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