CLASSIFICATION OF TROPICAL

CLIMATE

DHEESHNA DILEEP
B20ARA06
S3 A
Can be divided into 3 major climatic zones and 3 sub-groups:

TYPES OF TROPICAL
SUB-GROUP
CLIMATE
Warm humid island
Warm humid climate
climate

Hot dry maritime

Hot dry desert climate
desert climate

Composite or
Tropical upland climate
monsoon climate
 WARM HUMID CLIMATE

Found in a belt near the Equator extending to about 15º North and South.
Examples: Malaysia, Jakarta, Singapore, Hawaii, US

WARM HUMID CLIMATE ELEMENTS

AIR TEMPERATURE:
• During the day between 27 degree Celsius and 32
degree Celsius.
• At night between 21 degree Celsius and 27 degree
Celsius.
HUMIDITY:
• Relative humidity:
• Relative humidity (RH) remains high-75 percentage most of the time.

VAPOUR PRESSURE:
• Between 2500-3500 N/m2.

PRECIPITATION:
• High precipitation throughout the year.

SKY CONDITION:
• Are fairly cloudy throughout the year.

SOLAR RADIATION:
• Normally high

WIND:
• Wind velocities are typically low, calm periods.
WARM HUMID CLIMATE BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS

Wall -is still warm at Pitch roof - used act

night because of the as a buffer to reduce Gutters are built.
high solar radiation the entering of heat
during the day into the house.

Window hoods and

Plastered single layer
balcony - to reduce More windows and
wall – to prevent heat
the entering of solar
captured in the the opening are wide.
radiation and daylight
house.
in to the house.

Wide doors – wind

Ceiling (high ceiling) –
Aprons- to prevent shaft is built to
to prevent direct heat
dirt on the wall. enable heated air go
into the house.
outside.
WARM HUMID ISLAND CLIMATE

Island within the Equatorial belt and in the trade wind zone.
Examples Caribbeans, Philippines and other island groups in Pacific Ocean.

WARM HUMID ISLAND CLIMATE ELEMENTS

AIR TEMPERATURE:
• During the day between 28 degree and 32 degree Celsius.
• At night, between 18 degree and 24 degree Celsius.

HUMIDITY:
• Relative humidity remain high (RH) from 55 percent to almost 100 percent.

VAPOUR PRESSURE:
• Between 1250- 2500 N/m2.
PRECIPITATION:
• Is high 1250-1800 mm per annum.

SKY CONDITION:
• Are normally clear or filled with white broken clouds of high brightness.

SOLAR RADIATION:
• Strong and mainly direct.

WIND:
• Provide relief from heat and humidity.
HOT DRY DESERT CLIMATE

Occur in 2 belts at latitude 15º and 30º North and South.

Examples: Saudi Arabia, Baghdad, India, South Africa.

HOT DRY DESERT CLIMATE ELEMENTS

AIR TEMPERATURE:
• During the day between 43 degree and 49 degree Celsius.
• At night, cool season- 10-18 degree Celsius.
Dry season- 27-32 degree Celsius.

HUMIDITY:
• Relative humidity remain low from 10 percent to almost 55 percent.

VAPOUR PRESSURE
• Between 750- 1500 mm per annum.
PRECIPITATION:
Slight and variable throughout the year.

SKY CONDITION:
Are normally clear clouds .

SOLAR RADIATION:
Strong and mainly direct.

WIND:
Hot and together with dust and sand.
HOT DRY DESERT CLIMATE BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS

Thick wall– the entering of heat

into the house during daytime
Flat roof - is used because of Small windows - to prevent
Pitch roof - should be built as become slower and at night the
sandstorms – not obstruct the sand and dust from entering the
double layers. cold air push the warm air to
wind flow. house.
flow outside and the building is
maintained cold (ie: pyramid).

Materials - crack and break up

Colors of the buildings_ light / cause by high daytime
Concrete houses are built.
bright. temperature and rapid cooling
at night.
HOT-DRY MARITIME DESERT

Occur in the same latitude belts as the hot-dry desert.

Two season – hot and cool
Example: Kuwait, Karachi

HOT DRY MARITIME DESERT ELEMENTS

AIR TEMPERATURE:
•During the day mean max is about 38 degree Celsius.
HUMIDITY:
• Relative humidity (RH)- steadily high between 50-90 percentage.

VAPOUR PRESSURE
• Between 750-1500 N/m2.

PRECIPITATION:
• Very low.

SKY CONDITION:
• A little more cloud may occur in the form of a thin, transparent haze.

SOLAR RADIATION:
• Strong and direct during the day.

WIND:
• Local wind- dust and sand storms may occur.
COMPOSITE OR MONSOON CLIMATE
Usually occur in : large land masses near the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, which are
far from Equator.
Examples: Lahore, Mandalay, New Delhi.
Two seasons – 2/3 of the year is hot dry and 1/3 is warm humid
Localities further North and South often have a third season, best described as cool-dry.

COMPOSITE OR MONSOON CLIMATE ELEMENTS

AIR TEMPERATURE:
• Hot dry – 11 –22
• Warm humid – 3 –6
• Cool dry – 11-22
HUMIDITY:
• Relative humidity (RH) remains high-75 percentage most of the time.

PRECIPITATION:
• Monsoon rains are intense .

SOLAR RADIATION:
• Strong and direct during the clear periods.

WIND:
• Variable.
COMPOSITE / MONSOON BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS

Large projecting eaves and

wide verandahs are needed Shading devices should
Courtyard type buildings A moderate dense, low rise in the warm-humid season
preferably be of low thermal
are very suitable. development. as out door living areas to
capacity.
reduce sky glare, keep out
the rain and provide shade.

Resistance insulation-
Roof and external walls- Large openings in opposite
placed at the outside
constructed of solid walls- preferably with solid
surfaces of external walls or
masonry and concrete. shutters.
roofs.
TROPICAL UPLAND CLIMATE

Mountainous regions- more than 900 to 1200 m above sea level.

Examples: Bogotá, Mexico City, Nairobi.

TROPICAL UPLAND CLIMATE ELEMENTS

AIR TEMPERATURE:
• During the day between 24 degree Celsius and 30 degree Celsius.
• At night between 10 degree Celsius and 13 degree Celsius.
HUMIDITY:
• Relative humidity (RH) -45 –99 percentage.

VAPOUR PRESSURE:
• Between 800- 1600 N/m2.

PRECIPITATION:
• Variable but rarely less than 1000mm.

SKY CONDITION:
• Normally clear or partly cloudy.

SOLAR RADIATION:
• Alternates between conditions found in the warm humid and hot dry desert climates.

WIND:
• Fairly strong and steady during warm humid season.
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