Tropical monsoon climate

Worldwide zones of tropical monsoon climate (Am).

Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am".

Tropical monsoon climates have monthly mean temperatures above 18 °C in every month of the year and feature wet and dry seasons, as Tropical savanna climates do. Unlike tropical savanna climates however, a tropical monsoon climate's driest month sees less than 60 mm of precipitation but more than 100 − [total annual precipitation {mm}/25]. Also a tropical monsoon climate tends to see less variance in temperatures during the course of the year than a tropical savanna climate. This climate has a driest month which nearly always occurs at or soon after the "winter" solstice for that side of the equator.[1]

Versions

There are generally two versions of a tropical monsoon climate:

Distribution

Tropical monsoon climates are most commonly found in South and Central America. However, there are sections of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa (particularly West and Central Africa), the Caribbean, and North America that also feature this climate.

Factors

The major controlling factor over a tropical monsoon climate is its relationship to the monsoon circulation. The monsoon is a seasonal change in wind direction. In Asia, during the summer (or high-sun season) there is an onshore flow of air (air moving from ocean towards land). In the “winter” (or low-sun season) an offshore air flow (air moving from land toward water) is prevalent. The change in direction is due to the difference in the way water and land heat.

Changing pressure patterns that affect the seasonality of precipitation also occur in Africa though it generally differs from the way it operates in Asia. During the high-sun season, the Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) induces rain. During the low-sun season, the subtropical high creates dry conditions. The monsoon climates of Africa, and the Americas for that matter, are typically located along tradewind coasts.

Charts of selected cities

Miami
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
51
 
 
24
15
 
 
53
 
 
25
16
 
 
61
 
 
26
18
 
 
72
 
 
28
20
 
 
158
 
 
30
22
 
 
237
 
 
31
24
 
 
145
 
 
32
25
 
 
193
 
 
32
25
 
 
194
 
 
31
24
 
 
143
 
 
29
22
 
 
68
 
 
27
19
 
 
47
 
 
25
16
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: WMO
Chittagong
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
5
 
 
26
13
 
 
28
 
 
28
15
 
 
64
 
 
31
19
 
 
150
 
 
32
23
 
 
264
 
 
32
24
 
 
533
 
 
31
25
 
 
597
 
 
30
25
 
 
518
 
 
30
24
 
 
320
 
 
31
24
 
 
180
 
 
31
23
 
 
56
 
 
29
18
 
 
15
 
 
26
14
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: BBC
Macapá
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
300
 
 
30
23
 
 
347
 
 
29
23
 
 
407
 
 
29
23
 
 
384
 
 
30
24
 
 
352
 
 
30
24
 
 
220
 
 
30
23
 
 
185
 
 
31
23
 
 
98
 
 
32
23
 
 
43
 
 
32
23
 
 
36
 
 
33
24
 
 
58
 
 
32
24
 
 
143
 
 
31
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Conakry
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1
 
 
32
19
 
 
1
 
 
33
20
 
 
3
 
 
33
21
 
 
22
 
 
34
22
 
 
137
 
 
33
21
 
 
396
 
 
32
20
 
 
1130
 
 
30
20
 
 
1104
 
 
30
21
 
 
617
 
 
31
21
 
 
295
 
 
31
20
 
 
70
 
 
32
21
 
 
8
 
 
32
20
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [2]

References

  1. McKnight, Tom L; Hess, Darrel (2000). "Climate Zones and Types: The Köppen System". Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. pg. 208. ISBN 0-13-020263-0
  2. "Climatological Normals of Conakry". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
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