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WORLD-RAINFALL, CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
1. Orographic or Relief rainfall
2. Convectional rainfall
3. Cyclonic rainfall or frontal rainfall
Orographic or Relief rainfall
Relief Rainfall, or the orographic rainfall,
occurs when moist air begins to rise over
mountains or hills. When the air begins to
rise in the atmosphere, it reaches a
condensation point where water vapors
convert back to water droplets and,
consequently, clouds are formed. As the
clouds accumulate, their size grows and
it leads to rain. The onshore wind with
moisture content collides with the
mountains/hills and begins to descend
along the slope known as the windward
side and starts to cool down. When the air
temperature falls to its dew point, water
vapor condenses to form clouds. As the
clouds keep accumulating in this fashion,
the water droplets become heavy and
rain occurs. On the other side on
descending the leeward slope a decrease
in altitude increases both the pressure
and the temperature the air is
compressed and becomes warmed.
Consequently the relative humidity will
drop which results in low or no rainfall. It
is known as the Rain Shadow Area.
Convectional rainfall
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The heating of the surface of the earth by
the sun is the primary cause of
convectional rainfalls. Due to sunrays,
the water on the surface of the earth
evaporates and turns into lightweight,
moist air which begins to rise
upwards. As the air ascends in
atmosphere, it cools down considerably
and gradually approaches the
condensation point. As the water vapor
condenses, it acquires a liquid form
again. This condensation leads to the
formation of clouds high up in the
atmosphere. As the clouds continue to
accumulate, rain occurs due to the
increasing weight of the water droplets.
This type of rainfall is most common in
the Coastal areas near the Equator where
it is also known as 4oclock shower
Cyclonic or frontal rainfall
This type of rainfall occurs when the
warm and a cold body of air collide with
each other, frontal rainfalls occur. As the
mass of warm air strikes a mass of cold
air, the warm air, due to its light weight,
rises above the colder mass of air which
is much heavier and denser
comparatively. As the warm air rises, it
begins to cool down and once it reaches
the point of dew formation, the air mass
begins to condense and clouds are
formed. This results in precipitation and
the subsequent rain falls across a large
area.
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
The climate of the world are divided into
3 parts
1. Hot/ Warm climate 00-300 North
and South of Equator
2. Cool climate 300-550 North and
South of Equator
3. Cold Climate 550-900North and
South of Equator
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Equatorial type climate
This type of climate is found near the
equators and is also known as the Selvas.
This area receives the heavy rainfall
throughout the year around 200-250 cm
in the year. The average temperature in
this region varies from 25-300 Celsius
throughout the year. The variation in the
climate is very less.
In this region of the world hard wood
trees and very dense forest are found.
The roots of trees in this region are very
weak as the sunlight could not reach the
ground due to the dense forest. The
leaves of trees in this region remain
green throughout the year.
The example of trees in this region
includes Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood,
Bamboo etc
It is found in Malaysia, Singapore, Congo
basin, Kenya, Columbia, Ecuador etc
Tropical Monsoon climate
In this region seasonal rainfall is
prominent (especially during summers)
around 150-170 cm in the year, due to
which the vegetation is generally
deciduous.
The trees in this region shed their leaves
once in a year during the autumm.
The example of trees in this region
includes Teak, Sal, Sandalwood, Neem,
Khair etc
It is found in Western Coast of Africa,
South and South east Asia, Northern
Australia, West Indies etc.
Tropical Grassland or Savanna type
climate
The average temperature in this area
varies from 35-400Celsius throughout the
year. The rainfall is very less and is less
than 50 cm in the year.
Wild grasses are grown and this region is
favourable for the animal safaris. Trees in
this region are having longer roots and
are fire resistant.
They are known by different names such
as
Africa- Savanna
South America- Lavos and Campos
Sub-Tropical or desert type climate
This type of climate is basically found on
the western side of the continents around
the latitude position of 300 North and
South of equators.
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This climate has hot or very hot
temperatures and is very dry having less
than 25cm of precipitation a year.
The vegetation of hot deserts is very
sparse due to lack of rain. Some plants
have adapted to the conditions by having
long roots to search for moisture, and
some plants like cacti store water. The
category of plants found in the deserts in
the known as Xerophytes.
The plants in the desert are short in
height, they can hold water for long
period of time and have the presence of
thorns.
The plants includes Cactus, Acacia,
Pryclipean etc.
The variation in the climate in the deserts
is highest as the sand gets hot and also
cools down very fast.
This type of climate if found in Colorado
desert, Kalahari desert, Thar desert,
Sahara desert, Atacama desert, Lut
desert, Great Australian desert etc.
Subtropical Steppes or Temperate
grassland climate
Average temperature is around 200
Celsius in the summers and around 5 0
Celsius in the winters. The rainfall is
around 50-70 cm in the year.
The trees in this region are very tall,
flexible and soft wood which includes
Eucalyptus, Poplar and Cinchona.
This area produces huge quantity of food
grains and it is also known as the Bread
basket or the Granary of the world.
They are known by the different names
Central Asia- Steppes
North America- Prairies
South America- Pampas
South Africa- Veldts
Australia- Dawns
China- Manchuria
Japan- Kanto
England- Salesbury
New Zealand- Canterbury
South Australia- Nallabore
Hungary- Postaz
Mediterranean climate
This type of climate is found around the
latitude position of 35-450 North and
South of equators.
Winter rainfall is prevalent in this region
of the world. The summers are dry and
the winters and moist and cool.
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This region of the world is famous for the
citrus fruits which includes Olives,
Grapes, Oranges, Green Apples etc. This
region of the world is also famous for the
production of best quality of wine. The
farmers in this region practice Viticulture
i.e. production of grapes for the
commercial purpose.
It is found in France, Portugal, Spain,
Italy, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria,
Egypt, South Africa etc.
China type climate
It is found in the eastern part of the
continents. The average temperature is
around 190 Celsius. The rainfall is
moderate around 120 cm in the year
which occurs throughout the year.
It is found in China, South East USA,
Japan, South Brazil, Eastern Argentina,
South East Australia, South East Africa
etc.
West European Climate
It is found around the latitude position of
45-550 North and South of equators.
It is considered as the best climate of the
world as the average temperature during
the summers is around 150 Celsius and in
winters it is around 20 Celsius.
It is found in England, Germany,
Switzerland, Southern Chile, Southern
New Zealand, West Coast of Canada etc.
Continental Climate
The variation of the climate is very high.
This region experiences very hot
temperature during the summers and
very cold temperature during the winters.
It is found in the interior parts of the big
continents such as Northern India and
some parts of USA.
Taiga Climate
Taiga means the snow forest or the
coniferous forest. The trees are conical in
shape and the leaves are needle in shape.
They are basically found at very high
latitudes around 55-650 North and South
of equators and in the mountain regions
of the world.
The trees include Pine, Spruce, Juniper,
Silverfur, Deodar etc.
These forests are the most important
source of softwood and fur bearing
animals.
Tundra Climate
The tundra climate is found along arctic
coastal areas around the latitude position
of 65 - 75° North and South of Equators
Polar and arctic air masses dominate the
tundra climate. The winter season is long
and severe. A short, mild season exists,
but not a true summer season.
Moderating ocean winds keep the
temperatures from being as severe as
interior regions. Temperature varies from
-22 °C to 6 °Celsius. The annual rainfall
is around 20 cm.
It is found in the arctic zone of North
America; Hudson Bay region; Greenland
coast; northern Siberia bordering the
Arctic Ocean.