Geography
Tropical Climates
Tropical climates are characterized by high temperatures and humidity, with little variation throughout the year. These regions typically experience distinct wet and dry seasons, and are often home to lush rainforests and diverse ecosystems. Tropical climates are found near the equator, where the sun's rays are most direct, leading to consistently warm weather and abundant rainfall.
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11 Key excerpts on "Tropical Climates"
eBook - PDFEssentials of Meteorology
An Invitation to the Atmosphere
- C. Donald Ahrens, Robert Henson(Authors)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Another system, created by American climatolo- gist C. Warren Thornthwaite, uses an annual index that is related to monthly precipitation and to the poten- tial monthly evapotranspiration,* since these are both factors critical for plant growth. The Thornthwaite system defines five major humidity provinces and their charac- teristic vegetations: rainforest, forest, grassland, steppe, and desert. The Global Pattern of Climate Figure 12.7 gives a more detailed view of how the major climatic regions and subregions of the world are distributed, based mainly on the work of Köppen. We will first examine humid Tropical Climates in low lati- tudes and then we’ll look at middle-latitude and polar climates. Bear in mind that each climatic region has many subregions of local climatic differences wrought by such factors as topography, elevation, and large bodies of water. Remember, too, that boundaries of climatic regions represent gradual transitions, not exact demarca- tions. Thus, the major climatic characteristics of a given region are best observed away from its periphery. TROPICAL MOIST CLIMATES (GROUP A) General characteristics: year-round warm tempera- tures (all months have a mean temperature above °C, or °F); abundant rainfall (typical annual average exceeds cm, or in.). Extent: northward and southward from the equator to about latitude ° to °. Major types (based on seasonal distribution of rain- fall): tropical wet (Af), t t tropical monsoon (Am), and tropical wet and dry (Aw). At low elevations near the equator, in particular in the Amazon lowland of South America, the Congo River Basin of Africa, and the East Indies from Sumatra to New Guinea, high temperatures and abundant yearly rainfall combine to produce a dense, broadleaf, evergreen forest called a tropical rainforest. Here, many different plant species, each adapted to differing light intensity, present a crudely layered appearance of diverse vegetation.
eBook - PDF- James Petersen, Dorothy Sack, Robert Gabler, , James Petersen, James Petersen, Dorothy Sack, Robert Gabler(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Hot and wet all year long, tropical rainforest climates have provided an environmental set- ting for many stories of both fact and fiction. One reason for this is that tropical rainforests are challenging environments for human exploration and occupation. People visiting tropical ● ● FIGURE 9.1 Index map of humid Tropical Climates, showing their global distribution. Study the locations and the latitudinal extent of each tropical climate region. UNDERSTANDING MAP CONTENT Which continent has the largest area of tropical rainforest? Where in the Northern Hemisphere does the tropical savanna extend to the Tropic of Cancer? Where are most areas with a monsoon climate located? Which tropical climate has the greatest latitudinal range? Copyright 2022 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. 235 9 - 1 H U M I D T R O P I C A L C L I M A T E R E G I O N S produce daily (day to night) ranges of 108C to 158C (188F to 278F). However, the nighttime drop in temperature does not offer much relief from feeling the heat. High humidity even causes cooler eve- nings to seem oppressive. This is because high relative humidity increases heat retention by reducing evaporative cooling. The climographs in Figure 9.3 also illustrate the significant variations in precipitation that can occur in rainforest regions. Most tropical rainforest areas receive more than 200 centimeters (80 in.) of annual precipitation and the average is about 250 centimeters (100 in.). Some locations, however, receive over 500 centimeters (200 in.) of precipitation each year.
eBook - PDF- Alan H. Strahler(Author)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
The dry subtropical climate ➄ is a poleward and east- ward extension of the dry tropical climate ➃, with cooler tempera- tures. The dry midlatitude climate ➈ occurs in continental interiors, far from the sources of moist air masses. The wet-dry tropical climate ➂ has a very dry season alternating with a very wet season. A typical vegetation cover in this climate is savanna woodland, a sparse cover of trees over grassland. 240 Chapter 7 Global Climates and Climate Change temperatures high. During the high-Sun period, heat is extreme, and during the low- Sun period, temperatures are cooler. Given the dry air and lack of cloud cover, the daily temperature range is very wide (Figure 7.19). The driest areas of the dry tropical climate ➃ are near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Rainfall increases toward the Equator. Traveling this direction, we encounter regions that have short rainy seasons when the ITCZ is near, until finally the climate grades into the wet-dry tropical ➂ type. The boundary line between climate types can shift as a result of even small changes in climate or land use. The largest region of dry tropical climate ➃ is the Sahara–Saudi Arabia–Iran–Thar desert belt of North Africa and southern Asia; it includes some of the driest regions on Earth. Another large region of this type is the desert of central Australia. The west coast of South America, including portions of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, also exhibits the dry tropical climate ➃, but these western coastal desert regions, along with those on the west coast of Africa, are strongly influenced by cold ocean currents and the upwelling of deep, cold water, just offshore. There, cool water moderates coastal zone temperatures, reducing the seasonality of the temperature cycle (Figure 7.20).
