Climate & Climate Change (AQA A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Tropical Monsoon Climate
Characteristics and Distribution
The tropical monsoon climate is characterised by a distinct hot, wet (monsoon) season and a cooler dry season
Temperature can average 30°C in the monsoon season and humidity is also very high
Average rainfall is around 2000mm for the season (south-east UK receives just over 600mm per year)
Cyclones (tropical storms) are frequent towards the end of the rainy season
Determined by the annual movement of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) between the Tropics and associated movement of pressure belts and the seasonal reversal of winds associated with this.
In south-east Asia, between May and October the ITCZ brings the strongest sun over the continental landmass, heating the land and causing large masses of air to rise in low pressure zones.
Moist, warm air from the Indian Ocean to the south-west gets sucked in to replace the rising air over the continent and this brings heavy monsoon rainfall
In November the ITCZ moves south and the process reverses so that cooler, drier air moves from the continent back towards the Indian Ocean
Occurs mainly on the eastern side of continents in the Tropics from about 5-20°N and S of the Equator
Human Activities and Numbers
Agriculture in monsoon regions relies heavily on the warm wet conditions and this can produce high yields and support large populations
More than 4 billion people live in the Asian countries that are visited by summer monsoon winds
Many areas in these countries do not have large irrigation systems but the summer monsoon rainfall fills aquiders and other groundwater stores for the rest of the year
Rice and tea are some crops that rely on the summer monsoon
Dairy farms, which help make India the largest milk producer in the world, also depend on the monsoon rains to feed the cows
Industry and energy supplies are fed by the monsoon climate system
In India and Southeast Asia a large amount of electricity in the region is produced by hydroelectric power plants, which are driven by water collected during the monsoons.
This electricity helps to power hospitals, schools, and industry and is as vital to the local economy as the crops the rain helps to grow
Polar Tundra Climate
Characteristics and Distribution
Polar climates cover 20% of the earth’s surface
Found in both northern and southern hemispheres above 66° latitude
Arctic Ocean and the fringes of northern landmasses that make up the Arctic Circle to the north
Northern Russia, northern Scandinavia, Greenland, Northern Canada
Continent of Antarctica to the South
Very low mean annual temperatures in all Polar regions
Range in the Arctic is from -40°C in winter to up to +10°C in summer
Even colder in Antarctica with temperatures falling to -80°C in winter
Precipitation levels less than 100mm per year in all polar regions, making them (polar) deserts
Tundra refers to areas of permafrost that fringe the ice caps at both poles
Human Activities and Numbers
Due to the harsh climate and thin soils, the polar tundra climate supports very low population numbers, despite its large area
Around 4 million people live within the Arctic Circle
The ten largest settlements are in northern Russia with Murmansk (300,000 people) being the biggest
Small indigenous groups also occupy the region, such as the Innuit in northern Canada and Greenland, and the Sami of Northern Europe
These groups migrate with the seasons to be close to food sources
There are no permanent residents in Antarctica but some scientific research bases support small temporary populations of scientists in the summer months
Agriculture is mainly subsistence, with low productivity
Because crops struggle to grow in the thin, frozen soils, peoples’ diets are mainly meat-based and traditional methods of fishing, trapping and hunting secure supplies, alongside reindeer herding
Development of buildings, roads and industry is restricted by the frozen ground and their design needs to be adapted so as not to melt the permafrost
Cruise ships visit the regions during the summer months, bringing much needed income to local economies in the form of adventure tourism
Commercial fishing and trade occurs in the Arctic during the summer months when sea ice melting allows shipping routes to be accessed
Polar regions contain vast untapped reserves of oil, gas and other minerals and there is pressure on the regions to exploit these resources
Examiner Tip
Always try and develop each point you make with a specific example. This could be a fact, figure or place name. Ask yourself if what you say could be true of anywhere in the world. If the answer is yes, you should try and be more specific.
Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture
Climate change as it affects Agriculture
Examiner Tip
There will be one 9 mark ‘synoptic’ question somewhere in the two papers. This is where a question links one of the optional topics with one of the core topics. For example it might link population and the environment with water and carbon. As you revise you should look for opportunities to make as many connections as you can between the different topics. For example, in this section climate change and agriculture might link closely with changes in the water and carbon cycles.
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