Climatic regions of the world

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Equatorial region
Hot desert
Continental
deserts
Tropical
grasslands
Temperate
grasslands
Tropical monsoon

7) Mediterranean
climate
8) China type
9) British type
10) Laurentian type
11) Taiga
12) Tundra

1
s
Equatorial
regions
in
the
world
t

Equatorial Regions
Vegetation
climate

2
nd

Tropical Deserts

OffShore
Trade
winds

Effect of
Cold
currents

Tropical desert
vegetation
climate

Continental
Desert
3
t
China
h

South America
Continen
tality

Rainshadow
region

Continental deserts
Vegetation
climate

Extreme weather
Hot summer- cold
winter
High annual
temperature range

3
t
h

Tropical grasslands

Tropical grasslands
Savannah in Africa
South America

Equat
orial m
Ca s
Rainf
o
p
orest

Sahar
a
Deser
t
Sava
nnah
Equat
orial
Rainf
orestSava
nnah

Tropical grasslands
Vegetation
Climate

Distinct hot and dry

weather
Summer rainfall

Tropical grasslands
Baoab trees
Savanna tress

Temperate grasslands
Prairies
of North
5
America

Pampas of S. Ame

t
h

Missi
ssippi
Misso
uri
Basin

Paran
aParag
uay
Basin

Temperate grasslands
Steppe of Central
Asia

Veldt of Africa

Temperate grasslands
Climate
Downs of Australia

Murr
ayDarli
ng
DO
Basin
WN
S

Cool and wet

Under westerlies

Temperate grasslands
vegetation
Grass

Temperate Grasslands
Economy
Agriculture

Animal husbandry
Dairy- meat
production
Wheat production
Truck-farming

6
t
h

Tropical Monsoon

Tropical Monsoon
Vegetation
climate

Tropical Monsoon: economy

Shifting cultivation
Intensive agriculture

Warm temperate Western margin

7Warm temperate western margin

t
Mediterranean
climate
h
Area around
Mediterranean
Sea
California, USA
Central Chile,
South America
Southern tip of
South Africa
South
Australia

Mediterranean climate

Shifting wind belt

In summer
apparent
movement of the
sun towards
north region
comes under
influence of offshore North
trade winds =>
no rain
Distinct dry
season

Mediterranean climate
In winters
apparent
movement of the
sun towards south
region comes
under influence of
westerlies =>
rainfall
Winter rainfall

Movement of Jet streams

Mediterranean climate
STWJ
STWJ

Winter cyclonic
rain in Atlantic ->
these cyclones are
carried by STWJ to
Northern India in
winter western
disturbances in
northern India
during winter

Mediterranean climate

Shrubs and
bushes with
scattered stunted
trees
The natural grass
is so wiry and
bunchy not
suitable for cattle
rearing =>
Mediterranean
region net
importer of dairy
products

Mediterranean

Trees without
vegetation
shed, stunted
massive
trunks, wide
spread roots
because
winter rain
growth limited
to autumn and
spring when
moisture
content is
sufficient

Different names of medi. vegetation

country
Name of
vegetati
on

Southe
rn
France
Italy
Califor
nia

Maquis

Macchia
Chaparr
al

Agriculture in Mediterranean
Not suitable for
agriculture but
cultivation using
irrigation network
Wheat and barley
grown
Chief cooking oil
olives

Mediterranean agriculture
Citrus fruit

plantation Worlds
orchard lands fruit
trees long deep
root, to survive
during dry summer
oranges, grapes,
lemon
California Sunkist
oranges
Negev desert of
Israel Jaffa oranges
Spain Seville
oranges

viticulture

Country

Southern
Spain
Portugal
Italy

France

Name of
wine
sherry
Port wine
Chianti
and
Marsala
Champag

Mediterranean in Europe

Viticulture:
Ebro basin in Spain
Po valley in Italy
Rhone basin in
France
Sicily Island of Italy
Algeria in Africa:
exports wine

Mediterranean in USA
California state of
USA
San Francisco, Los
Angeles, San Diego
Fruit plantation
oranges, grapes,
Olives
California high
productivity

Mediterranean in South America

Central Chile
Cities: Santiago
(cap. Of Chile)
Valparaiso
Wine
manufacturing

Mediterranean in Australia

Southern tip of
Australia
Cities: Perth and
Adelaide
Fruit plantation

Mediterranean in South Africa

Imp Cities:
Cape town, Port
Elizabeth
Fruit plantation

8
Warm
temperate eastern margin
t
h

Warm temperate eastern margin

China type Gulf type

Natal type

Central
S E USA
and north
china

Natal,
South
Africa

Southern
Japan

Eastern
Australia
Southern
Brazil

(gulf of
Mexico)

China Type
Similar to tropical
monsoon
But Rainfall
throughout the
year
summer intense
heating of central
Asia
south east
monsoon

China type

Yell
ow
sea

In winter -> northwest monsoon

Siberian plateau
HP anticyclone,
cold air flow
outwards as North
West monsoonsnow fall and rain
on windward side
of the mountains

China Type
Rainfall is also
due to local
storms
typhoons
(China) in late
summers
More rainfall
than
Mediterranean
climate though
being on the
same latitude

Gulf Type
Less annual
temperature
range warm
due to gulf
stream (ocean
current) and
on-shore trade
winds
Imp cities: New
Orleans,
Atlanta

