Theory question 302
ClimateThe Table below shows the temperature and rainfall distribution of Station X. Study and use it to answer the questions that follow.
Month: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Temperature (°C): 25, 27, 32, 34, 35, 33, 29, 28, 28, 29, 28, 25
Rainfall (mm): 0, 0, 0, 0, 15, 99, 211, 211, 142, 48, 8, 5
(a) Identify the type of climate represented by Station X. (b) From which hemisphere was the climatic figures taken? Support your answer with one reason. (c) Outline four characteristics of the rainfall recorded at Station X. (d) Calculate the mean annual temperature for Station X.
Show the model answer
(a) Tropical continental (Sudan/savanna) climate.
(b) Northern hemisphere: the rainy season and highest temperatures come in the middle of the year (May-September) and the coolest months are December-January.
(c) Total about 739 mm, fairly low; single maximum (peak in July-August); rain falls in about seven or eight months and there is a long dry season (November-April); rain is mostly convectional, in heavy showers; rainfall is unevenly distributed through the year.
(d) Sum = 25 + 27 + 32 + 34 + 35 + 33 + 29 + 28 + 28 + 29 + 28 + 25 = 353°C; mean = 353 ÷ 12 ≈ 29.4°C.
Show the sum before dividing.