Tropical climate - Wikipedia

Tropical climate - Wikipedia
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Major climate group in Köppen classification
Locations where tropical climates occur, with subtypes listed, abbreviations in the
Köppen climate classification
in parentheses, and the
equator
highlighted:
Tropical rainforest climate
Af
),
Tropical monsoon climate
Am
),
Tropical savanna climate
(Dry summer:
As
, dry winter:
Aw
).
Tropical climate
is the first of the five major climate groups in the
Köppen climate classification
identified with the letter
. Tropical climates are defined by a monthly average temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) or higher in the coolest month, featuring hot temperatures and high humidity all year-round. Annual precipitation is often abundant in tropical climates, and shows a seasonal rhythm but may have seasonal dryness to varying degrees. There are normally only two seasons in tropical climates, a wet (rainy/
monsoon
) season and a dry season. The annual temperature range in tropical climates is normally very small. Sunlight is intense in these climates.
There are three basic types of tropical climates within the tropical climate group:
tropical rainforest climate
Af
),
tropical monsoon climate
Am
) and
tropical savanna or tropical wet and dry climate
Aw
for dry winters, and
As
for dry summers), which are classified and distinguished by the precipitation levels of the driest month in those regions.
Köppen climate classification
edit
The
Köppen climate classification
is the most widely used climate classification system.
It defines a tropical climate as a region where the mean temperature of the coldest month is greater than or equal to 18 °C (64 °F) and does not fit into the criteria for B-group climates, classifying them as an A-group (tropical climate group).
A-group regions are usually found in the
tropics
, below 23.5 latitude in both the southern and northern hemisphere; they include areas around the Equator, Central America, North-central portions of South America, central Africa, southern portions of Asia and parts of North Australia and the Pacific Ocean islands.
In Group A, there are three types of this climate: the
tropical rainforest climate (Af)
tropical monsoon climate (Am)
and
tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Aw or As)
. All of the three climates are classified by their P
dry
(short for precipitation of the driest month). Tropical rainforest climate's P
dry
should be greater than or equal 60 mm (2.4 in). Tropical monsoon climate's P
dry
should be in the range from
100
25
{\displaystyle (100-{\tfrac {mean\ annual\ precipitation\ in\ mm}{25}})}
to 60 mm. Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate's P
dry
should be less than
100
25
{\displaystyle (100-{\tfrac {mean\ annual\ precipitation\ in\ mm}{25}})}
Tropical rainforest climate region
Tropical monsoon climate region
Tropical savanna climate
Tropical climate biome
edit
Amazon rainforest near
Iquitos
Peru
Tropical climates normally have only two seasons, a wet season and a dry season. Depending on the location of the region, the wet and dry seasons can have varying duration. Annual temperature changes in the tropics are small. Due to the high temperatures and abundant rainfall, much of the plant life grows throughout the year. High temperature and humidity is the most suitable environment for
epiphytes
to grow.
In many tropical climates, vegetation grows in layers:
shrubs
under tall trees, bushes under shrubs and
grasses
under bushes. Tropical plants are rich in resources, including coffee, cocoa and oil palm.
Listed below are the types of vegetation unique to each of the three climates that make up the tropical climate biome.
Natural vegetation
edit
Tropical rainforest vegetation including:
Bengal bamboo
bougainvillea
curare
coconut tree
durian
and
banana
Tropical monsoon vegetation including:
teak
deodar
rosewood
sandalwood
and
bamboo
Tropical wet and dry or savanna vegetation including:
acacia senegal
elephant grass
jarrah tree
gum tree eucalyptus
and
whistling thorn
Biak, Indonesia
Climate chart (
explanation
250
29
25
240
28
25
250
29
25
200
29
25
250
29
25
230
29
25
250
28
25
240
29
25
220
29
25
180
29
25
190
30
25
230
29
25
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Imperial conversion
9.8
84
77
9.4
82
77
9.8
84
77
7.9
84
77
9.8
84
77
9.1
84
77
9.8
82
77
9.4
84
77
8.7
84
77
7.1
84
77
7.5
86
77
9.1
84
77
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Tropical rainforest climate
edit
The Köppen classification identifies
tropical rainforest climates
(Zone Af: f = "feucht", German for moist) as usually having north and south latitudinal ranges of just 5-10 degrees from the equator.
