College of engineering

And architecture
TROPICAL DESIGN

`
ARC 145

“TROPICAL CLIMATE”
RESEARCH WORK NO. 1
DUE DATE: July 18, 2025

BUSTO, IZZY B.
STUDENT NAME

AR. Genesis v. garayanala, uap

INSTRUCTOR
 CLIMATE
Climate is the average weather in a given area over a longer period of time. A

description of a climate includes information on, e.g. The average temperature in

different seasons, rainfall, and sunshine. Also a description of the (chance of)

extremes is often included. Climate change is any systematic change in the long-term

statistics of climate variables such as temperature, precipitation, pressure, or wind

sustained over several decades or longer. Climate change can be due to natural

external forcings (changes in solar emission or changes in the earth’s orbit, natural

internal processes of the climate system) or it can be human induced.

Across the globe, climates vary widely—from the frozen tundras of the arctic

to the scorching deserts of the middle east and the humid tropics near the equator.

Each region’s climate determines the types of plants, animals, and lifestyles that can

thrive there. For example, tropical climates support lush rainforests, while drier

climates are suited to grasslands and deserts. These diverse climates not only shape

natural habitats but also influence human cultures, agricultural practices, and

economic development.

Today, climate change has become one of the most pressing global issues. The

rising concentration of greenhouse gases, mainly from human activities like burning

fossil fuels and deforestation, is altering earth’s climate systems. This results in more

extreme weather events, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and shifts in ecosystems.

As the impacts of climate change grow more visible, it becomes increasingly

important for individuals, communities, and nations to understand the science of

climate and take action to reduce environmental harm.

The climate of any particular place is influenced by a host of interacting factors.

These include latitude, elevation, nearby water, ocean currents, topography,

vegetation, and prevail. Ing winds. The global climate system and any changes that

occur within it also influence local climate. Each Climate Control Factor Below Might

Control Climate At Any Given Location

Latitude -Surface temperatures Elevation-Climate zones match Nearby water-Sea surface

vary with latitude roughly with elevation ranges. temperatures affect land
temperatures

Ocean currents-Water temperatures Topography-Local variations in Vegetation-Type of transfer of

indicate transfer heat by currents elevation cause local variations cover and seasonal changes
in climate affect climate

Prevailing winds-Deliver air masses

with specific properties

Climate represents the average of many years’ worth of weather conditions.

This averaging process evens out the blips caused by droughts, flood, tornadoes and

hurricanes, and blizzards and downpours, but at the same time emphasizing the

more typical patterns of rainfall and temperature highs and lows.

 Climate is so predictable because it is dependent on regularly fixed features

of the earth, including its form, the shape of its orbit around the sun, and the tilt of

its axis of rotation. Other factors are the fact that it has an ocean, continents, and a

layered atmosphere composed of many different gases. To simplify the classification

of the many regions or climate zones of the earth it is unnecessary to focus in on two

of the approximately 7 factors that were mentioned: the latitude of a location and its

proximity to the ocean.

CLIMATIC ELEMENTS
• Solar radiation

• Air masses

• Pressure systems (and cyclone belts)

• Ocean Currents

• Topography

SOLAR RADIATION

Solar radiation is probably the most important element of climate. Solar

radiation first and foremost heats the earth's surface which in turn determines the

temperature of the air above. The receipt of solar radiation drives evaporation, so

long as there is water available. Heating of the air determines its stability, which

affects cloud development and precipitation. Unequal heating of the earth's surface
creates pressure gradients that result in wind. So you see, just about all the
characteristics of climate can be traced back to the receipt of solar radiation.

AIR MASSES

Air masses as an element of climate subsumes the characteristics of

temperature, humidity, and stability. Location relative to source regions of air masses

in part determines the variation of the day-to-day weather and long-term climate of

a place. For instance, the stormy climate of the midlatitudes is a product of lying in

the boundary zone of greatly contrasting air masses called the polar front.

PRESSURE SYSTEMS

Pressure systems have a direct impact on the precipitation characteristics of

different climate regions. In general, places dominated by low pressure tend to be

moist, while those dominated by high pressure are dry. The seasonality of

precipitation is affected by the seasonal movement of global and regional pressure

systems. Climates located at 10o to 15o of latitude experience a significant wet period

when dominated by the intertropical convergence zone and a dry period when the

subtropical high moves into this region. Likewise, the climate of asia is impacted by

the annual fluctuation of wind direction due to the monsoon. Pressure dominance

also affects the receipt of solar radiation. Places dominated by high pressure tend to

lack cloud cover and hence receive significant amounts of sunshine, especially in the

low latitudes.

OCEAN CURRENTS

Ocean currents greatly affect the temperature and precipitation of a climate.

Those climates bordering cold currents tend to be drier as the cold ocean water helps

stabilize the air and inhibit cloud formation and precipitation. Air traveling over cold
ocean currents lose energy to the water and thus moderate the temperature of

nearby coastal locations. Air masses traveling over warm ocean currents promote

instability and precipitation. Additionally, the warm ocean water keeps air

temperatures somewhat warmer than locations just inland from the coast during the

winter.

