WORLD CLIMATE TYPES
Geography
1. HOT WET EQUATORIAL CLIMATE (TROPICAL RAINFOREST CLIMATE)
Distribution:
- Found between 5° and 10° North and South of the equator.
- Major regions: Amazon Basin, Congo Basin, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.
Temperature:
- Uniform high temperature throughout the year.
- Mean temperature around 27°C.
- Very small annual temperature range.
- No winter season.
Rainfall:
- Very heavy rainfall throughout the year.
- Double rainfall maxima near equinoxes.
- Mainly convectional rainfall due to strong heating.
- Orographic rainfall in mountainous areas.
- High humidity and cloud cover moderate temperature.
Vegetation:
- Dense evergreen tropical rainforests.
- Called “Selvas” in South America.
- Trees: Mahogany, ebony, rosewood, rubber, cinchona.
- Multi-layered forests: emergent, canopy, understory.
- Very high biodiversity.
- Soil is poor due to leaching.
Economic Activities:
- Shifting cultivation.
- Plantation agriculture: rubber, cocoa, oil palm, sugarcane.
- Fishing and forest products.
- Malaysia and Indonesia major rubber producers.
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2. MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE
Distribution:
- Western margins of continents between 30° and 45° latitudes.
- Regions: Mediterranean Basin, California, Central Chile, South Africa (Cape region), South-West Australia.
Climate:
- Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
- Summer: offshore trade winds → dry.
- Winter: westerlies bring rain.
- Rainfall mainly in winter.
Vegetation:
- Short, drought-resistant trees.
- Evergreen shrubs.
- Cork oak, olive, pine, cypress.
Agriculture:
- Orchard farming.
- Citrus fruits, grapes, olives.
- Wheat cultivation.
- Viticulture (wine production) important.
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3. TEMPERATE CONTINENTAL (STEPPE) CLIMATE
Distribution:
- Interiors of continents.
- Eurasian Steppes, North American Prairies, Pampas, Velds, Downs.
Temperature:
- Extreme temperature range.
- Hot summers, cold winters.
- Large diurnal and annual range.
Rainfall:
- Low to moderate (25–50 cm).
- Mostly in summer.
- Chinook winds help agriculture in Prairies.
Vegetation:
- Short grasses.
- Almost treeless plains.
Economic Activities:
- Wheat cultivation – “Granaries of the World”.
- Cattle rearing.
- Pampas famous for beef export.
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4. WARM TEMPERATE EASTERN MARGIN (CHINA TYPE)
Distribution:
- Eastern margins of continents.
- China, SE USA, Eastern Australia, South Africa, Japan, Pampas region.
Climate:
- Hot, wet summers.
- Cool, dry winters.
- High humidity.
- Rainfall: 65–150 cm from convectional and cyclonic rain.
Vegetation:
- Mixed forests: evergreen and deciduous.
Agriculture:
- Rice cultivation (China largest producer).
- Tea, mulberry (silk), cotton, tobacco.
- Sugarcane in South Africa.
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5. COOL TEMPERATE EASTERN MARGIN (LAURENTIAN TYPE)
Distribution:
- NE North America and East Asia.
Climate:
- Cold, dry winters.
- Warm, wet summers.
- Summer rain due to cyclones.
Vegetation:
- Mixed forests.
- Coniferous in north, deciduous in south.
Economic Activities:
- Lumbering.
- Dairy farming.
- Fishing in Japan.
- Crops: potato, soybean, mulberry, groundnut.
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6. COOL TEMPERATE WESTERN MARGIN (BRITISH TYPE)
Distribution:
- Western Europe, Western Canada, Southern Chile, New Zealand, Tasmania.
Climate:
- Mild summers and cool winters.
- Rainfall throughout the year.
- Four distinct seasons.
- Influenced by westerlies and ocean currents.
Vegetation:
- Deciduous forests: oak, beech, elm, ash.
- In wetter areas: willow, alder.
Economic Activities:
- Mixed farming.
- Market gardening.
- Fishing.
- Sheep rearing.
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7. COOL TEMPERATE CONTINENTAL (SIBERIAN TYPE)
Distribution:
- High latitude interiors of Northern Hemisphere.
Climate:
- Very long, bitter cold winters.
- Short cool summers.
- Extreme temperature range.
- Rainfall low (30–60 cm).
Vegetation:
- Coniferous forests (Taiga).
- Pine, fir, spruce, larch.
- Largest softwood forest region in the world.
Economic Activities:
- Lumbering.
- Pulp and paper industry.
- Trapping fur animals.
- Timber-based industries.
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Subject: Geography
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