Final answer:
Low-pressure regions exist at the equator and around 60 degrees north and south of the equator. These areas are characterized by rising air due to solar heating and convergence of air masses, which affect global wind and precipitation patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idealized zonal pressure belts have low-pressure regions at the equator and around 60 degrees north and south of the equator. The global patterns of wind and precipitation are significantly influenced by these pressure belts, which are formed due to the heating of the Earth's surface and the resulting atmospheric circulation patterns. Regions around the equator are known for having a low-pressure zone due to intense solar heating, which causes air to rise and create an area of low pressure called the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Additionally, low-pressure belts also occur near 60 degrees north and south, where warmer air from the sub-tropics converges with colder air from the polar regions, leading to the ascending of air and formation of low-pressure zones.
It is important to note that high-pressure zones are typically found at about 30 degrees north and south of the equator. These are the subtropical high-pressure zones, where the air descends and leads to dry weather conditions. This is why the Earth's major desert regions are located in these areas. Furthermore, the Coriolis force, due to the Earth's rotation, affects the movement of air in these pressure systems, leading to the characteristic rotation of storm systems such as hurricanes in the low-pressure zones.