CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION …..

1 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION IN TROPICS
 The interaction of solar radiation with the atmosphere and the gravitational forces
together with the distribution of land and see masses produces an almost infinite
variety of climate.

 However certain zones and belts of approximately uniform climate can be

distinguished.

 Boundaries of climatic zones cannot be accurately mapped.

 One zone merges gradually and almost imperceptibly in to the next. It is nevertheless
easy to identify the zone or the transition area between two zones to which a
particular settlement belongs.

2 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION IN TROPICS

3 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION IN TROPICS
 The following classification given by G A Atkinson has been widely accepted and
proven successful.

 The basis of this classification is given by the two atmospheric factors which
dominantly influence human comfort.
 Air temperature and
 Humidity

 The main criterion is what extremes of these two factors are likely to cause
discomfort. Accordingly the tropical regions of earth are divided in to three major
climatic zones and three sub groups.
 Warm – Humid equatorial climate
 Hot dry desert or semidesert climate
 Composite or Monsoon climate

4 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
1.WARM HUMID CLIMATE
 Climate conditions
 Warm humid climates occur in a belt
extending roughly 15° either side of
the equator.
 There is very little seasonal variation,
other than the amount of rain, which is
high throughout the year, and the
incidence of gusty winds and electric
storms
Places
 Lagos , Mombasa, Colombo,
Singapore, Jakarta, Quito,
Pernambuco.
5 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem
Air temperature
 Mean maximum DBT is between 27
and 32°C. Night mean minimum varies
between 21 and 27°.
Relative Humadity
 RH is usually high at around 75%, but
may vary between 55 and 100%.
Precipitation
 High throughout the year, generally
becoming more intense for several
consecutive months.
Sky conditions
 Sky conditions are fairly cloudy
throughout the year, although
luminance can vary considerably.
7/22/2012
by Ar. Balaji
1.WARM HUMID CLIMATE
Solar radiation Vegetation
 Solar radiation is partly reflected and  Grow quickly due to frequent rains
partly scattered by cloud and the high and high temperatures and difficult to
humidity, therefore the radiation control.
reaching the ground get diffused, but  Plant supporting organic substances
strong and can cause painful sky glare. and mineral salts are dissolved and
 Cloud and vapour content also washed away by rain water.
prevents or reduces outgoing  The subsoil water table is usually high
radiation from the earth and sea to and the ground may be waterlogged.
the night sky, thus the accumulated
 Little light is reflected from the ground.
heat is not dissipiated.
Wind velocities
 Typically low, calm periods are
frequent, but strong winds can
occours during rain squalls.

6 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
 Special characteristics
High humidity
encourages mould, algae
and rusting.

 Mosquitos, usually
malarial, and other
insects abound.
Vegetation in warm humid climate
Organic building
materials tend to decay.

Thunderstorms are
accompanied by
frequent air to air
electrical discharge.

7 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
1a. Warm humid island climate
Climate conditions
 Islands within the equatorial belt and in
trade winds zone belong to this type.
 Seasonal variations are negligible.
Places
 Caribbeans, Phillipines and other
island groups in the Pacific ocean.
Air temperature
 Mean maximum DBT is between 29
and 32°C. Night mean minimum varies
between 18 and 24 degree.
Relative Humadity
 RH is usually high at around 75%, but
may vary between 55 and 100%.
Precipitation
 High
 Spray is driven nearly horizontally on
windward coast.
Sky conditions
 Sky conditions normally clear or filled
with broken clouds of high brightness
except during storms when the skies
are dark and dull .

