With reference to examples, discuss the role of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in

accounting for the variation of precipitation in the tropics.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) refers to a belt of low pressure girdling the Earth near the
equator. It is formed as a result of the convergence of the northeast and southeast trades in the
general vicinity of the equator (5°N and S), as well as the convective lifting caused by the intense solar
heating of the low latitudes. The ITCZ is characterised by weak horizontal airflow at the ground level
but strong updrafts in the Hadley cells. This low-pressure zone is often associated with intermittent
heavy rainfall, atmospheric instability and numerous thunderstorms. The seasonal variation in
location of the ITCZ drastically affects precipitation and climate types in many tropical climates. Due
to the annual presence or seasonal presence of the ITCZ, the tropics can be divided into the humid
and arid tropics based on the annual rainfall received. The humid tropics consists of the tropical
rainforest (Af), tropical monsoon (Am) and tropical savanna (Aw) climates while the arid tropics
consists of tropical steppe (BSh) and tropical desert (BWh) climates.

The ITCZ plays an immensely important role in rainfall generation and precipitation timing in the
tropics. Due to the presence of the ITCZ and its accompanying convergent uplifting, Af and Am climates
experiences the highest annual precipitation levels among other climate types. Jayapura, Indonesia
(located at 2.7°S) which experiences the Af climate generally receives high total annual precipitation
levels of 2425mm. The highest average monthly rainfall received is 315mm in March while the lowest
received is 126mm in July. Similarly, Kisumu, Kenya (located at 0.1°S) which also experiences the Af
climate also has high, albeit lower, total annual precipitation levels of 1321mm. For Am climates, while
the total annual precipitation is typically between 2500 to 5000mm, some locations can have total
annual precipitations far exceeding 5000mm. An extreme example would be Cherrapunji, located in
the Khasi hills of Assam in eastern India, which has an annual average of 10,650mm.

The influence of the ITCZ also results in the hot and wet monsoon season in regions which experience
the Am climates. The northward shift of the ITCZ, which lags behind the thermal equator by about a
month, establishes a low pressure zone in the Indian subcontinent during the Northern hemisphere
summer. The pressure gradient between the Indian Ocean and Asian landmass causes hot subtropical
air to sweep over the warm ocean towards India, resulting in the warm, moist southwest monsoonal
rains. This helps to account for the heavy precipitation levels received by Mumbai (located at 19.1°N)
and Kolkata (located at 22.6°N) in India from June to September. The monthly precipitation peaks at
835mm and 375mm in July for Mumbai and Kolkata respectively.

In the upper limits of the humid tropics such as those experiencing the Aw climates, the shift of the
ITCZ results in the experience of wet and dry seasons rather than the cold and warm seasons of the
high latitudes. For example, the southward latitudinal migration of the ITCZ during the Southern
Hemisphere summer brings precipitation to Darwin, Australia (located at 12.5°S) which experiences
the Aw climate. Darwin, Australia has one rainfall season from December to March, with the highest
average monthly precipitation levels of 426mm in January. Similarly, Oshakati, Namibia (located at
17.8°S) which experiences the BSh climate, also has one rainfall season from December to March but
the highest average monthly precipitation is lower at 118mm in February compared to that of Darwin,
Australia. Finally, in Karachi, Pakistan (located at 24.9°N) which experiences the BWh climate, there is
only one rainfall season from late June to September, with the highest average monthly rainfall of only
82mm in July. The average monthly rainfall in the remaining months do not exceed 10mm. Therefore,
precipitation received by regions at higher latitudes between 15-25°N or S tend to be lower due to
less seasonal influence of the ITCZ.

There can also be longer-term changes in the seasonal variation of the ITCZ due to the influence of El
Nino and La Nina. In years when the ITCZ does not migrate as far north or south latitudinally, severe
droughts can occur in tropical regions. In particular, subtropical regions experiencing only one rainfall
season are especially susceptible to changes which occur in the movement of the ITCZ. According to
India Meteorological Department in Kerala, the average date of monsoon onset in Kerala was June 1
with a standard deviation of 8 days based on data from the last 100 years. However, during the 2002
El Nino, as warming was concentrated in the central Pacific, the descending air flow reached much
farther west, closer to the Indian subcontinent. This resulted in a failed monsoon which resulted in
widespread and severe drought.