TOPOGRAPHY

Topography affects climate in a variety of ways. The orientation of mountains

to the prevailing wind affects precipitation. Windward slopes, those facing into the

wind, experience more precipitation due to orographic uplift of the air. Leeward sides

of mountains are in the rain shadow and thus receive less precipitation. Air

temperatures are affected by slope and orientation as slopes facing into the sun will

be warmer than those facing away. Temperature also decreases as one moves

toward higher elevations. Mountains have nearly the same affect as latitude does on

climate. On tall mountains a zonation of climate occurs as you move towards higher

elevation.

HUMIDITY

Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air and is a key element

in determining the weather and climate of a region. It plays a major role in how warm

or cool we feel, as high humidity levels can make the air feel hotter by slowing down

the evaporation of sweat from our skin. When the air is saturated with moisture, it

often leads to cloud formation and eventually to precipitation such as rain or snow.

Humidity is usually expressed as relative humidity, which is the percentage of

moisture in the air compared to the maximum it can hold at a given temperature.

Other forms of measurement include absolute humidity and specific humidity. High

humidity levels are common in tropical regions, while dry areas like deserts
experience low humidity. Humidity also affects agriculture, comfort, and even the

structural integrity of buildings. Understanding and monitoring humidity is

important for weather forecasting and for managing its impact on health and daily

life.

PRECIPITATION

Precipitation is any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls

from the atmosphere to the earth's surface. It occurs when water vapor condenses

and becomes heavy enough to fall due to gravity. Precipitation is essential for

providing freshwater to ecosystems, agriculture, and human use. Its amount and

frequency vary by region and are influenced by factors like temperature, wind, and

geography.

GENERAL TYPES OF CLIMATES

There are approximately five main climate types on earth:

• Tropical

• Dry

• Temperate

• Continental

• Polar

TROPICAL (TYPE A):

Characterized by warm or hot temperatures year-
round, often with high humidity and abundant rainfall,
generally found near the equator.
DRY (TYPE B):

Defined By Minimal Precipitation; Can Be Arid (Very

Dry) Or Semi-Arid, With Examples Like The Atacama

Desert And The Australian Outback

TEMPERATE (TYPE C):

Found in mid-latitudes, these climates have moderate

temperatures and distinct seasons, including mild

winters and warm to hot summers.

CONTINENTAL (TYPE D):

Experienced in the interiors of continents, these

climates have large temperature variations between

warm/hot summers and very cold winters.

POLAR (TYPE E):

Located Near The Poles, These Are The Coldest

Climates With Temperatures Rarely Exceeding 10°C

(50°F) And Characterized By Tundra And Glaciers

.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL CLIMATES

Tropical climate is the first of the five major climate groups in the köppen

climate classification identified with the letter a. Tropical climates are defined by a

monthly average temperature of 18 °c (64 °f) or higher in the coolest month,

featuring hot temperatures and high humidity all year-round. Annual precipitation is

often abundant in tropical climates, and shows a seasonal rhythm but may have

seasonal dryness to varying degrees. There are normally only two seasons in tropical

climates, a wet (rainy/monsoon) season and a dry season. The annual temperature

range in tropical climates is normally very small. Sunlight is intense in these climates.

There are three basic types of tropical climates within the tropical climate

group: tropical rainforest climate, tropical monsoon climate (am) and tropical

savanna or tropical wet and dry climate (aw for dry winters, and as for dry summers),

which are classified and distinguished by the precipitation levels of the driest month

in those regions.

TROPICAL RAINFOREST CLIMATE

The köppen classification identifies tropical rainforest climates as usually

having north and south latitudinal ranges of just 5-10 degrees from the equator.

Tropical rainforest climates have high temperatures: the yearly average temperature

is normally between 21 and 30 °c (70 and 86 °f). The precipitation can reach over 100

inches a year. The seasons are evenly distributed throughout the year, and there is

almost no drought period here. Regions that contain tropical rainforest climate
mainly include the upper amazon basin of south america, the northern zaire (congo)

basin of africa, and the islands of the east indies.

The tropical rainforest climate differs from other subtypes of tropical climates

as it has more kinds of trees due to its precipitation. The large number of trees

contribute back to the humidity of the climate because of the transpiration, which is

the process of water evaporated from the surface of living plants to the atmosphere.

The warmth and abundant precipitation heavily contributes to the diversity and

characteristics of vegetations under the tropical rainforest climate. The vegetations

develop a vertical stratification and various growth forms to receive enough sunlight,

which is unusual under other types of climate.

TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE

The köppen classification tool identifies tropical monsoon climate as having

small annual temperature ranges, high temperatures, and plentiful precipitation.

This climate also has a short dry season which almost always occurs in the

winter. The tropical monsoon climate is often found within countries in the south

and southeast asia region between the latitude of 10 degrees north and the tropic of

cancer. It can also be found in west africa and south america. The annual

temperature of regions under tropical monsoon climate is also stable.

