Why do some tropical regions have wet and dry seasons instead of four classic seasons?
Quick Answer
Near the tropics, temperature changes are small, so rainfall patterns matter more than seasonal heat and cold. The movement of the ITCZ and monsoons creates wet and dry periods.
The Full Story
In many tropical places, the sun angle stays fairly high all year, so temperatures do not vary as much as they do in temperate regions. Instead, seasonal shifts in rainfall are driven by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a belt of rising air and storms near the equator. As that belt moves north and south through the year, areas get alternating wet and dry periods. This is why many tropical climates are described by rainfall seasonality rather than by spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Key Facts
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