10
Tropical rainforest climates have high temperatures: the yearly average temperature is normally between 21 and 30 °C (70 and 86 °F).
11
12
The precipitation can reach over 100 inches a year.
11
12
The seasons are evenly distributed throughout the year, and there is almost no drought period here.
10
Regions that contain tropical rainforest climate mainly include the upper Amazon basin of South America, the Northern Zaire (Congo) basin of Africa, and the islands of the East Indies.
10
The tropical rainforest climate differs from other subtypes of tropical climates as it has more kinds of trees due to its
precipitation
12
The large number of trees contribute back to the
humidity
of the climate because of the transpiration, which is the process of water
evaporated
from the surface of living plants to the atmosphere. The warmth and abundant precipitation heavily contributes to the diversity and characteristics of vegetations under the tropical rainforest climate.
11
The vegetations develop a vertical stratification and various growth forms to receive enough sunlight, which is unusual under other types of climate.
11
Tropical monsoon climate
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Miami
Climate chart (
explanation
51
24
15
53
25
16
61
26
18
72
28
20
158
30
22
237
31
24
145
32
25
193
32
25
194
31
24
143
29
22
68
27
19
47
25
16
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
[1]
Imperial conversion
75
59
2.1
76
60
2.4
79
64
2.9
82
68
6.2
85
72
9.3
88
75
5.7
89
76
7.6
89
77
7.6
88
76
5.6
85
72
2.7
80
67
1.8
77
62
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
The Köppen classification tool identifies tropical monsoon climate as having small annual temperature ranges, high temperatures, and plentiful precipitation. This climate also has a short dry season which almost always occurs in the winter.
13
The tropical monsoon climate is often found within countries in the south and southeast Asia region between the latitude of 10 degrees north and the Tropic of Cancer. It can also be found in West Africa and South America. The annual temperature of regions under tropical monsoon climate is also stable.
The
tropical monsoon climate
has the following main characteristic. The average annual temperature is around 27.05 °C (80.69 °F) and has an average annual temperature range of about 3.6 °C (6 °F).
14
Distinction between wet and drought seasons, the tropical monsoon climate is different from other tropical climates because of its uneven precipitation throughout the year.
There are three main seasons of tropical monsoon climate: the cool dry season is from fall to late winter, the hot dry season is in the spring and the rainy or
monsoon
season is near or during the summer months.
15
The tropical monsoon forest mainly consists of three layered structures. The first layer is the surface layer which is a very dense layer of shrubs and grasses. The second layer is the
understory layer
with trees about 15 meters tall. The top layer is called the
canopy tree layer
which has trees from 25 to 40 meters tall and those trees grow closely while above is the emergent layer with sporadic trees taller than 35 meters.
16
Tropical savanna or wet and dry climate
edit
Tropical savanna climates
, or tropical wet and dry climates, are mainly located between the 10° and 25° north-south latitudes, and often occur at the outer margins of the tropics. Typical regions include central Africa, parts of South America, as well as northern and eastern Australia.
17
The temperature range of savanna climate is between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F). In summer, the temperature is between 25 °C and 30 °C, while in winter the temperature is between 20 °C and 30 °C, but still stays above an 18 °C mean.
18
The annual precipitation is between 700 and 1000 mm. The driest months are generally in the winter and they have less than 60 mm of rainfall (often much less).
19
Regions under the savanna climate usually have lands covered with flat grassland vegetation with areas of woodlands. Those grassland biomes cover almost 20% of the Earth's surface.
