ClimatologyIndian geography
Climatic Regions of the world
1) Equatorial region2) Hot desert3) Continental
deserts4) Tropical
grasslands5) Temperate
grasslands6) Tropical monsoon
7) Mediterranean climate8) China type9) British type10) Laurentian type11) Taiga12) Tundra
Climatic regions of the world
Equatorial regions in the world1st
climate Vegetation
Equatorial Regions
Tropical Deserts
Off-Shore Trade winds
Effect of Cold currents
2nd
climate vegetation
Tropical desert
China South America
Continental Desert
Continentality Rain-shadow region
3th
climate
Extreme weatherHot summer- cold winter
High annual temperature range
Vegetation
Continental deserts
Tropical grasslands3th
South America Savannah in Africa
Tropical grasslands
Campos
Equatorial Rainforest
Savannah
Savannah
Sahara DesertEquatorial
Rainforest
Climate
Distinct hot and dry weather
Summer rainfall
Vegetation
Tropical grasslands
Savanna tress Baoab trees
Tropical grasslands
Prairies of North America Pampas of S. Ame
Temperate grasslands
5th
Mississippi-Missouri Basin Parana-
Paraguay Basin
Steppe of Central Asia Veldt of Africa
Temperate grasslands
Downs of Australia Climate
Temperate grasslands
DOWNS
Murray-Darling Basin
Cool and wetUnder westerlies
Grass vegetation
Temperate grasslands
Agriculture
Animal husbandryDairy- meat production
Wheat productionTruck-farming
Economy
Temperate Grasslands
Tropical Monsoon
6th
climate Vegetation
Tropical Monsoon
Intensive agriculture Shifting cultivation
Tropical Monsoon: economy
Warm temperate Western margin
Warm temperate Eastern margin
Cool temperate Western margin
Cool temperate Eastern margin
Taiga
Tundra
•Mediterranean climate•Area around Mediterranean Sea•California, USA•Central Chile, South America•Southern tip of South Africa•South Australia
Warm temperate western margin
7th
•Shifting wind belt• In summer – apparent movement of the sun towards north – region comes under influence of off-shore North trade winds => no rain•Distinct dry season
Mediterranean climate
• In winters – apparent movement of the sun towards south – region comes under influence of westerlies => rainfall •Winter rainfall
Mediterranean climate
Movement of Jet streams
•Winter – cyclonic rain in Atlantic -> these cyclones are carried by STWJ to Northern India in winter – western disturbances in northern India during winter
Mediterranean climate
STWJSTWJ
•Shrubs and bushes with scattered stunted trees•The natural grass is so wiry and bunchy – not suitable for cattle rearing => Mediterranean region net importer of dairy products
Mediterranean climate
•Trees without shed, stunted massive trunks, wide spread roots – because winter rain – growth limited to autumn and spring when moisture content is sufficient
Mediterranean vegetation
Different names of medi. vegetationcountry Name of
vegetationSouthern France
Maquis
Italy Macchia
California Chaparral
Australia Mallee scrub
•Not suitable for agriculture – but cultivation using irrigation network•Wheat and barley grown •Chief cooking oil –olives
Agriculture in Mediterranean
•Citrus fruit plantation – World’s orchard lands – fruit trees – long deep root, to survive during dry summer•oranges, grapes, lemon•California – Sunkist oranges•Negev desert of Israel – Jaffa oranges•Spain – Seville oranges
Mediterranean agriculture
Country Name of wineSouthern Spain sherryPortugal Port wine Italy Chianti and
Marsala
France Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy
viticulture
•Viticulture:•Ebro basin in Spain• Po valley in Italy•Rhone basin in France•Sicily Island of Italy•Algeria in Africa: exports wine
Mediterranean in Europe
•California state of USA•San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego•Fruit plantation –oranges, grapes, Olives•California – high productivity
Mediterranean in USA
•Central Chile•Cities: Santiago (cap. Of Chile)•Valparaiso•Wine manufacturing
Mediterranean in South America
•Southern tip of Australia•Cities: Perth and Adelaide•Fruit plantation
Mediterranean in Australia
• Imp Cities:•Cape town, Port Elizabeth•Fruit plantation
Mediterranean in South Africa
Warm temperate eastern margin
8th
China type Gulf type Natal type
Central and north china
S E USA Natal, South Africa
Southern Japan (gulf of Mexico) Eastern Australia
Southern Brazil
Warm temperate eastern margin
•Similar to tropical monsoon •But Rainfall throughout the year •summer –intense heating of central Asia•south east monsoon
China Type
• In winter -> north-west monsoon •Siberian plateau – HP anticyclone, cold air flow outwards as North West monsoon- snow fall and rain on windward side of the mountains
China type
Yellow sea
•Rainfall is also due to local storms – typhoons (China) in late summers•More rainfall than Mediterranean climate though being on the same latitude
China Type
•Less annual temperature range – warm due to gulf stream (ocean current) and on-shore trade winds• Imp cities: New Orleans, Atlanta
