3 - Tropical hydrology
from Part I - The Tropical Environment
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2012
Summary
A set of ‘rainfall rules’ to apply in Africa has been suggested by some cynic, perhaps a tropical meteorologist but certainly a person with experience in the tropics. These rules are: (a) the rainfall is seasonal in nature; (b) the amount increases as one approaches the equator; (c) do not put too much faith in (a) and (b).
J. F. GriffithsThe tropical climate: a brief review
Climatic characteristics do affect local geomorphology in the tropics, although not as deterministically as was presented by many geomorphologists in the past. The warm and moisture-laden condition of the humid tropics certainly accelerates the process of weathering, and the high-intensity rainfall of the tropics gives rise to frequent slope failures and flooded rivers. In contrast, physical weathering and shorter rare floods from cloudbursts are common in the arid tropics. This chapter is not on the principles of climatology but reviews the basic nature of the tropical climate with special reference to the factors that influence tropical hydrology and geomorphology (for a detailed review of tropical climate please see McGregor and Nieuwolt, 1998).
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- Tropical Geomorphology , pp. 31 - 48Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011