Climate Characteristics -

  1. Latitude - Affects sunshine hours, solar radiation and temperatures [coser to equator = hotter]
  2. Altitude - Decreased temperatures when higher
  3. Continentality - Inland locations heat up quicker and cool faster
  4. Aspect - In north hemisphere slopes facing south are warmer, and opposite
  5. Winds - Winds from warmer area bring warmer air = Increased temperatures
  6. Pressure Systems - Areas affected by low pressure [equator] have rising air, condensation and cloud formation → more precipitation → wet conditions —— Opposite

LA PAWC

Equatorial Climate -

Characteristics Equatorial Climate Effect
Location Low latitude areas - Eg. Amazon, Zaire Basin, South-East Asia Sun is directly overhead all year meaning maximum insolation
Precipitation [Annual] 2000+ mm Dense vegetation → high transpiration and evaporation

Low pressure all year → rising air → condensation → cloud → high precipitation levels | | Temperature | Mean Monthly = 26-28 Constant high temperature Diurnal range = 7 | | | Seasons | No seasons - Hot and wet all year | | | Humidity | High | | | Prevailing Winds | Winds from noth blow from northeast winds from south blow from south-east | |

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Hot Desert Climate -

Characteristics Hot Desert Effect
Location Tropical and subtropical [North and South of equator]
Precipitation [Annual] Below 250 mm Air is descending [1]
It heats up/does not cool [1]
Condensation does not occur/clouds do not form [1]
Precipitation is low/does not occur/drier/only has e.g. 250 mm per annum etc
Temperature Range Daytime temp can reach 50, average = 25
nighttime = 0
dinural = 45
Seasons Summer and Winter
Humidity Low - 10-30%
Prevailing Winds Winds are offshore blowing from east across land, hence no collection of moisture Prevailing winds are from overland masses meaning little moisture

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Reasons For Deserts -

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  1. since equator gets max insolation air heats up [low pressure]
  2. this air then cools as it increases in height and moves north or south
  3. this leads to low pressure and sinking air, leading to warm air being unable to rise and form cloud → no rain