Inverted trough

[boca]

I often hear about inverted troughs along the east coast of Florida is that just a convergence zone?

[senorpepr]

Actually, an inverted trough and the convergence zone are different things. The convergence zone is the area where two prevailing flows meet and interact. In the case of the Atlantic... the easterlies (in the low latitudes) meet the westerlies (in the mid-latitudes).




Here's a Wikipedia article on inverted troughs that helps explain:

An inverted trough is an atmospheric trough which is oriented opposite to most troughs of the mid-latitudes. Most (but not all) inverted troughs are tropical waves (also commonly called easterly waves).

Most troughs of low pressure in mid-latitudes are characterized by decreasing atmospheric pressure from south to north while inverted troughs are characterized by decreasing pressure from north to south. Inverted troughs move to the west from the east, while mid-latitude troughs generally move with the westerlies toward the east.

All troughs may be at the surface, or aloft, or both under various conditions. Most troughs bring clouds, showers, and a wind shift, particularly following the passage of the trough. This results from convergence or "squeezing" which forces lifting of moist air behind the trough line.



So... to simplify... the convergence zone is basically the belt of low pressure girdling Earth at the equator, indicated by unorganized cloudiness/showers. An inverted trough, as you describe it, would usually be a tropical wave, riding along the aforementioned convergence zone.