(e) Unequal precipitation

• Le cycle de l'eau et la proximité de l'océan

  1. Evaporation au niveau des océans

  2. Condensation

  3. Retour aux océans par ruissellement de surface, écoulement souterrain et évapotranspiration (grandes forêts)
• Plus on s'éloigne des masses océaniques

  Plus les volumes de précipitations ont tendance à diminuer
• L'intérieur des continents tend donc à être plus sec que les littoraux
• The interior of continents tends to be drier than the coastlines.
• Large areas of forest (evapotranspiration of trees = precipitation), hot or cold marine currents giving rise to wind and pressure phenomena, the direction of the dominant winds and the presence of relief which acts as a barrier to the circulation of clouds.
• Intertropical/warm zone climates

  • Equatorial climate
  • Tropical climate with alternating seasons
  • Desert climate
• Equatorial climate

  Low annual thermal amplitude, high and constant rainfall throughout the year
• Tropical climate with alternating seasons

  Slightly greater annual amplitude, a dry season and a rainy season
• Desert climate

  All months are dry, cool nights and hot days
• Temperate zone climates

  • Oceanic climate
  • Continental climate
  • Mediterranean climate
• Oceanic climate

  Low annual thermal amplitude, mild winters and cool summers, precipitation throughout the year
• Continental climate

  Greater annual amplitude, cold winters, hot summers, precipitation mainly in summer in the form of storms
• Mediterranean climate


  Influenced by hot winds coming from the Tropics which cause intense heat in summer. Mild and rainy winters
• Polar climate


  Cold and rather dry
• Humidity


  More or less close to Sea