Climatic characteristics of various climatic zones
Tropical Wet / Rainforest Climate (Af)
Example: Singapore (1˚N 104˚E)
Location: 10˚ from equator [eg. Amazon rainforest]
Precipitation / cm
Temperature / C
Precipitation
Temperature
Total annual 240cm
Average High
Climograph of Singapore
rainfall:
monthly temp:
Distribution Very uniform: lack
Annual temp Low: does not vary
30
of rainfall: of seasonality
range: by more than 2˚C
Total
annual
rainfall:
Diurnal temp Low: 26˚C - 34˚C
20
Due to the proximity of the ITCZ, the Af
range:
climatic zone always receives a high Average monthly temp:
angle of incidence of solar radiation, Where the angle of incidence is high,
leading to intense surface heating. This
more spread out and atmosphere
then leads to the development of a
thinner  less scattering and
very steep ELR whereby the fall in
temperature with increasing altitude is absorption  more heating at
30 very rapid. Whenever there are surface
Time / month
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
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.
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.
1
Height / km
Steep ELR showing
rapid fall in temp
with increasing
height
Rate at which
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.
2
Tropical Monsoon Climate (Am)
Precipitation / cm
Temperature / C
70
Climograph of Akyab, Myanmar
60
30
50
20
Time / month
Example: Myanmar (20˚N 93˚E)
Location: Tropical and coastal [eg. India, Bangladesh]
Precipitation
Temperature
Total annual Among the highest
Average High: mid-20s
rainfall: in
the
world: monthly temp:
520cm: more than
twice Singapore’s
Distribution Seasonal: short and
Annual temp Low but higher
of rainfall: not very severe dry
range: than Af (~7.5C)
season
Distribution of rainfall:
Diurnal temp Low
especially
Reversals: NE and SW
range: compared to drier
Dec: Winter in northern hemisphere.
climates
Centre part of Sian continent cools Annual temp range:
down  high pressure  Siberian high
Further away from equator  more
 outflow of wind: dry NE monsoon
seasonality
June: ITC in northern hemisphere to
the north of India, moves into Asia  Clouds cooling effect due to reflected
trade wind of southern Hadley cell solar radiation. So hottest period is in
reaching Myanmar. Trade wind April before rainy season.
converges at ITC
Coriolis force  deflection of trade Diurnal temp range:
wind  cross equator from SE to SW. Dry monsoon season with
Crosses Bay of Bengal: picks up lots of clouds, rain can be bigger
moisture  deposits on Myanmar.
*Coastal influence dominant factor 
rainfall
less
3
Subtropical Deserts (BWh)
Precipitation / cm
Temperature / C
Climograph of Cairo, Egypt
70
30
60
20
50
10
Example: Cairo, Egypt (31˚N 31˚E)
Location: Coastal deserts (Atacama desert), subtropical regions
Precipitation
Temperature
Total annual 25mm per year
Average High
rainfall:
monthly temp:
Distribution Little rainfall during
Annual temp ~20C
of rainfall: winter months
range:
Greatest
interannual variability
Total annual rainfall:
Diurnal temp Large
Descending air  compression of
range:
air parcel due to higher pressure Annual temp range:
above  adiabatic heating of air Location further away from equator
parcel  relative humidity falls  compared to the other regions
will not reach dew point  no rain
Diurnal temp range:
Distribution of rainfall:
Absence of cloud cover
Region always nearer to subsiding
air
During summer months, most rain
already deposited on monsoon
tropical regions
Time / month
4
Tropical Wet and Dry / Savanna Climate (Aw)
Precipitation / cm
Temperature / C
Climograph of Bamako, Mali
30
20
40
Example: Bamako, Mali (13˚N 8˚W)
Location: Poleward margin of the Tropics eg. Southern Africa
Precipitation
Temperature
Total annual 110cm per year
Average High
(near
rainfall:
monthly temp: equator)
Distribution Greater seasonality
Annual temp ~10C
of rainfall: than Af and Am
range:
Distribution of rainfall:
Diurnal temp Fluctuates
Due to the location being further
range:
away from the equator, strong Annual temp range:
seasonality exists.
Angle of incidence varies more
When the ITCZ is close by (June), throughout the year
convectional rainfall is favourable
due to strong surface heating.
Diurnal temp range:
When the ITCZ shifts to opposite Varying cloud cover
hemispheres (Dec), subtropical high
arrives and descending air causes
adiabatic heating = dry season.
Droughts common heat since
variability of rainfall.
Time / month
5
6