20
The grassland vegetation types include Rhodes grass, red oats grass, star grass and lemongrass.
21
See also
edit
Humid subtropical climate
Megathermal
Subtropics
References
edit
"tropics"
National Geographic Society
. 2011-01-21
. Retrieved
2022-04-26
"Köppen Climate Classification: Auxiliary Programs — EnergyPlus 9.4"
Kottek, Markus; Grieser, Jürgen; Beck, Christoph; Rudolf, Bruno; Rubel, Franz (2006-07-10).
"World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated"
Meteorologische Zeitschrift
15
(3):
259–
263.
Bibcode
2006MetZe..15..259K
doi
10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130
ISSN
0941-2948
Archived
from the original on Jan 24, 2024.
"World maps of Köppen-Geiger climate classification"
koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at
. Archived from
the original
on Feb 8, 2024.
"epiphyte | Definition, Adaptations, Examples, & Facts"
Britannica
. Retrieved
2022-04-26
G., Michael (2001).
"Rainforest Biome"
Blue Planet Biomes
. Retrieved
2020-04-03
"Savanna Biome"
Blue Planet Biomes
. Retrieved
2020-04-03
"Biak, Indonesia Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)"
"Köppen Climate Classification System"
National Geographic Society
. 2019-10-24
. Retrieved
2020-04-02
McKnight, Tom L. (Tom Lee); Hess, Darrel (2000).
Physical geography : a landscape appreciation
. Internet Archive. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Prentice Hall.
"Tropical Rainforest | Biomes of the World"
. Retrieved
2020-04-02
"Tropical Rainforest Biome - Tropical Moist Climates (Af) | The Tropical Climate | The Köppen Climate Classification System | Resources"
ISC-Audubon
. Archived from the original on March 27, 2015
. Retrieved
2020-04-02
"Tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate | meteorology"
Encyclopedia Britannica
. Retrieved
2020-04-03
"Tropical Monsoon Climate"
www.earthonlinemedia.com
. Retrieved
2020-04-02
"Seasons of Tropical Monsoon Climate"
Your Article Library
. 2016-03-08
. Retrieved
2020-04-02
"Rainforest layers"
www.rainforestjournal.com
. 2015-01-23
. Retrieved
2022-04-26
"What Are The Characteristics Of A Tropical Savanna Type Of Climate?"
WorldAtlas
. 22 January 2018
. Retrieved
2020-04-03
"Blue Planet Biomes - Savanna Climate"
www.blueplanetbiomes.org
. Retrieved
2020-04-03
"The grassland biome"
ucmp.berkeley.edu
. Retrieved
2022-04-26
"Savanna Biome: Location, Climate, Temperature, Plants and Animals"
Conserve Energy Future
. 2018-08-26
. Retrieved
2020-04-03
"KDE Santa Barbara"
kids.nceas.ucsb.edu
. Retrieved
2020-04-03
Climate
types under the
Köppen climate classification
Class A
Tropical rainforest
(Af)
Tropical monsoon
(Am)
Tropical savanna
(Aw, As)
Class B
Desert
(BWh, BWk)
Semi-arid
(BSh, BSk)
Class C
Humid subtropical
(Cfa, Cwa)
Oceanic
(Cfb, Cwb, Cfc, Cwc)
Mediterranean
(Csa, Csb, Csc)
Class D
Humid continental
(Dfa, Dwa, Dsa, Dfb, Dwb, Dsb)
Subarctic
(Dfc, Dwc, Dsc, Dfd, Dwd, Dsd)
Class E
Tundra
(ET)
Ice cap
(EF)
Alpine
(ET, EF)
Lists
List of cities by Köppen climate classification
Seasons
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Weather portal
Tropical seasons
Wet season
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Specific
Cyclone season
Fog season
Harmattan
(West Africa)
Monsoon season
Mud / breakup /
minoskamin
bezdorizhzhia / rasputitsa
Rainy season
Authority control databases
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