Chapter 16 of G.C. Leong’s Certificate Physical and Human Geography is titled “The Tropical Monsoon and Tropical Marine Climates.” This chapter focuses on regions that experience seasonal shifts in wind patterns and coastal tropical areas influenced by trade winds.
1. Distribution
- Tropical Monsoon Climate: Primarily found in the Indian subcontinent, Indo-China (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam), South China, and Northern Australia. It typically occurs between 10° and 25° North and South of the equator.
- Tropical Marine Climate: Experienced along the eastern coasts of tropical landmasses, such as Central America, the West Indies, Northeast Australia, Philippines, parts of East Africa, Madagascar, the Guinea Coast, and Eastern Brazil.
2. Climatic Characteristics
- Seasonal Reversal of Winds: The defining feature is the monsoon—a large-scale land and sea breeze caused by differential heating of land and water.
- Seasons of the Monsoon Climate:
- Cool, Dry Season (Oct to Feb): Dominated by out-blowing dry Northeast Monsoons in the northern hemisphere.
- Hot, Dry Season (March to mid-June): Characterized by high temperatures as the sun moves toward the Tropic of Cancer.
- Rainy Season (mid-June to Sept): Bringing heavy rainfall from the Southwest Monsoon.
- Marine Climate Stability: Unlike the monsoon climate, the Tropical Marine climate has more stable temperatures and steady rainfall throughout the year from trade winds, without a distinct dry season.
3. Natural Vegetation
- Deciduous Forests: Most trees in monsoon regions are deciduous, shedding their leaves during the marked dry period to withstand drought.
- Species: These forests are known for valuable durable hardwoods like teak, sal, sandalwood, rosewood, and shisham.
- Density: They are more open and less luxuriant than equatorial rainforests but still possess a layered structure (canopy, understory, and shrub layers).
4. Human and Economic Life
- Agriculture: The climate is highly favorable for agriculture due to the distinct wet season. Rice is the most important staple crop. Other major crops include maize, millet, yams, and sweet potatoes.
- Shifting Cultivation: This traditional “slash-and-burn” practice is common in these regions. It is known by various local names:
- Ladang in Malaysia.
- Taungya in Burma (Myanmar).
- Chena in Sri Lanka.
- Milpa in Africa and Central America.
- Habitation: The Tropical Marine climate is particularly favorable for human habitation due to its steady trade winds, though it is prone to severe tropical cyclones and hurricanes.
