A lack of any dry season in combination with hot summers defines a Cfa climate. In Beppu, Oita, this type of climate allows for plentiful rain in the summer months while maintaining temperatures in the higher 80s (degrees Fahrenheit). The precipitation levels drop during the winter months along with the temperatures, but a measurable amount of moisture remains.
Originating in the tropical Pacific Ocean, the Maritime
Tropical (mT) air mass located just south of Kyushu around the subtropical high
(STH) contributes to Cfa climate. In the summer months when the warmer
isotherms, or lines connecting the same air temperatures rest up north because
of the jet stream positioning, this air mass moves toward Kyushu (Ritter). Created in a stable STH, mT air masses are “warm, moist,
and usually unstable” leading to precipitation and the warm temperatures (“Air
Masses”). When the jet streams move the isotherms south for the winter, the maritime polar (mT)
air mass just north of Japan brings with it cool and moist air keeping
precipitation in the area year-round.
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| Purple indicates mT Yellow indicates mP |
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| Typhoon moving toward the main islands of Japan |
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| During Typhoon in Tokyo |
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| Clean-up after Typhoon Talas |
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| A typhoon moving right over Kyushu |
Sources:
“Air Masses and Fronts,” http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/wxwise/class/frntmass.html.
Landsea, Chris. “FAQ.” Atlantic Oceanographic and
Meteorological Laboratory.
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A1.html
Ritter, Michael. “Air Temperature and Air Mass Movement.” http://www4.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/temperature/temperature_air_masses.html.
“Typhoons.” http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2117.html
Sources of Illustrations (In order of appearance):
Ibid.
Ibid.
http://sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/blog/2011/09/post_46.php
http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/en/imgdata/topics/2011/tp111101.html
What's up Jane, I am Joe Gonzales, and I have been reading your most recent post. I must say this is an excellent post, packed with well explained concepts. The content describes the climate type, air masses, and typhoon storm patterns for the region, all of which are accurate and precise. I found your explanation of air masses to be particularly interesting as well as how you showed the relationship between air masses and typhoons. You also stated that typhoons strike this region three times a year on average, how many casualties and costs in damages are there typically per year as a result? Just a thought, however, great post! Good job!
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