Tropical Desert Climate Features

Features of the Tropical Desert Climate

• Location: Found predominantly around the tropics, characterized by specific geographical factors.

• Inland Temperature:

  • Extremely hot summers and hot winters; midday sun positioned directly overhead during summer.
  • Moderately high annual temperature range; significant diurnal temperature range due to clear skies enhancing daytime heating and nighttime cooling.

• Coastal Temperature:

  • Hot summers and very warm winters; lower annual and diurnal temperature ranges compared to inland areas.
  • Influenced by maritime effects: the sea regulates land temperatures seasonally and throughout the day.

• Inland Precipitation:

  • Very low annual rainfall, typically under 250 mm; precipitation may increase due to relief rainfall in elevated areas.
  • Low relative humidity, resulting from a high-pressure system that encourages sinking and warming air, compounded by dry offshore trade winds.

• Coastal Precipitation:

  • Even lower than inland locations due to moisture loss from onshore winds condensing over cold offshore currents.

• Winds:

  • Characterized by strong, consistent northeast or southeast trade winds, with occasional onshore winds near coastal areas.
  • Trade winds originate from sub-tropical high-pressure zones at 30°N and 30°S, flowing towards the equatorial low-pressure belt.

• Sunshine:

  • Sunshine is prevalent nearly all day, attributed to low humidity levels resulting in mostly cloudless skies.