# Tropical monsoon climate

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An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am". Tropical monsoon climates have monthly mean temperatures above 18 °C (64 °F) in every month of the year and a dry season. [1] :200–1 Tropical monsoon climates is the intermediate climate between the wet Af (or tropical rainforest climate) and the drier Aw (or tropical savanna climate).

## Contents

A tropical monsoon climate, however, has its driest month seeing on average less than 60 mm, but more than ${\textstyle 100-\left({\frac {Total\ Annual\ Precipitation\ (mm)}{25}}\right)}$. [1] This latter fact is in direct contrast to a tropical savanna climate, whose driest month sees less than 60 mm of precipitation and also less than ${\textstyle 100-\left({\frac {Total\ Annual\ Precipitation\ (mm)}{25}}\right)}$ of average monthly precipitation. In essence, a tropical monsoon climate tends to either see more rainfall than a tropical savanna climate or have less pronounced dry seasons. Additionally, a tropical monsoon climate tends to see less variance in temperatures during the course of the year than a tropical savanna climate. This climate has a driest month which nearly always occurs at or soon after the "winter" solstice for that side of the equator. [1]

## Versions

There are generally two versions of a tropical monsoon climate:

• Less pronounced dry seasons. Regions with this variation of the tropical monsoon climate typically see copious amounts of rain during the wet season(s), usually in the form of frequent thunderstorms. However, unlike most tropical savanna climates, a sizeable amount of precipitation also falls during the dry season(s). In essence, this version of the tropical monsoon climate generally has less pronounced dry seasons than tropical savanna climates.
• Extraordinarily rainy wet seasons and pronounced dry seasons. This variation features pronounced dry seasons similar in length and character to dry seasons observed in tropical savanna climates. However, this is followed by a sustained period (or sustained periods) of extraordinary rainfall. In some instances, up to (and sometimes in excess of) 1,000 mm of precipitation is observed per month for two or more consecutive months. Tropical savanna climates generally do not see this level of sustained rainfall.

## Distribution

Tropical monsoon climates are most commonly found in South and Central America. However, there are sections of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa (particularly West and Central Africa), the Caribbean, North America, and Australia that also feature this climate.

## Factors

The major controlling factor over a tropical monsoon climate is its relationship to the monsoon circulation. The monsoon is a seasonal change in wind direction. In Asia, during the summer (or high-sun season) there is an onshore flow of air (air moving from ocean towards land). In the “winter” (or low-sun season) an offshore air flow (air moving from land toward water) is prevalent. The change in direction is due to the difference in the way water and land heat.

Changing pressure patterns that affect the seasonality of precipitation also occur in Africa though it generally differs from the way it operates in Asia. During the high-sun season, the Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) induces rain. During the low-sun season, the subtropical high creates dry conditions. The monsoon climates of Africa, and the Americas for that matter, are typically located along tradewind coasts.

## Charts of selected cities

Chittagong
Climate chart (explanation)
 J F M A M J J A S O N D 5  2715 28  3019 64  3524 150  3926 264  3524 533  3425 597  3826 518  3324 320  3324 180  3223 56  3217 15  2414 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: BBC [2]
Conakry
Climate chart (explanation)
 J F M A M J J A S O N D 1  3219 1  3320 3  3321 22  3422 137  3321 396  3220 1130  3020 1104  3021 617  3121 295  3120 70  3221 8  3220 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: HK [3]
Manaus
Climate chart (explanation)
 J F M A M J J A S O N D 260  3123 288  3023 314  3123 300  3123 256  3123 114  3123 88  3123 58  3323 83  3324 126  3324 183  3224 217  3124 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: WMO [4] HK [5]
Miami
Climate chart (explanation)
 J F M A M J J A S O N D 51  2415 53  2516 61  2618 72  2820 158  3022 237  3124 145  3225 193  3225 194  3124 143  2922 68  2719 47  2516 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: WMO [6]

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## References

1. McKnight, Tom L; Hess, Darrel (2000). . . Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. ISBN   978-0-13-020263-5.
2. "Average Conditions - Chittagong, Bangladesh". BBC Weather. Archived from the original on 11 March 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
3. "Climatological Normals of Conakry". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
4. "Weather Information for Manaus". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
5. "Climatological Information for Manaus, Brazil". Hong Kong Observatory. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
6. "Weather Information for Miami, Florida". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 25 June 2018.