Chapter 18 : Tropical climatology synthesis

The ITCZ shifts every year about 10° due to the zenithal position of the Sun

Yearly angle between the noon sun and the Equator is 79°

30°-20° : 12 months dry (desert)15°-20° : 9 months dry (pampas, prairies)10°-5° : 4 months dry (savannah)5° : 0 months dry (tropical forest)

SAVANNAH CLIMATE

Annual precipitations usually exceeds 1000 mmDry season : more than two months with less than 60 mm of rain occurs during our winterMax temperature : 30-32°Radiation cooling can occur

TROPICAL RAINFOREST CLIMATE

Seasonal temperature variation are small (+/- 3°C)Great variation of temperature between the day (32°) and night (22°)Typical annual rainfall : 1500 mm (can go up to 4000 mm along windward slopes of hills and mountains)Almost every day TCU produce heavy and localised showers by early afternoon by evening the sly clearsOccasional fog can occur due to high humidity and low temperature during the nightDRY CLIMATE

Chapter 18 : Tropical climatology synthesis

Precipitations are both meager and irregular (less than 130 mm)Hot : more than 18°Cold : less than 18°Low latitude desert : 40-45° and RH 5-25% night temperature : < 25°Middle latitude desert : summer (warm and hot 40°) and winter (<-35°)Many of these deserts lies in the rain-shadow of an extensive mountain chain