Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Climate Map within our 7,107 islands.

As diverse as our culture, dialect, ethnicity , history, religion, topographic and geographic locations, biodiversity and natural wonders, yes, this country of ours also possess different climate types. Climate in the Philippines is classified into (4) four different types as illustrated from the map shown.

According to the book Philippine Orchids by Reg S. Davis and Mona Lisa Steiner, "These four climatic zones owe their existence and differences to the trade winds, equatorial calms and the geographical bearing and height of the prominent mountains and mountain ranges of the Islands. Most of the Philippines lies within the trade-wind belt. The exception is the southern half of the Island of Mindanao which is within the area influenced by the tropical calms. From August to December the portion of the archipelago above Leyte and Cebu is frequently exposed to typhoons, the cyclonic storms which originate in the vast Pacific Ocean area east of the Philippines. These storms travel on courses toward the Asiatic coast, often crossing central and northern Luzon and, on occasions, the southern Islands. The typhoons bring torrential downpours and, as a result, the precipitation within the Philippines varies from 61 inches per year in the Cebu area, which experiences few typhoons, to as much as 176 inches per year around Baguio, where the maximum number of typhoons are encountered."

This is one major factor why the Philippines as small as it is, is so blessed with various species of plants, trees and wildlife. Likewise, if you are about to plant something in your garden, try to think of this map and analyze whether it is suitable for your type of climate.

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