8 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
1a. Warm humid island climate
Solar radiation
 Solar radiation is strong and mainly
direct with a very small diffuse
component when the sky is clear, but
varies with the cloud cover.
Wind velocities
 Predominant trade winds blows at a
steady 6 to 7 m/s and provides relief
from heat and humidity
 Much higher velocities occour during
cyclones
9 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem
Vegetation
 It is less luxuriant and of a lighter
green colour than in warm humid
zones. It varies with rainfall.
 The soil is often dry with fairly low
water table .
Special characteristics
 Tropical cyclones or hurricanes with
wind velocities from 45 to 70 m/s
which constitute serious seasonal
hazard.
 The high salt content of the atmosphere
encourages corrosion in coastal areas.
7/22/2012
by Ar. Balaji
2. Hot dry desert climate
 Climate conditions
 climates occur in a two belts at latitude
between extending between 15 and
30 degree on either side of the
equator.
Places
 Assuan , Baghdad, Alice springs and
Phoenix.
Precipitation
 Precipitation in slight and variable
throuhout the year from 50 to 155mm
per aanum.
 Flash storms may occour over limited
areas with as much as 50 mm rain in a
few hours but some regions may not
have rain for several years.
Air temperature
 Mean maximum durin a day time is
between 43 to 49°C.
 The ever recorded maximum
temperature of 58 degree measured
in Libya
 During the cool season mean maximum
temperature varies between 27 to 32
degree.
 Night time mean minimum in hot season
are between 24 and 30 degree and in
the cold season are between 10 and
18 degree.
Relative Humadity
 RH usually varies between 10 to 55
percent.

10 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
2. Hot dry desert climate
Sky conditions
 It is normally clear
 Clouds are few due to low humidity of
the air.
 The sky is usually dark blue and further
darkened during dust or sand storms.
 Towards the end of the hot period, dust
suspended in the air may create a
white haze which produces a diffuse
light and painful glare.
11 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem
Solar radiation
 It is direct and strong during the day,
but the absence of clouds permits easy
release of the heat stored during the
day in the form of long wave radiation
towards the night sky.
 Diffuse radiation present only during
dust haze periods.
Winds
 Winds are usually local .
 Heating of air over the hot ground
causes a temperature inversion and as
the lower warm air mass breaks
through the higher cool air, local whirl
winds are often created.
 Winds are hot carrying dust and sand
and often develop in to dust storms.
7/22/2012
by Ar. Balaji
2. Hot dry desert climate
Vegetation
 It is sparse and difficult to maintain
because of lack of rain and low
humidities.
 The soil is usually dusty and very dry.
 Soil dry quickly after rain and would
generally be fertile if irrigated.
 The subsoil water table is very low.
Special characteristics
 During certain months dust and sand
storm may be frequent.
 High day temperatures and rapid
cooling at night may cause materials
to crack and break.

12 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
2a.Hot dry maritime climate
Climate conditions
 Maritime desert climate occours in the
same latitude belts as the hot dry
desert climates, where the sae adjoins
a large land mass.
 These are regarded to be the most
unfavourable climates of the earth.
 There are two seasons: hot one and
cold one
Places
Kuwait, Antofagasta and Karachi.
Precipitation
It is very low as in other desert regions.
13 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem
Air temperature
 Mean maximum temperature during a
day time is about 38 degree but in
cool season it remains between 21 and
26 degree.
 The night time mean minimum
temperature of the hot season range
from 24 to 30 degree and of cold
season from 10 to 18 degree.
Relative Humadity
 RH steadily high between 50 and 90
percent.as strong solar radiation
causes strong evaporation from the
sea.
 Moisture is however not precipitated
but remains suspended in the air
creating intensely uncomfortable
conditions.
7/22/2012
by Ar. Balaji
2a.Hot dry maritime climate
Sky conditions Vegetation
 A little more cloud may occour in the  It is sparse , not more than some dry
form of a thin transparent haze which grases,
is likely to cause glare.  It is dry and dusty throughout the year.
Solar radiation  Ground glare can be intense.
 It is strong with a higher diffuse Special characteristics
component than in desert climates due
 Dust and sand storms may occour.
to the thin cloud and suspended
moisture.  The salt laden atmosphere accelerates
corrosion.
Winds
 winds are mostly local, costal winds
caused by unequal heating and cooling
of land and surface. These tend to
blow of off the sea towards the land
during the day and in reverse direction
during night .

