwe cannot experience these. My country unfortunately does not have a coastline. Two breezes associate with coastlines are land and sea breezes. My country cannot experience these breezes, because my country is landlocked in the southern tip of Africa.