What is Tropical Wet and Dry Climate?
The tropical wet and dry climate in geology is also called the tropical savanna and is part of the Koppen climate division system that groups climates based on vegetation. Having signs of the monsoon climate, the tropical climate is represented by a wet season and a dry season. It is situated between 5° and 25° latitude, in Africa, Australia, Central and South America, and in Southern Asia. In essence, a tropical season tends to either observe less rainfall than a tropical wet climate or have more pronounced dry seasons.
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What is the tropical wet-dry climate known for?
Tropical Wet and Dry climate is known for its two seasons i.e.
1. Wet season (summer)
2. Dry season (winter)
Generally, the dry season lasts longer. During the dry season, plant life and animal life struggle to tackle the dry conditions, but as the rainy season starts, plants turn green, ponds fill up, and animal life blossoms. What Causes Wet and Dry Seasons? This tropical savanna climate is caused by changing wind and ocean currents.
Tropical Wet Season
The wet season in the tropical savanna usually stays from June to October in the northern hemisphere and from December to April in the southern hemisphere. The rain is an outcome of a combination of warm, tropical air masses from huge bodies of water and then the sun is located higher in the sky. Temperatures remain quite high during the wet season but can drop drastically at night. Depending on the year and the location, the wet season can result in annual rainfall of below 10 inches to more than 50 inches.
Tropical Dry Season
The dry season in tropical savanna remains for most of the year when there is little or no rainfall because of the continental tropical air masses and the sun is lower in the sky. Usually, the higher the latitude of the area, the longer the dry season is disposed to be. Most dry seasons start around November and last through June when the rains return in the northern hemisphere. Dry seasons lean-to last from about May through November in the southern hemisphere. Temperatures reach their highest around the end of the dry season before the rain occurs. The average daily temperature in the dry season usually remains in the upper 70's Fahrenheit, but, depending on the location, daytime temperatures can soar above 100° Fahrenheit.
Location of Tropical Wet and Dry Climate
Tropical wet and dry climate is typically observed within the tropics. The tropics are two lines of latitude at 23.5° north and 23.5° south of the Equator. Land within this area obtains direct sunlight throughout most of the year. The tropical climate is observed between the tropical wet climate and the tropical dry climates in both the northern and the southern hemispheres. It varies in latitude from between 5° and 10° to between 15° and 20°. Most people realize the tropical savanna to be in Africa, though this climate is also recognized in Brazil, Venezuela, the Caribbean, Central America, and Indo-China, parts of India and even areas of Florida.
How are Dry Climate Regions Identified?
Do you know how we distinguish between a tropical wet and a tropical dry climate?
Tropical dry climates happen in deserts, while tropical wet climates generally are seen along the rainforest belt. Tropical wet and dry climates acknowledge a distinct dry season and a distinct wet season. Places that undergo tropical wet climates receive sufficient rainfall to sustain a population of trees.
How Much Rain Does Tropical Wet and Dry Climate Receive?
Amount and change in precipitation are what provides this climate type with its name. Precipitation only falls in the summer months, generally from May-August with June and July experiencing the heaviest rainfall. The whole dry season generally receives less than 4 inches of rain. During the wet season, a minimum of 25 inches will fall. Some areas of Tropical Savanna in the path of monsoon winds can receive unbelievable amounts of rain. Cherrapunji, India once received more than 1,000 inches of rain in a year! Northern Madagascar reported the record for rain having -71 inches in one day! Mawsynram, India is popularized as the "wettest place on earth" since it receives an average of 467 inches of rain per year. These incredible rainfall records are because of the seasonal winds called monsoon, which bring along dangerous amounts of rain.
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FAQs on Tropical Wet-Dry Climate
1. What exactly is a Tropical Wet-Dry Climate?
A Tropical Wet-Dry Climate, also known as the Savanna climate (Aw), is a type of climate that features two distinct seasons: a very rainy, humid wet season and a prolonged, cooler dry season. It is found in the tropical regions, typically bordering the hot, wet equatorial rainforest climates. The defining feature is the seasonal shift in rainfall, unlike the year-round precipitation of a true tropical wet climate.
2. What are the main characteristics of the Tropical Wet-Dry Climate?
The primary characteristics of this climate are:
- Distinct Seasons: A pronounced dry season (usually during the winter) and a wet season (during the summer).
- Temperature: Consistently high temperatures throughout the year, with a slight dip during the dry season. The annual temperature range is greater than in tropical rainforests.
- Rainfall: Annual rainfall is significant but heavily concentrated in the wet season. The dry season may see little to no precipitation for several months.
- Vegetation: Dominated by savanna grassland—a landscape of tall, coarse grasses with scattered, drought-resistant trees.
3. Why does the Tropical Wet-Dry climate have separate wet and dry seasons?
The distinct seasons are caused by the seasonal migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a belt of low pressure near the equator. During the summer months, the ITCZ and its associated rain-bearing winds move over the region, bringing the heavy rainfall of the wet season. In the winter, the ITCZ moves away towards the other hemisphere, and the region comes under the influence of dry, stable air masses (like the subtropical highs), leading to the long dry season.
4. What is the difference between a Tropical Wet Climate and a Tropical Wet-Dry Climate?
The main difference lies in the rainfall pattern. A Tropical Wet Climate (Af), like that of a rainforest, receives heavy rainfall consistently throughout the year with no real dry season. In contrast, a Tropical Wet-Dry Climate (Aw) has a clear and extended dry period. This difference in precipitation directly impacts the vegetation, leading to dense rainforests in the former and open grasslands (savanna) in the latter.
5. What kind of vegetation is found in a Tropical Wet-Dry climate?
The vegetation is adapted to survive the long dry season. Instead of dense forests, this climate supports savanna grasslands. Key features include:
- Grasses: Tall, coarse grasses that grow rapidly during the wet season and turn brown and dormant in the dry season.
- Trees: Scattered, deciduous trees (which shed their leaves to conserve water) and other drought-resistant species like the baobab and acacia. These trees often have thick bark to resist periodic fires.
- Xerophytic Adaptations: Plants may have features like waxy leaves, deep roots, and thorns to minimise water loss.
6. What types of animals are adapted to the Savanna environment?
The Savanna is famous for its diverse fauna, especially large mammals. Animals here have adapted to the open landscape and seasonal food availability. It supports large herds of herbivores (plant-eaters) like zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and elephants, which often migrate to find water and grazing land. These herds, in turn, support a variety of carnivores (meat-eaters) such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
7. Which parts of India have a Tropical Wet-Dry Climate?
In India, the Tropical Wet-Dry or Savanna climate (Aw) is primarily found over a large part of the peninsular plateau, excluding the semi-arid region in the rain-shadow of the Western Ghats and the coastal regions. It characterises the interior regions of states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, where the monsoon brings a distinct wet season followed by a long dry winter and spring.
8. How does the Tropical Wet-Dry climate influence human activities?
This climate significantly shapes human life, particularly agriculture and pastoralism. The availability of vast grasslands makes it suitable for raising livestock (pastoralism). Farming is challenging due to the unreliable rainfall and long dry season. Farmers often grow drought-resistant crops like millet, sorghum, and groundnuts. The distinct seasons also influence settlement patterns, water management strategies, and the timing of all economic activities.
