Puerto Rico: Whether and Climate - Research Paper Example

? Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Whether and Climate Puerto Rico is an island that lies 18 15 N, 66 30 W between the Caribbean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and East of the Republic of Dominica (Peffer, 2002). Puerto Rican people who migrated from USA sometimes back in a history inhabits the land (National Research Council (US), Committee on Atmospheric Sciences, 2000). There are sandy beaches along the coastal areas. This makes the country favorable tourist destination area. As a result, there are numerous tourists’ activities that are on going in this country. Due to the favorable environmental conditions, the area derives its livelihood from tourism activities and some of the revenues come from the agricultural activities. However, there is concern on the level of economic development of the people in those areas. This is because the majority of individuals live in the vicious cycle of poverty (National Research Council (US), Committee on Atmospheric Sciences, 2000). This is because large segments of society are living below the poverty index threshold. Therefore, there is the need to find a possible causes of the low economic development. Nevertheless, the concerns rose to establish the possible reason for underperformance of Puerto Rico’s economy leading to so many questions. Are the changing weather and climatic conditions the main cause for underdevelopment of the Puerto Rico’s economy? Thus, this paper seeks to explore the climatic and whether patterns of Puerto Rico (National Research Council (US), Committee on Atmospheric Sciences, 2000). Puerto Rico is mostly mountainous with a coastal plain belt in north. The mountains precipitate to sea on the west coast. The mountainous geographical shape explains why the area is a vital tourist’s attraction site. This is because tourist find it fun touring the spectacular geographical features. Puerto Rico covers a total area of 13,790 square kilometers with the land area covering an area of 8,870 square kilometers. The total water surface area is 4,921 square kilometers (National Research Council (U.S), Committee on Atmospheric Sciences, 2000). The seawater covers about one third of the country, which benefits the areas residents from increased tourist and fishing activities. This is because tourist love sceneries found along the coast plains and seawater. In addition, the coastal lowland gives tourist fun because of availability of sand around the shores for sun basking (Moran & Hopkins, 2002). Climate is the general weather conditions of an area that is experienced in a given period, usually 30 to 35 years. Climate is an aggregation of whether patterns of a given geographical location. Thus, climate tends to be stable over time with little or no. Climatic condition of a given geographical location explains the socio-economic empowerment of individuals at a given timeline. Thus, areas with poor climatic conditions are always characterized by poor living standards of individual in that area (Pipkin, Trent, Hazlett, & Bierman, 2010). On the other hand, weather is the day-to-day changes of the surroundings. Whether changes are short lived and determines the climatic conditions of given geographical locations. Some components of weather patterns include changes in wind, rainfall, humidity, and sun patterns (Pipkin, Trent, Hazlett, & Bierman, 2010). Temperature The climate for Puerto Rico is the tropical marine. It is mild with a little seasonal temperature variation. The tropical time zone dictates the climatic conditions of Puerto Rico. This is because Puerto Rico lies in the tropical time zone. In the tropical, temperature is moderate over the year. This attracts the tourist to take advantage of favorable temperature, which is difficulty to find in other countries, especial those lying in the tropics, such as Canada. Thus, the site is favorable for an individual who wants to escape the cold seasons such as winter. This is because the moderate temperature (26.7 °C) encourages sun basking along the shores of Puerto Rico (Porter & Prince, 2003). This temperature applies for areas at lower attitudes. However, the average temperature at high attitudes is around (21.1 °C) (Robert William Barnes, 2000). This temperature is far much better compared to that of other nations especially those countries from the tropics. In Puerto Rico, mountains are the dominant feature in the central geographical areas. Hence, the central geographical areas experience lower temperatures as compared to any other parts of the country. The southern part, on the other hand, has slightly higher temperature. The temperatures in Puerto Rico range from 70 to 90 °F in the lower regions. The higher and mountainous regions in the central part of Puerto Rico experience lower temperatures ranging between 61 and 80 °F all the year round (National Research Council (U.S), Committee on Atmospheric Sciences, 2000). The southern parts have a little higher temperature than the northern parts. This is because the southern parts of the country lies in lower attitudes compared to the northern side of the country (Kumar, 2007). Wind Puerto Rico in mainly affected by Persistent trade wind that moves from east