14 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
3. Composite or Monsoon climate
Climate conditions Relative Humadity
 It occours in large landmasses near the  Rh is low throughout the dry periods at
tropic of cancer and capricon , which 20 to 50 % and during the wet period
are sufficiently far from the equator to it rises to 55 to 95 %
experience marked seasonal change in Precipitation
solar radiation and wind direction.
 Monsoon rains are intense and
 Two seasons occour normally. Approx prolonged.
two- third of the year is hot dry and
 There is little or no rain during the dry
the other third is warm – humid.
season.
Localities further north and south have
third season as cool and dry. Solar radiation
Places  It alternates between conditions found
in the warm humid and the hot dry
 Lahore, Mandalay, Asuncion, Kano,
desert climates.
New delhi

15 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
3. Composite or Monsoon climate
Sky conditions
 It markedly vary with seasons
 The sky is heavily overcast and dull
during the monsoons and clear with a
dark blue colour, in the dry seasons.
 Towards the end of the hot dry season
the sky becomes brighter with frequent
dust haze. The inensity of sky glare
varies accordingly.
Winds
 Hot and dusty during dry period.
 Directional changes in the prevailing
winds at the beginning of the warm
humid season brings rain clouds and
humid air from the sea.
 Mosoon winds are fair strong and
steady.
16 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem
Vegetation
 Which is sparse charecteristics of a hot
dry region with brown and barren
ground changing rapidly with rain,.
Landscape becomes green and fertile
within a few days.
 Plants grow quickly.
 In the cooler period vegetation covers
the ground but diminishes as the
temperature rises.
 The soil is damp during the rains but it
dries out quickly.
 There is a risk of soil erosion during
monsoon.
 In the dry season strong ground glare
may be experienced.
7/22/2012
by Ar. Balaji
 3. Composite or Monsoon climate
Special characteristics
Saesonal changes in
relative humidity causes
rapid weakening of
building materials.

Dustand sand storms

may occour.

Termites are common

Occasional
condensation problems.

17 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
3a. Tropical upland climate
Climate condition
 Mountainous regions and plateaus
more than 900 to 1200 m above sea
level experiences such climates,
between the 20 degree isotherms.
 Seasonal variations are small in upland
climates near the equator but when
further away from the equator, the
season follow those of the nearby
lowlands.
Place
 Addis Ababa, Bogota, Mexico city and
Nairobi
Humidity
 Rh varies between 45 and 99%.
Precipitation
 It is variable but rarely less than 1000
mm.
 Rain often falls in heavy concentrated
showers, reaching an intensity of 80mm
per hour.
Sky conditions
 Normally clear or partly cloudy, to the
extent of about 40%.
 During the monsoon rains the sky is
overcast and the clouds are heavy and
low.

18 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem 7/22/2012

by Ar. Balaji
3a. Tropical upland climate
Solar radiation
 It is strong and direct during the clear
periods , stronger than at the same
latitude , but at sea level .
 Uv radiation is especially stronger than
at lower altitudes. It becomes more
diffuse as cloud cover increases.
Winds
 Winds are variables , predominantly
north eat and south easterlies, but may
drastically deflected by local
topographhy. Wind velocity rarely
exceeds 15m/s.
19 Climate and built up environment - 3 rd sem
Vegetation
 It is green although not very luxuriant
during the wet season but it may wither
in the dry season, when the ground
level can turn brown or red.
 The soil may be damp in the rains but
it may dries quickly.
Special characteristics
 Heavy dew at night.
 Strong radiation loss at night during
the dry season, which may lead to the
formation of dry fog.
 Thunderstorms with a fair proportion of
electric discharges air to the ground.
 Hail may also occour.
7/22/2012
by Ar. Balaji