In Köppen’s classification, the cold climates are marked with the letter E. These are the regions near the poles—beyond the reach of warm currents, monsoon winds, or temperate cyclones. Here, the controlling factor is extreme cold. Now, within cold climates, we study two main types: Let’s look at them one by one Tundra Climate (ET)…
Cool Temperate Eastern Marine Climate (Dfb: D – cool temperate, f – no dry season, b – warm summer) Basic Idea: What is this Climate? Think of this as a “middle climate” — not as mild as Britain’s maritime climate, and not as harsh as the Siberian taiga climate.👉 It is a mix of maritime…
Mediterranean Climate (Cs: C – Warm Temperate, s – Dry summer) Introduction to Mediterranean Climate When we hear the word Mediterranean, we naturally think of the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, olive trees, vineyards, and sunny resorts. But in climatology, “Mediterranean Climate” is not confined to Europe; it’s a global climatic type found in…
Introduction to Dry Climates (B-type) When we talk about Köppen’s classification, the letter B is reserved for Dry climates. Here, the most important feature is not temperature, but water balance.👉 The defining criterion is: So, even if rainfall occurs, it is so little compared to evaporation that the land remains arid. Under this category, we…
Introduction – Where do we find Tropical Humid Climates? When we talk about tropical humid climates, immediately two keywords should come to our mind — “tropics” and “humidity.” So the overall character becomes: hot + humid + high rainfall + low annual temperature range. Now, Köppen divided the tropical climates into three types: First, we…
When we talk about cyclones, most people immediately think of storms, winds, and destruction. But the atmosphere has another equally important system—anticyclones. Unlike cyclones, which are associated with violent weather, anticyclones are often linked with calm, stable conditions. That is why they are sometimes called “weatherless phenomena.” Let us understand their nature: General Characteristics Key…
Cyclones are not just “storms.” They are multi-hazard systems that combine: The damage potential increases with intensity. Let’s try to understand this: Damage Classification by Cyclone Intensity Category Damage Expected Measures Required Depression / Deep Depression Minor damage to weak/unsecured structures. Fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Cyclone Damage to thatched huts, breaking…
Tropical cyclones do not form everywhere in the tropics. Instead, they are largely confined to 5°–15° latitudes in both hemispheres, over warm ocean waters. From there, they affect the coastal regions of continents. Broadly, there are six major cyclone-prone regions of the world: Now let’s look at each basin in detail. 1. North Atlantic Ocean…
This section brings us to some of the more advanced and fascinating concepts in cyclone dynamics: twin cyclones, the Fujiwhara effect, hybrid cyclones, and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). These are not only high-value for UPSC (both Prelims & Mains) but also help you appreciate how global circulation patterns interact with local weather phenomena. Let’s understand…
Cyclones are thermal-origin systems, born over warm tropical seas.They develop through successive stages, each marked by rising wind speeds, increasing organization, and eventually the formation of the eye and eyewall. Stages of Development of Tropical Cyclone Stage 1: Tropical Disturbance 👉 Think of this stage as the seed of a cyclone — scattered storms beginning…