The tropical monsoon climate has the following main characteristic. The

average annual temperature is around 27.05 °c (80.69 °f) and has an average annual

temperature range of about 3.6 °c (6 °f). Distinction between wet and drought

seasons, the tropical monsoon climate is different from other tropical climates

because of its uneven precipitation throughout the year.

 There are three main seasons of tropical monsoon climate: the cool dry

season is from fall to late winter, the hot dry season is in the spring and the rainy

or monsoon season is near or during the summer months

TROPICAL SAVANNA OR WET AND DRY CLIMATE

Tropical savanna climates, or tropical wet and dry climates, are mainly located

between the 10° and 25° north-south latitudes, and often occur at the outer margins

of the tropics. Typical regions include central africa, parts of south america, as well

as northern and eastern australia. The temperature range of savanna climate is

between 20 and 30 °c (68 and 86 °f). In summer, the temperature is between 25 °c

and 30 °c, while in winter the temperature is between 20 °c and 30 °c, but still stays

above an 18 °c mean. The annual precipitation is between 700 and 1000 mm. The

driest months are generally in the winter and they have less than 60 mm of rainfall

(often much less).

Regions under the savanna climate usually have lands covered with flat

grassland vegetation with areas of woodlands. Those grassland biomes cover almost

20% of the earth's surface. The grassland vegetation types include rhodes grass, red

oats grass, star grass and lemongrass.

PROBLEMS IN AREAS WITH TROPICAL CLIMATES

Tropical climates, while offering warm temperatures, present various challenges

including extreme heat and humidity impacting health and comfort, increased risk of

insect-borne diseases and infestations, potential for natural disasters like floods and
storms, and difficulties with agriculture and water management including drought

and desertification. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change, leading to

more intense weather events and potential population displacement.

Specific problems in tropical climates:

• HEAT AND HUMIDITY:

High temperatures combined with high humidity make it difficult for the human body

to cool down through sweating, leading to discomfort, dehydration, and potentially

heat-related illnesses like heat stroke. Mildew is also a common issue due to constant

moisture.

• HEALTH RISKS:

Tropical regions are prone to various tropical illnesses and increased prevalence of

insect-borne diseases due to favorable breeding conditions for vectors like

mosquitoes. Climate change can expand these habitats, increasing risks.

• NATURAL DISASTERS:

Heavy rainfall and monsoonal conditions increase the risk of flooding, especially in

low-lying areas and coastal zones, which can damage infrastructure and displace

communities. Tropical storms and hurricanes pose a significant threat.

• AGRICULTURAL CHALLENGES:

Reliance on subsistence farming and specific crop types can be vulnerable to climate

change impacts such as altered rainfall patterns, increased drought periods, and

extreme weather events, threatening food security. Land degradation and

desertification can also occur in some areas.

• ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION:
Deforestation for logging and mining, and intensified resource extraction driven by

population growth, can lead to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and impacts on

ecosystems.

• ECONOMIC CHALLENGES:

Tropical regions, especially landlocked ones, have historically faced challenges

related to development, with factors like climate impacting productivity and

economic growth.

• INFRASTRUCTURE VULNERABILITY:

Housing and infrastructure in tropical regions are susceptible to damage from high

humidity, heavy rainfall, wind, and direct sunlight, requiring specific design

considerations and robust protection.

DESIGN OBJECTIVES IN TROPICAL CLIMATES

Designing in tropical climates aims to achieve thermal comfort and minimize

energy consumption by addressing high heat, humidity, and precipitation through

passive strategies. Key design objectives include minimizing heat gain, maximizing

natural ventilation, and preventing excessive humidity.

Core design objectives & strategies:

• MINIMIZE HEAT GAIN:

• Orientation and form: orient buildings to minimize direct sun

exposure, especially during peak hours, and consider compact forms

and a high perimeter-to-area ratio to reduce solar gain.

 • Shading: incorporate overhanging roofs, sunshades, and external

shading devices to protect openings and walls from direct sunlight,

reducing surface and internal temperatures.

• Building envelope: utilize appropriate wall materials and construction

methods that offer thermal resistance. Consider double roof systems

with air cavities for insulation.

• MAXIMIZE NATURAL VENTILATION:

• Building design: create narrow building forms and maximize window

openings to promote cross-ventilation and facilitate the exchange of

air.

• Airflow patterns: design for optimal air movement through interior

spaces and utilize features like courtyards and roof vents to enhance

natural ventilation and cooling.

• MANAGE HUMIDITY AND PRECIPITATION:

• Rain protection: design roofs with effective drainage and consider

features that protect openings and walls from heavy rainfall.

• Materials: select materials that can withstand high humidity and are

resistant to damage from moisture and uv radiation.

• SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATION:

• Energy efficiency: maximize natural lighting through proper window

placement and consider energy-saving appliances and sensors.

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