What role does the ITCZ play across different tropical climates?

Tropical Climates can essentially be split into three main categories: Equatorial, Tropical Savanna and Monsoon.

Whilst each of these are hot and Equatorial/Monsoon climates are notably wet, there are distinct differences driven by the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone. In equatorial climates, the temperature is hot year round because the sun is constantly overhead; this drives the convection of surface air and the evaporation of water on the ground. This in turn causes warm and weat air to rise, cool and condense, leading to the formation of this low pressure band known as the ITCZ. Because equatorial temperatures are consistently hot, this process occurs continuously and so these climates are ALWAYS influenced by the ITCZ. For a great case study that isn't in the textbooks, I recommend using Singapore. In your answer it is essential that firstly you reference how far the location is  from the equator (in degrees latitude), then temperature and rainfall statistics, as well as the strength and direction of trade winds.

The ITCZ has a different impact on both Tropical Savanna and Monsoon climates. Unlike equatorial climates, both of these climates can be found between 5 and 20 degrees north or south of the equator. Both climates also have wet and dry seasons due to the movement of the ITCZ: it moves SOUTH in January and NORTH in July. You should think of the ITCZ as made up of three bands - a band of low pressure with two bands of high pressure on either side of it. Because the ITCZ moves south in January, northern hemisphere Savanna and Monsoon areas see high pressure and therefore a distinct dry season. The opposite happens in July when the ITCZ moves north; there is a wet season in both of these climates. Whilst year-round temperatures in Savanna climates aren't really affected by this movement, they are in Monsoon climates. Because the center of the ITCZ in the dry season lies over the ocean, low pressure is created there whilst pressure on land is higher. This forces cooler wind from the NORTH EAST to head south towards the ocean, leading to cooler temperatures. The opposite happens in summer, leading to SE winds and a seasonal temperature range of around 10 degrees Celcius, unlike Equatorial/Savanna climates. Remember to include case studies (ideally an African location such as Lagos, Nigeria for Savanna and somewhere in India/ Bangladesh for Monsoon). You should compare temperature, rainfall and winds.

Answered by George H. Geography tutor

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