Climatic characteristics of various climatic zones

Tropical Wet / Rainforest Climate (Af)

Temperature /
Precipitation /
cm
C
Climograph of
Singapore
3
0
2
0

3
0

Time / month

Example: Singapore (1N

104E)
Location: 10 from equator [eg. Amazon
rainforest]
Precipitation
Temperature
Total 240cm
Average High
annual
monthly
rainfall:
temp:
Distributi Very
uniform:
Annual Low: does not
on of lack
of
temp vary by more
rainfall: seasonality
range: than 2C
Total annual rainfall:
Diurnal Low: 26C Due to the proximity of the
temp 34C
ITCZ, the Af climatic zone
range:
always receives a high angle of Average monthly temp:
incidence of solar radiation,
Where the angle of incidence
leading to intense surface
heating. This then leads to the is high, more spread out and
development of a very steep atmosphere thinner less
ELR whereby the fall in scattering and absorption
temperature with increasing more heating at surface
altitude is very rapid. Whenever
there are irregularities on the
surface and uneven heating of
the air above, pockets of air
that are more heated will rise
because they are less dense.
They will also cool at a rate
slower than the steep ELR so
that at any temperature, a

Diurnal temp range:

Cloud cover: always present
to
regulate
temperature.
Night: do not have as much
outgoing radiation. Day: do
not have as much incoming
radiation.

rising parcel of air will be more

buoyant and warmer than
surrounding air leading to
unstable atmosphere. Rising air
cools
adiabatically
as
it
expands, increasing relative
humidity,
leading
to
condensation and rainfall.

Height / km Steep ELR

showing rapid
fall in temp
with increasing
Rate at which
height
rising air parcel
cools

Temp / C
Distribution of rainfall:
Lack of seasons / high
rainfall due to proximity of Af
climatic zones to equator. ITC
never migrates far from
equator and Af climatic
zones. This leads to intense
surface heating and hence
the formation of convectional
rainfall.

Tropical Monsoon Climate (Am)

Temperature /
Precipitation /
cm
C
7
Climograph of Akyab,
0
Myanmar
6
0
3
5
0
0
2
0

Time / month

Example: Myanmar (20N

93E)
Location: Tropical and coastal [eg. India,
Bangladesh]
Precipitation
Temperature
Total Among
the
Average High: mid-20s
annual highest in the
monthly
rainfall: world: 520cm:
temp:
more
than
twice
Singapores
Distributi Seasonal: short
Annual Low but higher
on of and not very
temp than
Af
rainfall: severe
dry
range: (~7.5C)
season
Distribution of rainfall:
Diurnal Low especially
Reversals: NE and SW
temp compared
to
Dec:
Winter
in
northern
range: drier climates
hemisphere. Centre part of Sian Annual temp range:
continent cools down high
Further away from equator
pressure Siberian high
more seasonality
outflow of wind: dry NE
Clouds cooling effect due to
monsoon
June:
ITC
in
northern reflected solar radiation. So
hemisphere to the north of hottest period is in April
India, moves into Asia trade before rainy season.
wind of southern Hadley cell
reaching Myanmar. Trade wind Diurnal temp range:
converges at ITC
Dry monsoon season with less
Coriolis force deflection of clouds, rain can be bigger

trade wind cross equator

from SE to SW. Crosses Bay of
Bengal: picks up lots of
moisture

deposits
on
Myanmar.
*Coastal influence dominant
factor rainfall

Subtropical Deserts (BWh)

Temperature /
Precipitation /
cm
C
Climograph of Cairo,
7
Egypt
0
3
6
0
0
2
5
0
0
1
0

Time / month

Example:
Cairo,
Egypt
(31N 31E)
Location: Coastal
deserts
(Atacama
desert),
subtropical regions
Precipitation
Temperature
Total 25mm per year
Average High
annual
monthly
rainfall:
temp:
Distributi Little
rainfall
Annual ~20C
on of during
winter
temp
rainfall: months
range:
Greatest interannual
variability
Total annual rainfall:
Diurnal Large
Descending
air

temp
range:
compression of air parcel due
to higher pressure above Annual temp range:
adiabatic heating of air Location further away from
parcel relative humidity equator compared to the
falls will not reach dew other regions
point no rain
Diurnal temp range:
Absence of cloud cover
Distribution of rainfall:
Region always nearer to
subsiding air
During
summer
months,
most rain already deposited
on monsoon tropical regions

Tropical Wet and Dry / Savanna Climate (Aw)

Example: Bamako, Mali
(13N 8W)
Temperature /
Precipitation /
Location: Poleward margin of the Tropics eg.
cm
C
Climograph of Bamako,
Southern Africa
Mali
Precipitation
Temperature
Total 110cm per year
Average High
(near
3
annual
monthly equator)
0
rainfall:
temp:
2
Distributi Greater
Annual ~10C
0
on of seasonality
temp
rainfall: than Af and Am
range:
Diurnal Fluctuates
4 Distribution of rainfall:
Due
to
the
location
being
temp
0
further
away
from
the
range:
equator, strong seasonality Annual temp range:
exists.
Angle of incidence varies
When the ITCZ is close by more throughout the year
(June), convectional rainfall is
favourable due to strong Diurnal temp range:
surface heating.
Varying cloud cover
When the ITCZ shifts to
opposite hemispheres (Dec),
subtropical high arrives and
descending
air
causes
adiabatic heating = dry
season.
Droughts common heat since
Time / month
variability of rainfall.

10