Previous Year Question
Consider the following description.
Annual and daily range of temperatures is low.
Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
Precipitation varies between 50 cm–250 cm.
What is this type of climate?
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
All three characteristics describe the Marine West Coast Climate.
This climate generally occurs on the western margins of continents between approximately 40° and 65° latitudes.
Because of proximity to the oceans, maritime influence remains strong. Oceans heat and cool slowly and therefore moderate extreme temperatures.
Consequently, the annual and daily temperature ranges are low. Summers are generally cool, while winters remain comparatively mild.
These regions remain under the influence of prevailing westerlies and moisture-bearing maritime air throughout the year. Therefore, precipitation occurs in all seasons, without a pronounced dry season.
Annual precipitation may vary from approximately 50 cm to 250 cm, depending upon topography and distance from the ocean. Windward mountain slopes may receive heavier orographic precipitation.
This climate occurs in north-western Europe, the Pacific north-western coast of North America, southern Chile, New Zealand and parts of south-eastern Australia.
Why are the other options unsuitable?
The equatorial climate has uniformly high temperatures and generally heavy convectional precipitation; its daily temperature range may exceed its annual range.
The China type and humid subtropical climates have hot, rainy summers and greater seasonal temperature variation than the Marine West Coast climate.