- Pedro A. Sanchez(Author)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
A deep sandy soil may be ustic in a humid tropical climate because of rapid drainage. 1.4 Tropical Climates Many approaches have also been used to classify Tropical Climates, basically how to distinguish a rainfall/natural vege- tation continuum between rainforests and deserts. Basically, all are based on the original classification of Wladimir Kö- ppen and Rudolf Geiger in 1936, updated by Rodenwaldt and Jusatz (1963) and Kotteck et al. (2006). I have chosen four main Tropical Climates that are most relevant to this book, the rainy climates (Af, Am), the seasonal climates (Aw), the dry climates (Bsh) and the deserts (BW). They are based on the length of the rainy seasons. Their associated natural vegetation and main soil moisture regimes are indicated in Table 1.7. The geographical distribution of such climates is shown in Fig. 1.8. About 24 percent of the tropics are humid, 49 percent subhumid, 16 percent semiarid and 11 percent arid. Such climates occur at all elevations in the tropics and are interspersed with natural wetlands and irrigated agri- culture. Three examples of each tropical climate type are shown in Fig. 1.9. 1.4.1 Subhumid Tropics The subhumid climate covers about half of the tropics. It is characterized by distinct seasonality of rainfall, with 4.5 to 9.5 humid months per year. Close to the equator the sub- humid tropics have a bimodal distribution, with two short rainy seasons and two short dry seasons, making it possible to grow two crops per year. At latitudes higher than 5 the subhumid tropics have one long dry season and one long rainy season, permitting one crop a year without irrigation. The subhumid tropics include the Cerrado of Brazil, the Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela, eastern Amazonia, the Pacific coast of Central America and Mexico, and most of Cuba in Tropical America.
eBook - PDF- Bruce Anderson, Alan H. Strahler(Authors)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
dry tropical climate Climate of the tropical zone with high tempera- tures and low rainfall. so the Sun heats the surface intensely, keeping air tem- peratures high. During the high-Sun period, heat is ex- treme. During the low-Sun period, temperatures are cooler. Given the dry air and lack of cloud cover, the daily temperature range is very large. The driest areas of the dry tropical climate are near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (Figure 12.8). Rainfall increases as we move from the tropics toward the Equator. Continuing in this direction, we en- counter regions that have short rainy seasons when the ITCZ extends close enough to produce rainfall, until fi- nally the climate grades into the wet-dry tropical type. Nearly all of the dry tropical climate areas lie between latitudes 15° to 25° N and S. The largest re- gion is the Sahara–Saudi Arabia–Iran–Thar desert belt of North Africa and southern Asia, which in- cludes some of the driest regions on Earth. Another large region is the desert of central Australia. The west coast of South America and southern Africa, in- cluding portions of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, also exhibits the dry tropical climate (Figure 12.9). In those areas, temperatures are strongly influenced by cold ocean currents and the upwelling of deep, cold water. This cooling enhances the descent of air, making these some of the driest regions in the world. The cool water also moderates coastal zone temperatures, reducing the seasonality of the tem- perature cycle. 328 CHAPTER 12 Climates of the World 15 20 25 30 35 40 °C 0 50 100 60 0 D N O S A J J M A M F J 2 4 in. 0° °N 1 /2 23 °S 1 /2 23 70 80 90 100 °F Equinox Solstice Equinox Annual total < 2.5 mm (< 0.1 in.) All months less than 2.5 mm (0.1 in.) mm 10 50 Range 16°C (29°F) Solstice B Dry tropical climate O 4 Dry desert. Wadi Halfa is on the Nile River in Sudan at lat. 22° N, almost on the Tropic of Cancer.
