Tropical wet and dry climate (Aw)
Also called: Savanna climate · Topic: World Climate Classification: Koeppen's Scheme · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 11 "World Climate and Climate Change"
Meaning
The tropical wet and dry climate (Aw), also called the savanna climate, lies north and south of the Af belt (the tropical wet climate). On the western side of continents it borders dry climates, and on the eastern side it borders Cf or Cw climates. The coldest month is 18°C or more. Rain is lower than in Af and Am and changes from year to year. The wet season is short. The dry season is long, with severe drought. The daily temperature range is largest in the dry season. The vegetation is deciduous forest (trees that shed their leaves in the dry season) and grassland dotted with trees.
Example
Most of peninsular India has an Aw climate. Abroad, it covers Brazil north and south of the Amazon forest, Bolivia, Paraguay and Sudan.
Don't confuse with
- Tropical monsoon climate (Am): Am gets much heavier summer rain and has only a short dry season, so it can support forest. Aw has a long dry season and lower, more variable rain.