(a) Define climate. (b) Draw the globe and show the three climatic belts of the Greek System of Classification. (c) List three areas of hot deserts (d) Outl...

(a) Definition of climate

Climate is the average condition of the atmosphere of a place, determined from observations of weather elements over a long period, usually about 30 to 40 years.

(b) Climatic belts of the Greek system of classification

The Greeks classified the world into three main climatic belts: the Frigid, Temperate and Torrid belts. The Frigid and Temperate belts each occur in both hemispheres.

(c) Three areas of hot deserts

1. The Sahara Desert of North Africa.
2. The Arabian Desert of the Middle East.
3. The Thar Desert of India and Pakistan.

(d) Characteristics of hot deserts

1. Rainfall is very low, usually below 250 mm annually, and is unreliable, infrequent and often torrential when it occurs.
2. Temperatures are high, commonly above 30°C during the day, with a large daily range of temperature and cold nights.
3. Evaporation is high because skies are mostly cloudless, humidity is low and insolation is intense.
4. Vegetation is sparse and consists mainly of drought-resistant, xerophytic plants.
5. Wind action is important, producing dust storms, sand dunes and other wind-eroded features.