So, I understand that during much of the year, Panama gets regular rain due to moist air being carried in by the trade winds from the Caribbean.
However, the country also has a "dry season" from roughly December to March, and I haven't been able to find information on why that happens, given that the trade winds are supposed to be blowing year-round. Is there some climatic process in the Caribbean that weakens them or directs them northwards during this time of the year?
EDIT: Ah, this must be related to the seasonal movement of the intertropical convergence zone, right? Is that that the trade wind effect is present year round, but just doesn't produce a lot of precipitation in Panama on its own, until the ITCZ adds majorly to it during the northern summer?