Gulf Type
•No distinct dry season•Rainfall maximum in summer-mT unstable air mass - thunderstorms
Gulf type
Late Summer-Hurricanes
Winter- temperate cyclone
Gulf type
•Narrow land, dominance of maritime climate•South east trade winds bring even distribution of rainfall throughout the year• Imp City: Durban
Natal Type
•High rainfall, warm temp, long growing season•Evergreen vegetation – broadleaved forest – grass, ferns, bamboos, palms
vegetation
• Intensive agriculture•Rice cultivation – largest rice production•Sericulture•Yangtze, Si-kiang river basins
Agriculture in China type
•Best suited for cotton cultivation•Long growing season, frost free days, bright sunlight, high rainfall•Tobacco cultivation•Famous Virginia tobacco
Agriculture in gulf type
Country Economic activity
China Rice, tea, cotton, maize, mulberry
Natal Sugarcane
South America Coffee and maize
USA Maize region – cotton – tobacco (Virginia tobacco)
Economic activities in China type
•British type•Britain, Northern France, Northern Germany, Norway•Western Canada – Vancouver Island•Tasmania, New Zealand•Southern Chile•Not in Africa
cool temperate western margin
9th
•Best climate for human habitation•Warm current moderate climate – North Atlantic drift, Alaskan current•Moderate climate – warm summer, cool winters•Low annual temperature range
British type
•Rainfall from westerlies •western coast receive the most – rainfall decreas towards interior•Temperate cyclones – rainfall in winters
British type
•Tall trees with good canopy cover• soft wood • trees in pure stand•Oak, elm, birch
British type
•Lumbering in Canada – Vancouver city•Systematic lumbering•Winter cutting – wood logs float in the rivers to industries•Wood furniture and paper making
British type
•Agriculture – market gardening => cultivation of fruits and vegetables •Tasmania (Aus.) – apple farming
British type
• Laurentian Type• Transition between British and Siberian climate• Laurentian plateau, Labrador plateau – Quebec state•New England region of USA•China Manchurian part, South east part of Russia, Northern Japan
Cool temperate Eastern margin
10th
•Not in southern hemisphere- because hardly any land beyond 40 degree latitude•South America – Andes block the westerlies – oceanic influence
Laurentian type
•Rainfall throughout the year•Summer - Westerlies bring rain due to moisture content of Great lakes•Winter - Gulf stream increases moisture content of polar easterly wind from Atlantic
Laurentian climate, N. America
NEW
Eng
land
st
ates
Great LakesSuperior
Mich
igan
Huron
Erie
Ontario
Westerlies
• In china – summer max•summer – intense heating of land – rainfall - wind from pacific•Winter – anti-cyclonic condition in the heart of Asia – cold wind blows out – snow fall in mountainous area
Laurentian type, China
•Rainfall from south east monsoon in summer •north west monsoon in winter – dry wind from Siberia – become moist from east china sea•Maritime influence
Climate of Japan
Sea of Japan
•Coniferous forest – lumbering – Oak, birch, beech, maple•Agriculture: Potatoes, oats, barley, soya beans•Nova scotia (Canada)– apple farming
Laurentian type
•Temperate regions – fish in large shoals •Cod, mackerel, tuna, salmon•Economically profitable•Mechanised sophisticated fishing•St.John’s port in Newfoundland – grand banks
Laurentian type
•Not in southern hemisphere•Siberia in Russia, Northern Canada, Scandinavia• Very cold winter, warm summer•Blizzard in Canada, Buran in Siberia•Very high annual temperature range
Taiga
11th
•Rainfall throughout the year•Temperate cyclones•Evergreen coniferous forest ( Juniper, Spruce, Birch)– soft wood in pure strands
Taiga
•Fur bearing animals – warm blooded – muskrat, mink, silver fox
•Taiga: limited economic prospects•Hard weather
Taiga
•Arctic or polar climate•Northern Canada and Northern Russia•Periglacial climate•Freezing winter, thawing in summer•Summer short and cool•Mosses, linchens (algae and fungi) – ephemeral flowering plants
Tundra
12th
•Aborigines:•Canada – Inuits, Aleutians•Russia – Chukchi, Buriyat (baikal)•Norway- Finland – Lapps•Nomadic herders
Tundra
Prelims2002
Q. Consider the following statements:1. In equatorial regions, the year is
divided into four main seasons2. In Mediterranean region, summer
month receives more rain3. In china type climate, rainfall
occurs throughout the year4. Tropical high lands exhibit vertical
zonation of different climate
UPSC
Question
Prelims2002
Which of these statements are correct?a) 1,2,3 and 4b) 1,2 and 3c) 1,2 and 4d) 3 and 4
Ans. D)
UPSC
Question
•With increasing height – decrease in moisture•Soil layer becomes thinner•Changes in vegetation pattern
Vertical zonation in highlands
Prelims2002
Q. Consider the ecosystems:1. Taiga2. Tropical evergreen3. Tropical deciduous 4. TundraThe correct sequence in decreasing order of albedo values of these ecosystem is:
UPSC
Question