lec. 3 - tropical climate i

Type of Tropical Climate

Warm Humid Climate

Warm Humid Island Climate

Hot Dry Desert Climate

Hot Dry Maritime Desert Climate

Composite or Monsoon Climate

Tropical Upland Climate

• Found in a belt near the Equator extending to about 15º North and South

•Examples, Lagos, Mombasa, Malaysia, Jakarta.

•Elements of Warm Humid Climate :- i) Air Temperature - During the day between 27º and 32ºc. - At night, between 21º and 27ºc

ii) Humidity - Relative Humidity (RH) remain high – 75% for most of the time, but vary from 55% to almost 100%

•Elements of Warm Humid Climate :- iii) Vapour Pressure - Between 2500 to 3500 N/m2

iv) Precipitation - is high throughout the year, generally becoming more intense for several consecutive month. - Annual rainfall – 2000 to 5000 mm in one year.

v) Sky Condition - are fairly cloudy throughout the year - Cloud cover – 60% to 90%

•Elements of Warm Humid Climate :- vi) Solar Radiation - is party reflected and partly scattered by the cloud - is high / maximum

vii) Wind - wind velocities are typically low, calm periods - Strong wind can occur during rain squalls.

viii) Vegetation - Grows quickly due to frequent rains & high temperature - Difficult to control

• Island within the Equatorial belt and in the trade wind zone

•Examples, Carribbeans, Philipines and other island

•Elements of Warm Humid Climate :- i) Air Temperature - During the day between 28º and 32ºc. - At night, between 18º and 24ºc

ii) Humidity - Relative Humidity (RH) remain high - from 55% to almost 100%

•Elements of Warm Humid Climate :- iii) Vapour Pressure - Between 1250 to 2500 N/m2

iv) Precipitation - is high 1250 to 1800 mm per annum

v) Sky Condition - are normally clear or filed with white broken clouds of high brightness - During storms, skies are dark and dull

•Elements of Warm Humid Climate :- vi) Solar Radiation - is strong and mainly direct

vii) Wind - the predominant trade-wind blows at a steady 6-7 m/s - Provides relief from heat and humidity

viii) Vegetation - is less luxuriant - Depends on rainfall

• Occur in 2 belts at latitude 15º and 30º North and South

•Examples, Baghdad, Saudi Arabia, India, South Afrika

•Elements of Warm Humid Climate :- i) Air Temperature - During the day between 43º and 49ºc. - At night; cool season between 10º and 18ºc - Dry season between 27º and 32ºc

ii) Humidity - Relative Humidity (RH) is low - from 10% to almost 55%

iii) Vapour Pressure - Between 750 to 1500 N/m2

iv) Precipitation - is slight and variable throughout the year - Limited rainfall – 50mm rain in a few hrs - Some region may not have any rain for several years

v) Sky Condition - are normally clear clouds are few due to low humidity of the air - During storms, skies are dark and dull

vi) Solar Radiation - is strong and mainly direct during the day - absence of cloud permits easy release of the heat stored during the day.

vii) Wind - hot and together with dust and sand - Sandstorm can occur

viii) Vegetation - is sparse and difficult to maintain - lack of rain and low humidity - Soil is usually dusty and very dry