Dry season facts for kids
The dry season is a period each year when an area gets very little rainfall. This happens especially in the tropics, which are the warm regions around the equator. The weather in these areas is mostly controlled by something called the tropical rain belt. This belt moves across the Earth throughout the year.
The Moving Rain Belt
The tropical rain belt is like a big band of clouds and rain that moves north and south. From about October to March, this rain belt is in the southern part of the world. During this time, the northern tropical areas have their dry season. Days are usually sunny and there isn't much rain.
Then, from April to September, the rain belt moves to the northern part of the world. This means the southern tropical areas will have their dry season. Scientists often define a dry season month as one where the average rainfall is less than 60 millimetres (2.4 in).
The rain belt reaches as far north as the Tropic of Cancer and as far south as the Tropic of Capricorn. If you live near these lines, you will usually have one wet season and one dry season each year. Right at the equator, it's a bit different. The rain belt passes over twice a year, once going north and once going south. This means places on the equator often have two wet seasons and two dry seasons.
Between the tropics and the equator, locations might experience a short wet season and a long wet season. They could also have a short dry season and a long dry season. However, the local landscape, like mountains or large bodies of water, can change these weather patterns a lot.
When Water Runs Low
During the dry season, the air is very dry. This causes many small rivers and water holes to dry up completely. Because there isn't enough water, there's also less food for animals. Many grazing animals, like zebras, elephants, and wildebeest, have to travel long distances. They migrate to find places with more water and fresh plants.
Another common problem during the dry season is bushfires. Since plants have very little water in them, they become very dry. This makes it easy for fires to start and spread quickly.
Health and People
Studies in Africa have shown that when the dry season begins, there can be a rise in cases of measles. Researchers think this might happen because more people gather together during the dry season. It's hard to do farm work without irrigation during this time. So, some farmers move into cities, which makes the population in those areas more crowded. When more people are close together, diseases can spread more easily.
New Discoveries
Recent studies in the Amazon rainforest in South America have shown something interesting. In parts of the Amazon that have distinct wet and dry seasons, the amount of leaves and how fast they grow actually changes. There are about 25% more leaves and faster growth during the dry season!
Scientists believe the Amazon forest itself might help bring the wet season. By growing more leaves, the trees release more water into the air. This water then forms clouds and leads to rain. However, this extra growth only happens in parts of the Amazon that haven't been disturbed by humans. Researchers think that in these areas, tree roots can grow deeper to reach more rainwater. It has also been found that levels of ozone (a gas in the atmosphere) are much higher in the Amazon basin during the dry season compared to the wet season.
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