Tropical climates are located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Latitude is a determining factor in the existence of tropical climates.
All wet tropical climates are near the equator between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn or latitudes ranging from 10 degrees south to 25 degrees north. (London, 2017).
The tropics include Ecuador and parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. They represent 36 percent of the land mass and home to about a third of the world's population.
Tropical Climate Characteristics
Hot weather
The weather is hot all year, averaging 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. This is because the tropics are more exposed to the sun.
For all that exposure to the sun, the tropics do not experience seasons like the rest of the Earth. The tropical seasons are divided into two: wet and dry. (eds), 2011).
In the Northern Hemisphere, wet seasons occur between May and July, while in the Southern Hemisphere they occur from November to February (World, 18).
Humidity
Depending on the type of tropical climate, moisture is variable and equatorial climates experience large amounts of rainfall throughout the year, while tropical, dry humid climates and monsoon climates have changes in rainfall patterns (Geographer, s.f.).
Rain
The amount of rainfall can vary greatly from one area of the tropics to another. Some areas, such as parts of the Amazon basin in South America, receive almost 3 meters of rain a year.
Other areas have a drier climate. The Sahara desert in North Africa only receives between 2 and 10 centimeters of rainfall per year.
Flora and fauna
The amount of rain directly affects the species of plants and animals that live there.
Within the tropics there are distinct types of vegetation. The vegetation that grows in each area depends on the time during which there is water available for the plants to grow. The classification is made according to the number of dry and wet months:
-Medium: 12 to 9 moist months = rainforest
-Semi-humid: 9 to 7 moist months = wet savanna
-Semi-humid: 7 to 4 moist months = dry savanna
-Semi-arid: 4, 5 to 2 moist months = thorny savanna
-Arid: 2 to 0 moist months = desert. (Blue, s.f.)
Tropical rainforests are home to almost half the animals that inhabit the world. It is estimated that many species of animals in areas of tropical humid climate have not yet been identified.
Several factors allow the diversity and the large number of animals found in this type of climate.
Many tropical forests are ancient so animals have had time to evolve. Warm temperatures and abundance of food and water make it easier for animals to survive. (London, 2017)
References
- (editors), K. W. (21 of 01 of 2011). National Geographic . Obtained from nationalgeographic.org
- Blue, M. (s.f.). Meteo Blue . Retrieved from content.meteoblue.com
- London, J. (25 of 04 of 2017). Sciencing . Retrieved from sciencing.com
- World, M. o. (2016 of 05 of 18). Maps of World . Retrieved from mapsofworld.com