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Weather and Climate

The world's major climate types

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 3 Section B

Overview

Characteristics of the equatorial climate, characteristics of the tropical savanna climate and characteristics of the hot desert climate.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

On what two elements are the major climate types principally classified?

Numbers

Describe the characteristics of the equatorial climate.

Key term

Why does the equatorial climate have a small annual temperature range but a large diurnal one?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    On what two elements are the major climate types principally classified?

    Model answer

    Climate types are classified principally on temperature and precipitation. The seasonal pattern of each matters as much as the annual total.

  2. 2

    Describe the characteristics of the equatorial climate.

    Model answer

    The equatorial climate has high temperatures near 27 °C all year with a very small annual range. Rainfall exceeds 2000 mm and falls convectionally in most months.

  3. 3

    Why does the equatorial climate have a small annual temperature range but a large diurnal one?

    Model answer

    The overhead sun varies little through the year, so the annual range is small. Strong daytime heating and rapid night-time radiation loss give a large daily range.

  4. 4

    Describe the characteristics of the tropical savanna climate.

    Model answer

    The savanna climate has a distinct wet season and dry season driven by the migrating ITCZ. Temperatures stay high all year, peaking just before the rains.

  5. 5

    Describe the characteristics of the hot desert climate.

    Model answer

    The hot desert climate has under 250 mm of rainfall a year and very high summer temperatures. Clear skies give an extreme diurnal range, often above 20 °C.

  6. 6

    Describe the characteristics of the Mediterranean climate.

    Model answer

    The Mediterranean climate has hot dry summers under subtropical high pressure. Winters are mild and wet as the westerlies and their depressions move south.

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