Characteristics of equatorial and tropical marine climates
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What are the characteristics of equatorial and tropical marine climates?
Let’s begin the lesson by recaping what is climate. Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area. Weather is the state of the atmosphere over short periods of time.
Different parts of the world have different climates. Some parts of the world are hot and rainy nearly every day. They have a tropical wet climate. Others are cold and snow-covered most of the year. They have a polar climate. Between the icy poles and the steamy tropics are many other climates. Climate is how the atmosphere behaves over relatively long periods of time.
EQUATORIAL CLIMATES
The equatorial, hot, wet climate is found between 5° and 10° north and south of the equator.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST CLIMATE
A tropical climate usually found along the equator but can be found in other areas as well. Regions between these latitudes include the Amazon basin, the Congo basin, the Niger basin and the Southeast Asia.
CHARACTERISTICS
1. Temperature: Temperature generally remains high throughout the year with very less diurnal, seasonal and annual changes. Average annual temperature is 30°-35° C. The annual temperature range (the difference between the average temperature of the hottest and coldest months) is very small. The annual temperature range may be as low as 3 degrees Celsius. The diurnal or daily temperature range (the difference between the highest temperature in the day and the lowest temperature at night) is usually greater.
2. Average humidity: Also remains high because of high temperature and vast sea surface. It results in higher evaporation. Average humidity is 85-95%.
3. Precipitation: Is also very high for most of the year because of high humidity. 60-100 inches or 2000mm are average rainfall spread uniformly throughout the year.
4. Equatorial regions are dominated by equatorial trough. Weak and variable winds mostly from west. Many equatorial regions are affected by the ITCZ. 5. There are no distinct seasons. Climatic characteristics remain same throughout the year.
TROPICAL MARINE CLIMATES
A tropical marine climate is usually experienced by islands and coastal areas 10° to 20° north or south of the equator. Located 10 to 20 degrees north or south of the equator. Most Caribbean islands as well as coastal areas of territories such as Guyana. Central America, Madagascar, the Philippines and parts of East Africa also experience this climate.
CHARACTERISTICS
1. The sea has a strong influence. 2. The trade winds blow all year long.
Trade Winds: Wind that flows outward down the pressure gradient away from the subtropical highs. As it does so, it encounters the Coriolis effect caused by the rotation of the Earth.
These winds pick up much moisture over the Atlantic and often cause relief rainfall as they rise over mountainous areas in the region. Places with a tropical marine climate often experience tropical waves especially during the wet season. Tropical Wave: A weak trough of low pressure that develops from an unorganized cluster of thunderstorms. The weather out ahead (west) of a tropical wave is typically fair. To the east, convective rainfall is common. 3. Places with this climate may also experience hurricanes which form over warm oceans and seas. Hurricanes Are large, swirling storms. That produce winds of 119 kilometers per hour (74 mph) or higher.
Form over warm ocean waters
4. Regions which have a tropical marine climate experience between 1200 mm and 2000 mm of rain annually. Rainfall is seasonal to a certain extent. There are wet and dry seasons though they are not as extreme.
5. There is more rainfall during the wet season and less rainfall during the dry season. Generally, there is no prolonged period without rainfall.
6. Have high temperatures all year round. The annual temperature range is often quite small. However, it can be up 10 degrees Celsius in areas farther way from the equator. Temperatures are higher during the wetter season and lower during the drier season.