EM - Climates
Climates Summary:
This summary will develop the different types of climates such as Equatorial, Tropical continental, Monsoon, Hot desert and Cold climate. Moreover, it will also develop their characteristics and daily patterns.
Equatorial: Places with Equatorial climate are located 5°N/S from the equator. It is characterized by being hot and wet all the year. Temperatures are high and constant due to the sun being at a high angle in the sky. As regards rainfall, they are experienced during all the months. Every afternoon, cumulus clouds are formed because of the intense surface heating during the day. These strong rains are developed accompanied by thunders and lightning.
Concerning the daily pattern, every day is very similar to the other, always 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. After the daily mid-afternoon rains, the air calms. Nights are warm but very humid.
Examples of places with this climate could be Singapore, Congo and the Amazon in South America.
Tropical continental (interior):This climate is found in the center of continents (from 5° to |5° N/S of the equator) and away the coasts like Brazilian Highlands or regions of Venezuela.
This climate is divided in two seasons:
-Hot wet: It is when the sun is overhead in the northern hemisphere. During this season, the sun takes more a vertical position and the temperatures rise as the distance becomes shorter. The annual rainfall is around 900 and 920mm.
-Dry wet: It is a cooler season, developed when the sun is overhead in the opposite hemisphere. Eventhough the sun is located at a high angle to produce high temperatures, the climate at this time of the year is very similar to the one of hot deserts.
The Monsoon: “Monsoon” means “a season”, but this climate has two seasons due to the reversal direction of the wind.
-SOUTH-WEST MONSOON: The sun is located at the tropic of cancer in June. The hot air goes up, and area of low pressure is formed and warm moist air is drawn northwards. When the air is forced to rise over mountains, huge rainfalls are produced.
-NORTH-EAST MONSOON: During the winter, the sun moves southwards. Places located to the north of the Himalayas become very cold. Winds blow outwards from the high pressure area but as they originate in a dry one, they cause little rain as they cross India.
Hot Desert: Places with this type of climate are located in the west side of continents between 5° and 30° N/S of the Equator.
The main characteristics of this climate are the high range of temperatures and the shortage of rainfall. Concerning high temperatures, they are higher when the sun is overhead but lower when it is in the opposite hemisphere. Surprisingly, eventhough during the day temperatures rise up to 50°C, at night temperatures fall to freezing ones because there are no clouds to retain the heat.
Although deserts are dry, they present some precipitation, mainly in form of coastal fog. The reasons for it being dry are:
-Prevailing winds blow from areas of land.
-Prevailing winds have to cross mountain barriers.
-Warm air from the equator has become colder in higher latitudes and descend in this areas.
-Winds that blow from the sea are cold and bring no moisture.
This climate is found in the Atacama (South America), the Kalahari-Namib (Southern Africa) and the Australian and Mexican deserts.
Cold Climate: Places with this climate are found to the poles (60° or more) in Eurasia, North America, Alaska and Canada.
Precipitation through the year is light due to two main reasons; 1)The air is too cold to hold much moisture 2)Most places are long away from any rain-bearing winds from the sea. Most precipitations fall in summer (summer is considered the wetter season) and at other times of the year, is mainly in form of snow.
As regards seasons, winters are very long, dark and extremely cold (temperatures get to below zero). Summers are short but relatively warm due to the long hours of daylight.
To sum up, we can say that the main factors that affect climates are the proximity to the seas and the latitudes. These factors will affect and provide the characteristics to the place.
This summary will develop the different types of climates such as Equatorial, Tropical continental, Monsoon, Hot desert and Cold climate. Moreover, it will also develop their characteristics and daily patterns.
Equatorial: Places with Equatorial climate are located 5°N/S from the equator. It is characterized by being hot and wet all the year. Temperatures are high and constant due to the sun being at a high angle in the sky. As regards rainfall, they are experienced during all the months. Every afternoon, cumulus clouds are formed because of the intense surface heating during the day. These strong rains are developed accompanied by thunders and lightning.
Concerning the daily pattern, every day is very similar to the other, always 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. After the daily mid-afternoon rains, the air calms. Nights are warm but very humid.
Examples of places with this climate could be Singapore, Congo and the Amazon in South America.
Tropical continental (interior):This climate is found in the center of continents (from 5° to |5° N/S of the equator) and away the coasts like Brazilian Highlands or regions of Venezuela.
This climate is divided in two seasons:
-Hot wet: It is when the sun is overhead in the northern hemisphere. During this season, the sun takes more a vertical position and the temperatures rise as the distance becomes shorter. The annual rainfall is around 900 and 920mm.
-Dry wet: It is a cooler season, developed when the sun is overhead in the opposite hemisphere. Eventhough the sun is located at a high angle to produce high temperatures, the climate at this time of the year is very similar to the one of hot deserts.
The Monsoon: “Monsoon” means “a season”, but this climate has two seasons due to the reversal direction of the wind.
-SOUTH-WEST MONSOON: The sun is located at the tropic of cancer in June. The hot air goes up, and area of low pressure is formed and warm moist air is drawn northwards. When the air is forced to rise over mountains, huge rainfalls are produced.
-NORTH-EAST MONSOON: During the winter, the sun moves southwards. Places located to the north of the Himalayas become very cold. Winds blow outwards from the high pressure area but as they originate in a dry one, they cause little rain as they cross India.
Hot Desert: Places with this type of climate are located in the west side of continents between 5° and 30° N/S of the Equator.
The main characteristics of this climate are the high range of temperatures and the shortage of rainfall. Concerning high temperatures, they are higher when the sun is overhead but lower when it is in the opposite hemisphere. Surprisingly, eventhough during the day temperatures rise up to 50°C, at night temperatures fall to freezing ones because there are no clouds to retain the heat.
Although deserts are dry, they present some precipitation, mainly in form of coastal fog. The reasons for it being dry are:
-Prevailing winds blow from areas of land.
-Prevailing winds have to cross mountain barriers.
-Warm air from the equator has become colder in higher latitudes and descend in this areas.
-Winds that blow from the sea are cold and bring no moisture.
This climate is found in the Atacama (South America), the Kalahari-Namib (Southern Africa) and the Australian and Mexican deserts.
Cold Climate: Places with this climate are found to the poles (60° or more) in Eurasia, North America, Alaska and Canada.
Precipitation through the year is light due to two main reasons; 1)The air is too cold to hold much moisture 2)Most places are long away from any rain-bearing winds from the sea. Most precipitations fall in summer (summer is considered the wetter season) and at other times of the year, is mainly in form of snow.
As regards seasons, winters are very long, dark and extremely cold (temperatures get to below zero). Summers are short but relatively warm due to the long hours of daylight.
To sum up, we can say that the main factors that affect climates are the proximity to the seas and the latitudes. These factors will affect and provide the characteristics to the place.
Good job, Lucila! It´s clear and fully developed.
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