Some climates are defined by constant heat or cold. The tropical monsoon climate, however, is all about change. Its defining feature is a dramatic seasonal reversal of wind patterns, which brings about distinct wet and dry seasons.

This pattern is most common in a band between 10° and 30° latitude on either side of the equator. You'll find tropical monsoon climates across South and Southeast Asia, in parts of West and Central Africa, and along the northern coast of Australia. These regions experience a deluge of rain for several months, followed by a period of relative dryness.

Climatologists use the Köppen climate classification system to categorize the world's climates. In this system, the tropical monsoon climate is designated as Am.

The 'A' signifies a tropical climate, where every month of the year has an average temperature of 18°C (64.4°F) or higher. The 'm' stands for monsoon. This code helps distinguish it from its tropical neighbors: the tropical rainforest (Af) and the tropical savanna (Aw).

A tropical rainforest (Af) climate has no dry season. It receives significant rainfall year-round. A tropical savanna (Aw), on the other hand, has a very pronounced and often lengthy dry season, which prevents dense forests from growing.

The tropical monsoon (Am) climate sits in the middle. It has a short dry season, but the wet season is so incredibly rainy that it compensates for the dry spell. This massive amount of rain can support dense forests similar to those found in a true rainforest climate.

So while it shares the heat of other tropical zones, the monsoon climate's rhythm is dictated entirely by the shifting winds and the rain they carry.