Dry tropical climate is a continental variety of tropical climate , where there is no change of monsoons , that is, where tropical air prevails all year round. The wind regime in these continental regions is not so characteristic and stable as in the trade winds over the oceans , since these areas can be influenced not only by anticyclones , but (in the summer) and diffuse depressions.
Content
Distribution
These areas are tropical desert belts, which include the African ( Sahara , Namib ), Arabian ( Nefood , Rub al-Khali ), Australian ( Great Sand Desert , Great Victoria Desert, Gibson Desert , Simpson ), California ( Sonora , Lower California desert ) Cloud cover and precipitation are very small. Nevertheless, the rational balance of the earth’s surface is much less than in the equatorial belt, due to dry air and the large albedo of the earth’s surface. However, the air temperature is very high, since the heat consumption for evaporation is low.
Feature
Summer is exceptionally hot, with an average temperature of the warmest month not lower than + 26˚, and in places almost up to + 40˚. It is in the zone of tropical deserts that the highest temperature maximums on the globe are observed, around + 57˚ - + 58˚. Winter is also warm, with the coldest month between + 10˚ and + 22˚
In Aswan, the average temperature of June - July is + 33˚, and January + 15˚; in Alice Springs + 12˚ and + 28˚ respectively. The annual amplitudes are thus significant for the tropical zone - an average of 15˚ - 20˚. The daily temperature fluctuations are very large, sometimes reaching 40˚.
Precipitation is rare, but heavy rains are possible (in the Sahara up to 80 mm per day). Annual precipitation in most cases is less than 250 mm, and in places less than 100 mm. In Aswan there were periods when it did not rain at all for several years in a row.
In general, in light winds, tropical deserts are characterized by dusty whirlwinds, and even sandstorms that carry huge amounts of sand (summits). They are associated with extreme overheating of the lower layer of air.
West coast of the mainland
On the western coasts of the continents in the trade winds zone, the temperatures are relatively low, since the air here quickly comes from high latitudes along the eastern periphery of the subtropical anticyclone and, in addition, flows over cold waters. The annual temperature amplitude is small, as over the oceans. There is very little rainfall (less than 100 mm per year) due to low water temperatures and low-lying trade wind inversion, but the humidity is high (80 - 90%) and fogs often occur. It has a climate of coastal deserts like the western Sahara , southern California, the Namib Desert and Atacama .
For example, in Swakopmund (Namib), the average temperature in August is + 14˚, and in February + 18˚, the average annual rainfall is 20 mm.
Gallery
Namib | Rub al Khali | Atacama | Sonora |
References and Sources
- Meteorology and climatology . Leningrad, 1968. Author - Khromov S.P.
- Atlas of the world . GNPP Cartography , 2005