(Koeppen Classification System)
Based upon this existing climate type Jamaica is subject to a large amount of annual rainfall as well as a fairly consistent temperature reading, maintaining average temperatures within 28-31 degrees Celsius or 80-90 degrees fahrenheit. This also displays the fact due to Jamaica's location it is not often exposed to draught or many cold fronts.
(Temperature/Precipitation Chart)
Jamaica is also located in the heart of a Maritime Tropical Air Mass, this air mass is a major influence on Jamaica's climate affecting, overall temperature as well as precipitation levels.
(depiction of various air masses)
Based on Jamaica's location, it is often subject to the lingering threat of hurricanes as well as other tropical storms. Hurricanes are created via a strong Coriolis Effect which is typically formed at latitudes varying from 5 to 20 degrees away from the equator, very few changes in wind speed as well as wind direction, hurricanes also require a high sea surface temperature as well as an abundance of water vapor at low levels, a convergence in trade winds, also easterly waves commonly spark hurricanes within areas of low pressure.
(Hurricane Ivan)As you can see Jamaica's climate exists in all of the above elements to form these storms and therefor are no strangers to these threats. Some of the most notable storms to hit Jamaica are hurricanes, Dean, Ivan, Charlie, etc.
(Satellite image of hurricane Ivan)
(Boats mangled by hurricane Ivan)
http://www.all-jamaica.com/jamaica/climate.html
http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Climate/PressureWind/PressureWind.html
http://www.jamaicans.com/tourist/overview/climate.shtml
http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Climate/Cyclones/FrontsCyclones.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hurricanes_in_Jamaica
http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/jamaica/
Hey Joe this is Chelsea Stewart and I first want to start off my saying that I love your color usage and background image; it makes the blog visually appealing. As far as your blogs content I think you did a great job of describing Jamaica's climate. I like how you not only described the climate, but also depicted why Jamaica has so much rainfall and stays at a relatively consistent temperature. I think the best part of the blog was how you connected Jamaica's rainfall to their horrific hurricanes ultimately depicting why Jamaica has had so many dangerous hurricanes throughout history. I really appreciated your time and dedication to the blog!
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