Although it remains near the equator, the ITCZ moves farther north or south over land than over the oceans because it is drawn toward areas of the warmest surface temperatures. … Areas near the equator in western and southern Africa have a single intense rainy season from July to September.
How does the ITCZ account for the climate of West Africa?
West Africa’s climate is controlled by the interaction of two air masses, the influence of which varies throughout the year with the north-south movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). … Temperatures in the lowlands of West Africa are high throughout the year, with annual means usually above 18°C.
How does ITCZ influence climate?
It moves north in the Northern Hemisphere summer and south in the Northern Hemisphere winter. Therefore, the ITCZ is responsible for the wet and dry seasons in the tropics. … Further away from the equator, the two wet seasons merge into one, and the climate becomes more monsoonal, with one wet season and one dry season.
What is the ITCZ in Africa?
The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) has. long been assumed to be a major control on tropical rainfall over both oceans and land. Over Africa, the cycle of the rainfall seasons is generally associated with its north–south displacement as this zone “follows” the sun.
What is the impact of ITCZ?
Longer term changes in the intertropical convergence zone can result in severe droughts or flooding in nearby areas. In some cases, the ITCZ may become narrow, especially when it moves away from the equator; the ITCZ can then be interpreted as a front along the leading edge of the equatorial air.
What is the influence of ITCZ or shifts in precipitation patterns to the Sahel?
In recent decades the ITCZ over West Africa has been observed to shift northward (Fontaine et al., 2011), increasing rainfall over the Sahel. Over Western Africa the ITCZ is an impor- tant driver of regional climate, controlling the distribu- tion of winds and precipitation, which can impact soil and vegetation.
What are the three main types of climate in West Africa?
What are the three main types of climate in West Africa? West African domain divided into three climatic zones: Guinea (4°N–8°N), Savanna (8°N–11°N), and Sahel (11°N–16°N) (source: [49, 50]).
What kind of weather does the ITCZ bring?
The Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, is a band of low pressure around the Earth which generally lies near to the equator. The trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres come together here, which leads to the development of frequent thunderstorms and heavy rain.
How does ITCZ take place does ITCZ happen in all parts of the world?
The Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, is the region that circles the Earth, near the equator, where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together. The intense sun and warm water of the equator heats the air in the ITCZ, raising its humidity and making it buoyant.
How does ITCZ affect global circulation?
Ocean circulation coupled to changes in trade winds efficiently damps ITCZ movement to transport heat across the equator. … This circulation completes the Hadley cells of the ITCZ, which play an important role in balancing Earth’s energy budget — transporting energy between the hemispheres and away from the equator.
What is the main climate found in northern Africa?
Current Climatology of North Africa
Along the coast, North Africa has a Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, with ample rainfall of approximately 400 to 600 mm per year.
Why does the location of the ITCZ change?
The shifting of ITCZ is the result of the Earth’s rotation, axis inclination and the translation of Earth around the Sun. Seasons are the result of this. ITCZ moves toward the hemisphere with most heat, wich are either hemisphere summers.
Which continent has least rainfall?
Australia, with the lowest rainfall, discharges the least in consequence. Antarctica is an exception: it is very dry, and very little snow sublimates.
…
Water balance of the continents.
| region | Antarctica |
|---|---|
| precipitation: mm/a | 110 |
| discharge mm/a | 100 |
| ratio: percent | 94 |
| evaporation mm/a | 10 |
How does the shifting ITCZ influence the monsoons?
As the ITCZ swings north during the summer months, it brings monsoon rains to Kozhikode, India. As the ITCZ drops south during summer in the Southern Hemisphere, it brings monsoon rains to Darwin, Australia. The location of monsoon rainfall is affected by the fact that land can’t hold onto heat as well as the ocean.
What countries are affected by ITCZ?
The ITCZ is a very large feature which circles the globe. It affects many tropical areas around the world including territories in the southern Caribbean. The ITCZ is not stationary. It moves north of the equator during the northern hemisphere summer, bringing heavy rain to Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
What is ITCZ Class 9 Brainly geography?
The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, is a belt of low pressure which circles the Earth generally near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together. … When it lies near the geographic Equator, it is called the near-equatorial trough.