eBook - PDF- Patrick L. Osborne(Author)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
Recent computer models suggest that with global warming (see section 1.4 ) there will be a decrease in the overall frequency of tropical cyclones, but a doubling in the frequency of the strongest storms (categories 4 and 5) by the end of the twenty-fi rst century (Bender et al . 2010 ). These storms not only affect the lives of humans living in their path but also cut a swath through forests, resulting in the destruction of large trees and providing an opportunity for their replacement with new individuals. This regeneration process can play a role in maintaining species diversity in tropical forests (see section 8.16 ). 1.3.4 Rainfall patterns and seasonality Since land and sea absorb heat at different rates, diurnal and seasonal changes are larger on land than 1.3 Tropical Climates 7 in water. Tropical deserts are hot during the day but they lose heat rapidly at night by radiation of infrared energy and by conduction and convection ( Figure 1.7 ). In contrast, tropical rain forests, with their mantle of cloud and vegetation are much cooler by day and retain warmth at night. The vegetation and clouds act as a blanket absorbing and re fl ecting radiation. Loss of heat by conduction and convection is minimised because the thick forest undergrowth reduces heat gradients and wind speeds ( Table 1.2 ). Variations in rainfall and humidity are extreme within the tropics and largely determine the suite of organisms that live in a particular region. Some desert areas receive no rainfall; rain forests may be deluged Figure 1.5 Mean surface winds over the Earth in (a) January and (b) July showing the approximate position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (dashed line) (after White et al . 1993 , with kind permission from Kluwer Academic Publishers). 8 The tropical environment and climate with more than 10 m of rain annually. The intensity of storms and the total amount of rain falling in heavy storms are considerably higher in the tropics than in temperate areas.
eBook - PDF- Timothy Foresman, Alan H. Strahler(Authors)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
THE PLANNER ✓ ✓ ClimateClassification203 e. Dry tropical climate Although dry tropical deserts are largely extremely arid, there are broad zones at the margins that are semiarid. These steppes have a short wet season when grasses grow and support nomadic grazing cultures, such as those of Iran. 20° 40° 60° 3 2 s 4s 60° 60° 40° 40° 20° 0° 20° 20° 20° 20° 20° 40° 60° 40° 60° 40° 60° 60° 0° 20° 40° 60° 100° 120° 140° 160° Tropic of Cancer Arctic Circle Equator Tropic of Capricorn Antarctic Circle 13 7 5a 2 H 5a H 5s 4a 4a 4s 3 4s 2 2 3 2 4s H 4s 4a 3 3 2 2 1 1 4s 4s 3 4a H H 3 4a 2 4s 2 2 3 4a 4a 4a 4a 5a H 2 H 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 4a 5a 10 10 10 10 10 8 8 8 11 13 12 8 7 H H 9s H H H 4a 4a 4s 4a 3 9a H H 9s 9s 8 8 10 8 H 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 9a 4s 9a H H 3 4s 2 2 2 2 6 10 10 10 6 6 2 2 2 9a 9s 4s 3 2 3 3 3 1 4s 9s 10 11 11 H H 12 9s 2 2 1 1 1 2 4s 2 H 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 4s 1 1 2 1 3 3 2 2 3 4s 4a 5a 4s 6 6 7 7 8 8 5s 5a 5s 8 8 8 8 4s 2 1 1 13 H H H 4a 0 0 2000 1000 3000 1000 2000 Kilometers Miles (True distances on mid-meridians and parallels 0 to 40) Interrupted homolosine projection Based on Goode Base Map d. Moist subtropical climate The native vegetation of the moist subtropical climate is forests of broadleaf deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, shown here in the southeastern United States. f. Wet-dry tropical climate The native vegetation of the wet-dry tropical climate must sur- vive alternating seasons of very dry and very wet weather. This situation produces a savanna environment of sparse vegeta- tion, as seen here in southern Kenya. 204CHAPTER7 GlobalClimatesandClimateChange zones also influence annual cycles of temperature and precipitation. By combining what we know about air mass source re- gions and frontal zones, we can subdivide the globe into bands according to latitude to define three broad groups of climates: low latitude, midlatitude, and high latitude (Figure 7.8).
No longer available |Learn more- James Petersen, Dorothy Sack, Robert Gabler(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Throughout this chapter and the next it will be helpful to review where these climates are located and their relation to other climate regions by examining the world climate map (see Fig. 8.6). This section provides an introduction to the major characteristics of the humid Tropical Climates and their associated world regions. The discussion of Köppen’s five major climate categories described in this chapter and the next provides two aids that will help you identify and recall the important characteristics of each climate type, as well as their regional locations. The first is a map of the world that clearly locates the climates, with one map for each of the five main climate types. The second is a set of tables that summarize important information about each climate. As you study humid Tropical Climates, for example, begin by exam- ining the map in ● Fig 9.1 and Table 9.1. Together they provide the locations and preview significant facts associated with each tropical climate. Table 9.1 serves as a reminder that, although all humid Tropical Climates have high average temperatures all year, the differences among them are based on the annual amounts and seasonal distributions of precipitation. When studying a climate category, it is useful to refer to both map and table before and after reading the text. ● FIGURE 9.1 Index map of humid Tropical Climates that allows you to focus on the humid Tropical Climates. Study the location and estimate the latitudinal extent of each tropical climate region.