to west. These winds cross the island once every year. These winds are the only strongest winds in the island, and they mainly originate from the sea. Another wind that dominates the island is the sea breeze and the land breeze. Sea and land breeze is a common phenomenon in the island. In addition, breeze helps in reducing hotness by allowing temperature cooling on the island. Apart from Persistent trade wind, sea and land breeze there is winds that pass at higher attitudes. These winds pass approximately after every five years. These winds pass at tropical of cyclones and have a significant effect in the determination of the climatic condition of Puerto Rico (National Research Council (U.S), Committee on Atmospheric Sciences, 2000). Rains The Cordillera Central Mountains cause the variations in the temperature. These mountains are salient features in the determination of rain pattern in Puerto Rico. This is because mountains affect the wind pattern (Moran & Hopkins, 2002). Consequently, it is possible for these mountains to be at the center stage in influencing the level of rain in the Island. In addition, mountains have vegetation covers and acts as a source of rivers. This enhances the process of evaporation; thus, formation of rain through the process of condensation. The rainfall occurs over extremely short expanses. The mountains cause wide variation in the local wind speeds. The direction of the winds due to sheltering and channeling effects by the mountains explaind climatic variation. Thw main rain occurs during tropical cyclones frequent during La Nina. Mountains also have a significant effect on rainfall distribution. For example, the areas that fall at the leeward side do not receive enough rainfall compared to those on the windward side. Thus, the existences of mountains not only affect the formation of rainfall but also it affects the distribution (Peffer, 2002). There are two rain seasons in Puerto Rico. These are the summer and winter rain seasons. In the summer season, there temperatures are high, and the amount of rainfall is significantly more compared to the other rain season. In the winter season, the rainfall received is relatively less to that of summer. In addition, the temperature during this season is usually extremely low. The season also experiences wind making it ultra cool. In addition, the temperature reaches lowest level at the higher attitudes. For example, the temperature reaches the lowest level at mountain peaks (Pitzer, 2009). Summary and Conclusion It is evident that Puerto Rico is mainly suitable for tourism. This is because of availability of many types of scenery. For example, the availability of beautiful mountains in the central of Puerto Rico acts as a source of tourist attraction. The presence of favorable temperature that ranges from 26 Celsius on the higher side and 21 Celsius on the lower side explains why the tourist was fond of Puerto Rico (Moran & Hopkins, 2002). The presence heavy rainfall especially in the summer makes Puerto Rico an essential place for agricultural activities. In addition, the presence of the two-rain season is evidence that Puerto Rico was productive, and one could use for agricultural and other activities that suited in the realm of the favorable weather. The presence of wind in the areas is essential in the determination of whether. This is because wind movement determines the leeward and wind ward side. This in turn, influences the availability of rains in the country. There are strong winds and sea and land breeze that is essential in influencing the weather patterns (Robert William Barnes, 2000). Therefore, Puerto Rico temperature is suitable for both farming and tourist activities. Thus, there is no reason for high level of poverty level in the region. This is because there is enabling environment in the region. This calls for proper policy formulation to address the challenges of poverty that affects the larger society. Therefore, there is suitable whether patterns suitable for enhancing economic development if the resources are put into optimal utilization. On the other hand, Puerto Rico has favorable climatic conditions that favor growth of the tourist sector. Thus, the government should take advantage of its natural resources endowment to achieve sound economic development (Robert William Barnes, 2000). Reference Kumar, M. V. (2007). Managing Weather and Climate Risks in Agriculture. Washington: Springer. Moran, J. M., & Hopkins, E. J. (2002). Wisconsin's Weather and Climate. London: Univ of Wisconsin Press. National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Atmospheric Sciences. (2000). Weather and climate modification problems and prospects: final report of the Panel on Weather and Climate Modification. Washington: National Academies. Peffer, R. (2002). Puerto Rico. New York: Lonely Planet. Pipkin, B. W., Trent, D. D., Hazlett, R., & Bierman, P. (2010). Geology and the Environment. New York: Cengage Learning. Pitzer, K. (2009). Puerto Rico's Cordillera Central. New York: Hunter Publishing. Porter, D., & Prince, D. (2003). Frommer's Portable Puerto Rico. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Robert William Barnes. (2000). Weather and Climate of Puerto Rico. New York: University of Puerto Rico. Read More