Character of Hot-dry

Climate
 Hot-dry desert climate

• Occur in two belts at latitudes

between approximately 15 and 30°N
and S.
• Assuan, Baghdad, Alice Springs
and Phoenix etc. are cities of this
climate.
• Two marked seasons a Hot and a
somewhat Cooler period.
 Temperature Profile

• Air temperature
– Hot season
• Day mean maximum between 43° and 49°C.
• Night mean minimum between 24° and 32°C.
• Ever recorded maximum 58°C in Libya in 1922.

– Cold season
• Mean minimum between 27° and 32°C.
• Night mean minimum between 10° and 18°C.

– Diurnal ranges is very high: 17 to 22 degC.

 Humidity & Precipitation profile
• Humidity
– RH remains low, it may vary from 10% to 55%.
– Vapour Pressure, Steady in the region of 750 to
1500N/m2.

• Precipitation
– Slight and variable throughout the year, Annual rainfall
vary from 50mm to 155mm.
– Flash-storms may occur over small areas with as
much as 50 mm in a few hours.
– Some regions may not have any rain for several
years.
 Sky Condition profile

• Sky condition
– Normally clear and clouds are few due to low
humidity air.
– Usually dark blue with luminance of 1700 to 2500
cd/m2.
– During dust or sand-storms the sky is darkened to
850 cd/m2 or less.
– At the end of hot period suspended dust in air may
create a white haze, with a luminance of 3500 to
10,000 cd/m2 .
– Produce diffuse light and painful glare during dust
haze.
 Radiation & Wind Profile
• Solar Radiation
– Direct and strong during the day.
– Easy long-wave re-radiation heat release is due to
absence of cloud towards the cold night sky.
– Diffuse radiation during dust haze periods.

• Wind
– Usually local.
– Local whirlwinds are often created due to temperature
inversion.
– Winds are hot, carrying dust and sand.
– Often develop into dust-storms.
 Vegetation Character
• Vegetation
– Sparse and difficult to maintain due to lack
of rain and low humidity.
– Usually dusty, highly reflective light
coloured and very dry soil along with
strong sunlight create a luminance of
20,000 to 25,000 cd/m2 & thus glare.
– Soils dryup quickly after rain.
– Would generally be fertile if irrigated.
– Subsoil water-table is very low.
 Special Character

• Special characteristics
– During certain months dust and
sand-storms may be frequent.
– High day-time temperature and
rapid cooling at night may cause
materials to crack and break up.