- Kim H. Tan(Author)
- 2008(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
To alleviate some of the confusion, it is perhaps of importance to define the three types of climates and discuss to which parts of Indonesia they can be applied. .. The concepts of equatorial and Tropical Climates ... Equatorial climate The equatorial climate is considered to exist within the equatorial zone, which is usually by convention accepted to lie between 5° N and 5° S (latitudes). The wind pat-tern associated with the equatorial climate is called the trade wind . In the northeastern hemisphere, the trade wind blows from the northeastern direction to the equa-tor, whereas in the southern hemisphere the wind comes from the southeastern direction. Usually heavily loaded with moisture, evaporated from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, these winds bring a lot of rains, which is the reason for the presence of a dense tropical rain forest, growing in countries near the equator. Due to its location between 6° N and 11° S, Indonesia may fall within the zone of an equatorial climate. Its northern region may be affected by the northeast trade wind, but the south-ern region is influenced by the southeast trade wind. The equator goes across the Bukit Barisan Mountains near Chapter three: Climate of Indonesia Bukit Tinggi and stretches eastward across Pontianak, separating the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan into northern and southern halves. The remainder of the archipelago is mostly in the southern hemisphere. The equatorial climate is generally characterized by high precipitation, as indicated above, and by high tem-peratures throughout the year. Generally speaking, this is the hot and humid climate that many people associ-ate with the tropics. For example, the towns of Bukit Tinggi and Padang in West Sumatra show a 20-year monthly average temperature of 20°C and 26°C, respec-tively, which is fairly constant throughout the year. The annual precipitation was recorded to average 2400 mm for Bukit Tinggi and 4500 mm for Padang.
eBook - PDF- James Petersen, Dorothy Sack, Robert Gabler, , James Petersen, Dorothy Sack, Robert Gabler(Authors)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
south central Africa; Ilanos of Venezula, campos of Brazil; western Central America, south Florida, and Caribbean Islands Distinct high-sun wet and low-sun dry seasons; rainfall averaging 75–150 cm (30–60 in.); highest temperature ranges for humid Tropical Climates Grasslands with scattered, drought-resistant trees, scrub, and thorn bushes; poor soils for farming, grazing more common; large herbivores, carnivores, and scavengers © Cengage Learning Forest Biomes The world’s tropical forests are far from uniform in appearance and composition. They grade poleward from the tropical rainforests , which support Earth’s greatest biomass, to the last scattering of low trees that grade to expanses of tall grasses and scattered trees that characterize the tropical savanna regions . In the equatorial lowlands of the tropical rainforest regions, the only envi-ronmental limitation for vegetation growth is competition for light among adjacent species. Temperatures are warm enough all year to support constant growth, and water is always sufficient. The tropical rainforests consist of an amazing number of broad-leaf evergreen trees. Broad-leaf refers to trees that do not have needles (as pines do, for ex-ample), and evergreen means that throughout the seasons they do not lose their leaves. A cross section of the rainfor-est reveals tiers of tree canopies at several different levels Copyright 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
eBook - ePub- A. Austin Miller(Author)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Taylor & Francis(Publisher)
With its strong seasonal changes the climate is much more stimulating than the dull monotony of the equatorial zone, and the savanna tribes are vastly superior, mentally and physically, to the forest dwellers. Poor pastoralists though they are, they cherish their independence and do not readily accept subordination.Vegetation and Altitude in Tropical Climates . In the tropics of Latin America, where the highlands rise from the dense forests of a marine tropical climate, it is usual to recognize three zones of climate and vegetation. The limits of the zones differ from place to place, but the average altitudes are as follows:- The Tierra Caliente extends from sea-level to 3,000 feet and embraces the hot steamy coasts of Mexico and Brazil with their dense forests producing rubber and cacao.
- The Tierra Templada , between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, has mean annual temperatures between 65° and 75° and is characterized by an unusually small annual range of temperature (often only 4° or 5°), Its altitude corresponds to a zone of cloud which forms at the saturation level when the air rises up the slopes by day and a zone of mist at night when the clouds condense. The atmosphere of damp warmth keeps temperatures uniform and supports a forest vegetation of extraordinary density with tree ferns, lianas, etc. Under cultivation the zone produces maize, coffee, tea, tobacco and cotton.
- The Tierra Fria
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