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UPSC Prelims 2012 · Environment · Nature’s Machinery
Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?
- (a) Rainfall throughout the year
- (b) Rainfall in winter, only
- (c) An extremely short dry season
- (d) A definite dry and wet season
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) A definite dry and wet season
The ITCZ moves in with summer rain and moves away, leaving a long dry winter — a definite wet and dry season.
The idea
The savannah gets its seasons from the movement of the rain belt. In summer the belt of rising air and rain shifts over the region. In winter it moves away and dry trade winds take over.
Summer: rain belt overhead → wet season → Winter: rain belt moves towards the other hemisphere → dry trade winds → dry season
Why the others are wrong
(a) Rain all year is equatorial.
(b) Winter-only rain is Mediterranean.
(c) Savannahs have a LONG dry season, not a short one.
Also know
This is the “Sudan type” of climate, shown as Aw in Köppen’s scheme. It is the land of big game: lions, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest. The Masai of East Africa are cattle herders of the savannah; the Hausa of Nigeria are its farmers.
🔒 Savannah (Aw) = distinct wet summer + dry winter.