Gulf type
No distinct dry
season
Rainfall maximum
in summer-mT
unstable air mass
- thunderstorms

Gulf type
Late SummerHurricanes

Winter- temperate
cyclone

Natal Type
Narrow land,
dominance of
maritime climate
South east trade
winds bring even
distribution of
rainfall throughout
the year
Imp City: Durban

vegetation
High rainfall,
warm temp,
long growing
season
Evergreen
vegetation
broadleaved
forest
grass, ferns,
bamboos,
palms

Agriculture in China type

Intensive
agriculture
Rice
cultivation
largest rice
production
Sericulture
Yangtze, Sikiang river
basins

Best suited
Agriculture in gulf
typefor

cotton
cultivation
Long growing
season, frost
free days, bright
sunlight, high
rainfall
Tobacco
cultivation
Famous Virginia
tobacco

Economic activities in China type

Country
China

Economic
activity
Rice, tea, cotton,
maize, mulberry

Natal

Sugarcane

South
America
USA

Coffee and maize

Maize region
cotton tobacco
(Virginia tobacco)

9cool temperate western margin

British type
t
Britain, Northern
h

France, Northern
Germany,
Norway
Western Canada
Vancouver
Island
Tasmania, New
Zealand
Southern Chile
Not in Africa

British type
Best climate for
human habitation
Warm current
moderate climate
North Atlantic
drift, Alaskan
current
Moderate climate
warm summer,
cool winters
Low annual
temperature
range

British type

Rainfall from
westerlies
western
coast receive
the most
rainfall
decreas
towards
interior
Temperate
cyclones
rainfall in
winters

British type
Tall trees with
good canopy
cover
soft wood
trees in pure
stand
Oak, elm, birch

British type

Lumbering in
Canada
Vancouver city
Systematic
lumbering
Winter cutting
wood logs float
in the rivers to
industries
Wood furniture
and paper
making

British type
Agriculture
market
gardening =>
cultivation of
fruits and
vegetables
Tasmania
(Aus.) apple
farming

Cool temperate Eastern

margin
Laurentian Type
10
th

Transition between
British and
Siberian climate
Laurentian
plateau, Labrador
plateau Quebec
state
New England
region of USA
China Manchurian
part, South east
part of Russia,
Northern Japan

Laurentian Not
type
in southern
hemispherebecause hardly
any land beyond
40 degree
latitude
South America
Andes block the
westerlies
oceanic
influence

Laurentian climate, N. America

rl i
te
es
W

rea
Lak t
es
Huron

Ontar

Erie

io
NE
W
En
g
sta land
tes

Mi
ch

iga
n

io G

er
p
Su
r

Rainfall
throughout the
year
Summer Westerlies bring
rain due to
moisture content
of Great lakes
Winter - Gulf
stream increases
moisture content
of polar easterly
wind from Atlantic

Laurentian type, China

In china summer
max
summer intense
heating of land
rainfall - wind from
pacific
Winter anti-cyclonic
condition in the heart
of Asia cold wind
blows out snow fall
in mountainous area

Climate

Sea
of
Jap
an

Rainfall from
of Japan
south east
monsoon in
summer
north west
monsoon in
winter dry
wind from
Siberia
become moist
from east china
sea
Maritime
influence

Laurentian type

Coniferous
forest
lumbering
Oak, birch,
beech, maple
Agriculture:
Potatoes, oats,
barley, soya
beans
Nova scotia
(Canada)
apple farming

Laurentian type

Temperate regions
fish in large
shoals
Cod, mackerel,
tuna, salmon
Economically
profitable
Mechanised
sophisticated
fishing
St.Johns port in
Newfoundland
grand banks

11
th

Taiga

Not in southern
hemisphere
Siberia in Russia,
Northern Canada,
Scandinavia
Very cold winter,
warm summer
Blizzard in
Canada, Buran in
Siberia
Very high annual
temperature
range

Taiga
Rainfall
throughout the
year
Temperate
cyclones
Evergreen
coniferous forest
( Juniper, Spruce,
Birch) soft wood
in pure strands

Taiga
Fur bearing
animals warm
blooded muskrat,
mink, silver fox
Taiga: limited
economic
prospects
Hard weather

12
th

Tundra

Arctic or polar
climate
Northern Canada
and Northern Russia
Periglacial climate
Freezing winter,
thawing in summer
Summer short and
cool
Mosses, linchens
(algae and fungi)
ephemeral flowering
plants

Tundra

Aborigines:
Canada
Inuits,
Aleutians
Russia
Chukchi,
Buriyat (baikal)
NorwayFinland Lapps
Nomadic
herders

Q. Consider the following

statements:
1. In equatorial regions, the year
is divided into four main
seasons
2. In Mediterranean region,
summer month receives more
rain
3. In china type climate, rainfall
occurs throughout the year
4. Tropical high lands exhibit
vertical zonation of different
climate

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2002

Questio
Which of these
n
statements are correct?
UPSC
a) 1,2,3 and 4
b) 1,2 and 3
Prelims
c) 1,2 and 4
2002
d) 3 and 4
Ans. D)

Vertical zonation in highlands

With increasing
height decrease
in moisture
Soil layer becomes
thinner
Changes in
vegetation pattern

Q. Consider the
ecosystems:
1. Taiga
2. Tropical evergreen
3. Tropical deciduous
4. Tundra
The correct sequence in
decreasing order of albedo
values of these ecosystem
is:

Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2002