MI H2 GEO (9751 01) Answer

Class Adm No Candidate Name: 2018 Preliminary Exams Pre-University 3 GEOGRAPHY 9751/01 Paper 1 Structured Essay Questions 17 September 2018 3 hours Additional Materials: Answer Paper World Outline Map INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Write your name, admission number and class on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper. You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams, graphs, or rough working. Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid. Answer three questions. One from each section. You should make reference to appropriate examples studied in the field or the classroom, even where such examples are not specifically requested by the question. Diagram and sketch maps should be drawn whenever they serve to illustrate an answer. The world outline map may be annotated and handed in with relevant answers. You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in your answers. At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. ___________________________________________________________________ This document consists of 2 printed pages [Turn over

2 Section A – Tropical Environments Answer one question from this section. 1 (a) Explain how the characteristics of tropical climates based on the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system are similar and distinctive with one another. [12] Indicative Content The tropical climates are classified into the humid tropics which include Tropical Rainforest (Af), Tropical Monsoon (Am), Tropical Savanna (Aw) and arid tropics namely Sub-tropical Steppe (BSh) and Tropical Desert (BWh) climates based on the Koppen-Geiger climat e classification system. Students are required to compare these tropical c limates based on their characteristics, such as mean annual temperature, total annual precipitation and precipitation pattern. A higher level response will provide detailed ex planation in elaboratin g the similarities and differences in the climatic characteristics. Knowledge on various at mospheric processes, circulation and factors operating at different spat ial scales is used purposefully to elaborate on the points of comparison made. Relevant examples are also used to substantiate response. Levels marked using H2 generic level descriptors for 12m SEQ sub-part (a). Suggested Response The tropical climates are classified into the humid tropics which include Tropical Rainforest (Af), Tropical Monsoon (Am), Tropical Savanna (Aw) and arid tropics namely Sub-tropical Steppe (BSh) and Tropical Desert (BWh) climates based on the Koppen-Geiger climate classification system. All of these tropical climates are similar in having high mean annual temperature. Yet, between the humid tropics and arid tropics, there is a differe nce in annual temperature range, where humid tropics tend to have low annual temperature range while arid tropics tend to have larger annual temperature range. Similarly, humid and arid tropical climates differ in having high and low total annual precipitation respectively. Within the humid and arid tropical climates, there are variations that exist in their precipitation patterns. P1: Based on Koppen-Geiger climate classification system, tropical climates all have high mean annual temperature, where the average temperature of the coldest month is above 18°C. • Tropical climates exist almost entirely between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn • The movement of the position of the over head sun is confined within this region (summer solstice: Tropics of Cancer, winter solstice: Trop ics of Capricorn, Equinox: Equator) • Hence, the tropics is characterised by high mean annual temperature due to high angle of incidence the sun rays have with the tr opics of the earth’s su rface, resulting in insolation to be concentrated over smaller area, thus resulting in high mean annual temperature • Though exceptions do exist, where high altitude places within the tropics do not experience tropical climates, such as Cameron Highlands, Malaysia • Examples of tropical climates: o Singapore (Af climate): Located 1°N of equator, High mean annual temperature of 27°C o Bamako, Mali (Aw climate): Located 13°N of the equator. High mean annual temperature of about 27°C o Yuma, Arizona, USA (BWh climate): Located 32°N of the equator. High mean annual temperature of 25°C P2: Despite having similar high mean annual temperature, humid and arid tropics differ in terms of annual temperature range. Humid tropics tend to experience low annual temperature range while arid tropics tend to have large annual temperature range. • This could be attributed to their latitudinal position and also the shifting position of the overhead sun

3 • Places experiencing Af climate tend to be found near the equator. Their latitudinal position subjects them to high angle of incidence of insolation throughout the year, resulting in little variation in monthly temperature across the year. o Singapore: Located 1°N of equator. Low annual temperature range of 1.7°C • Am and Aw climate tend to have slight variation in monthly temperature, causing larger annual temperature range as compared to Af but still within the low range. o Temperatures slowly rise to their highest levels of the year before the arrival of the rain (brought either by monsoon winds or the ITCZ) but temperature drop by a few degrees due to the presence of clouds and rainfall that help to cool the climate slightly. During the ‘winter’ season, generally clear skies allow warm temperatures by day but nights can be cool o Akyab, Myanmmar: Located 20°N of the equator. Low annual temperature range of 7.8°C. o Bamako, Mali: Located 13°N of the equator. Annual temperature range of 7.8°C. • Arid tropics OTOH have large annual temperature range o High monthly temperature during the summer due to the position of the overhead sun at the hemisphere at where the place is. Monthly temperature falls when the position of the overhead sun shifts to the other hemisphere. This leads to the high annual temperature range experienced o Yuma, Arizona, USA: Located 32°N of the equator. Large annual temperature range of 20°C P3: Similarly, the humid and arid tropics have high and low total annual precipitation respectively. • Humid tropics o Generally, the humid tropics is associated with the rising limb of the Hadley Cell and the ITCZ, and thus having total annual rainfall exceeding evapotranspiration o Their latitudinal position places them under the constant influence of the rising limb of the Hadley Cell and the ITCZ which encourages the formation of clouds and rainfall via convection and convergence of winds o Examples  Belem, Brazil (Af): Located 1°S of equator. Total annual precipitation of 2740 mm.  Chittagong, Bangladesh (Am): Tota l annual precipitation of 2730mm [how topography enhances the amount of rainfall received] • Arid tropics o Their latitudinal position subjects them to the subsiding limb of the Hadley Cell. Subsidence of air inhibits the formation of clouds and hence rain, and thus arid tropics is characterised by annual potential evaporation exceeding annual precipitation o Examples  Longreach, Australia (BSh): Close to low total annual precipitation of 266mm  Cairo, Egypt (BWh): 18mm of low total annual precipitation P4: Within the humid and arid tropics, there exists variations in precipitation pattern. • Humid tropics o Af: