Climatology

Indian geography

Climatic Regions of
the world

Climatic regions of the world

1) Equatorial region
2) Hot desert
3) Continental
deserts
4) Tropical
grasslands
5) Temperate
grasslands
6) Tropical monsoon

7) Mediterranean
climate
8) China type
9) British type
10) Laurentian type
11) Taiga
12) Tundra

1s
t

Equatorial regions in the world

Equatorial Regions
climate

Vegetation

Tropical Deserts
2nd

Off-Shore
Trade winds

Effect of
Cold
currents

Tropical desert
climate

vegetation

Continental Desert
3t
h

China
Continentali
ty

South America
Rainshadow
region

Continental deserts
climate
Extreme weather
Hot summer- cold
winter
High annual
temperature range

Vegetation

3t
h

Tropical grasslands

Tropical grasslands
South America

Equator
ial
po
m
Rainfor
Ca
est
s

Savannah in Africa

Sahara
Desert
Savann
ah
Equator
ial
Rainfor
Savann
est
ah

Tropical grasslands
Climate

Distinct hot and dry

weather
Summer rainfall

Vegetation

Tropical grasslands
Savanna tress

Baoab trees

Temperate grasslands
Prairies of North
America
5t
h

Mississi
ppiMissour
i Basin

Pampas of S. Ame

ParanaParagua
y Basin

Temperate grasslands
Steppe of Central
Asia

Veldt of Africa

Temperate grasslands
Downs of Australia

MurrayDarling
Basin
DOW
NS

Climate

Cool and wet

Under westerlies

Temperate grasslands
Grass

vegetation

Temperate Grasslands
Agriculture

Economy
Animal husbandry
Dairy- meat
production
Wheat production
Truck-farming

Tropical Monsoon
6t
h

Tropical Monsoon
climate

Vegetation

Tropical Monsoon: economy

Intensive
agriculture

Shifting cultivation

Warm temperate western margin

7t
h

Mediterranean
climate
Area around
Mediterranean Sea
California, USA
Central Chile,
South America
Southern tip of
South Africa
South Australia

Mediterranean climate
Shifting wind belt
In summer
apparent
movement of the
sun towards north
region comes under
influence of offshore 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

Movement of Jet streams

Mediterranean climate
STWJ
STWJ

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
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

 Trees without
shed, stunted
Mediterranean vegetation
massive trunks,
wide spread
roots because
winter rain
growth limited
to autumn and
spring when
moisture
content is
sufficient

Different names of medi. vegetation

country

Name of
vegetation

Southern
France
Italy

Maquis

California

Chaparral

Australia

Mallee
scrub

Macchia

Agriculture in Mediterranean
Not suitable for
agriculture but
cultivation using
irrigation network
Wheat and barley
grown
Chief cooking oil
olives

Mediterranean agriculture
Citrus fruit plantation
Worlds 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

viticulture
Country
Southern
Spain
Portugal
Italy
France

Name of
wine
sherry
Port wine
Chianti and
Marsala
Champagne,
Bordeaux,

Mediterranean in Europe
Viticulture:
Ebro basin in Spain
Po valley in Italy
Rhone basin in
France
Sicily Island of Italy
Algeria in Africa:
exports wine

Mediterranean in USA

California state of
USA
San Francisco, Los
Angeles, San Diego
Fruit plantation
oranges, grapes,
Olives
California high
productivity

Mediterranean in South America

Central Chile
Cities: Santiago
(cap. Of Chile)
Valparaiso
Wine manufacturing

Mediterranean in Australia

Southern tip of
Australia
Cities: Perth and
Adelaide
Fruit plantation

Mediterranean in South Africa

Imp Cities:
Cape town, Port
Elizabeth
Fruit plantation

Warm temperate eastern margin

8t
h

Warm temperate eastern margin

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

China Type
Similar to tropical
monsoon
But Rainfall
throughout the year
summer intense
heating of central
Asia
south east monsoon

China type

Yello
w sea

In winter -> northwest monsoon

Siberian plateau HP
anticyclone, cold air
flow outwards as
North West monsoonsnow fall and rain on
windward side of the
mountains

China Type
Rainfall is also due
to local storms
typhoons (China)
in late summers
More rainfall than
Mediterranean
climate though
being on the same
latitude

Gulf Type
Less annual
temperature
range warm
due to gulf
stream (ocean
current) and onshore 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 SummerHurricanes

Winter- temperate
cyclone

Natal Type
Narrow land,
dominance of
maritime climate
South east trade
winds bring even
distribution of
rainfall throughout
the year
Imp City: Durban

vegetation High rainfall,

warm temp,
long growing
season
Evergreen
vegetation
broadleaved
forest grass,
ferns,
bamboos,
palms

Agriculture in China type

Intensive
agriculture
Rice cultivation
largest rice
production
Sericulture
Yangtze, Sikiang river
basins

 Besttype
suited for
Agriculture in gulf

cotton cultivation
Long growing
season, frost free
days, bright
sunlight, high
rainfall
Tobacco
cultivation
Famous Virginia
tobacco

Economic activities in China type

Country

Economic activity

China

Rice, tea, cotton, maize,

mulberry

Natal

Sugarcane

South
America
USA

Coffee and maize

Maize region cotton
tobacco (Virginia tobacco)

cool temperate western margin

9t
h

British type
Britain, Northern
France, Northern
Germany, Norway
Western Canada
Vancouver Island
Tasmania, New
Zealand
Southern Chile
Not in Africa

British type
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

Cool temperate Eastern margin

10t
h

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

Laurentian type

Not in southern
hemispherebecause hardly
any land beyond
40 degree latitude
South America
Andes block the
westerlies
oceanic influence

Laurentian climate, N. America

r li
te
es
W

Gre
at
Lak
es
Huron
Erie

io
Ontar
NE
W
En
g
sta land
tes

Mi
ch
iga
n

r
io
r
pe
u
S

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 type, China

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

Climate of Japan
Rainfall from

Sea
of
Japan

south east
monsoon in
summer
north west
monsoon in winter
dry wind from
Siberia become
moist from east
china sea
Maritime influence

Laurentian type
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.Johns port in
Newfoundland grand
banks

Taiga
11t
h

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
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

Tundra
12t
h

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
Aborigines:
Canada Inuits,
Aleutians
Russia Chukchi,
Buriyat (baikal)
Norway- Finland
Lapps
Nomadic herders

Q. Consider the following

statements:
1. In equatorial regions, the year is
divided into four main seasons
2. In Mediterranean region, summer
month receives more rain
3. In china type climate, rainfall
occurs throughout the year
4. Tropical high lands exhibit vertical
zonation of different climate

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2002

Which of these statements are

correct?
a) 1,2,3 and 4
b) 1,2 and 3
c) 1,2 and 4
d) 3 and 4
Ans. D)

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2002

Vertical zonation in highlands

With increasing
height decrease in
moisture
Soil layer becomes
thinner
Changes in
vegetation pattern

Q. Consider the ecosystems:

1. Taiga
2. Tropical evergreen
3. Tropical deciduous
4. Tundra
The correct sequence in
decreasing order of albedo
values of these ecosystem is:

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2002