ITCZ Graphs

Question 1

Maritime Tropical Description

Answer 1

• Comes from Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea
• Brings hot conditions and unstable air with high humidity
• Also brings high precipitation

Question 2

Continental Tropical

Answer 2

• Comes from Sahara Dessert bringing hotter conditions and low precipitation
• As well as stable air with low humidity

Question 3

Points to include in descriptions (x5)

Answer 3

• North dry, south wetter
• Clear wet/dry season?
• Month of peak rainfall and amount
• Month of least rainfall and amount
• General annual precipitation levels

Question 4

Example structure

Answer 4

• the north is very dry with a much wetter south.
• _______ has an
  annual rainfall amount of less than ___ whereas ____ has just under
  _____ a year on average
• _______ has a clear wet/dry season regime whereas _____ has year-round
  rainfall.
  -______ has _ months with no rainfall, whereas ____ has
  only _ months
• _____ has a twin-peak regime whereas the other areas have only one peak
• _____ peak rainfall is in __ whereas it is ____ in _____
• ____ has a peak of __ mm whereas ____ is approximately _ mm.

Question 5

Explanation - The ITCZ is an area….

Answer 5

the ITCZ is an area of low pressure where the trade winds/air masses meet pushing the maritime air up, cooling and condensing to form clouds

Question 6

Explanation - Location on the Coast

Answer 6

• Climate is influenced by the Tropical Maritime Air Mass - so it is wet all year round.
• The twin peaks in June and October can be attributed to the migration of the ITCZ moving north and then south with the migration of the thermal equator.

Question 7

Explanation - Location furthest North

Answer 7

• influenced by the very dry Tropical Continental air mass which brings with it very hot and dry conditions.
• As the ITCZ moves north in the middle of the year, it brings limited rainfall to the area as this is the maximum level of its extent.

Question 8

Explanation - Location in between

Answer 8

• also influenced by the tropical continental air mass, but to a lesser extent as it is further south - resulting in hot and dry conditions from October to April.
• As the ITCZ moves north in the middle of the year, it brings rainfall to the area.