Tropical climate

Locations of tropical climates, with subtypes:

  Af—Tropical rainforest climate,

  Am—Tropical monsoon climate,

  Aw/As—Tropical savanna climate.

Tropical climate is one of the five major climate groups in the Köppen climate classification. Tropical climates are characterized by monthly average temperatures of 18 ℃ (64.4 ℉) or higher year-round and feature hot temperatures. Annual precipitation is often abundant in tropical climates, and shows a seasonal rhythm to varying degrees. There are normally only two seasons in tropical climates, a wet season and a dry season. The annual temperature range in tropical climates is normally very small. Sunlight is intense.

There are three basic types of tropical climates within the tropical climate group: tropical rainforest climate (Af), tropical monsoon climate (Am) and tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Aw or As), which are classified and distinguished by the annual precipitation and the precipitation level of the driest month in those regions.

Köppen climate classification[]

Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It defines a tropical climate as a region where the mean temperature of the coldest month is greater than or equal to 18 ℃ (64.4 ℉) and classifies them as an A-group (tropical climate group).^[1] A-group regions are usually found below 25 latitude in both the southern and northern hemisphere; they include areas around the Equator, Central America and parts of south America, central Africa, southern portions of Asia and parts of Australia and the Pacific Ocean islands.^[2]

In Group A, there are three types of climate: 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 or equal than 60 mm (2.4 inches). Tropical monsoon climate’s P_dry should be in the range from ${\displaystyle 100-{\tfrac {mean\ annual\ precipitation}{25}}}$to 60 mm. Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate’s P_dry should be less than ${\displaystyle 100-{\tfrac {mean\ annual\ precipitation}{25}}}$.^[1]

Tropical Rainforest Climate Region

Tropical Monsoon Climate Region

Tropical Savanna Climate

Tropical climate biome[]

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 are a varying duration. Annual temperature changes in the tropics are small. Due to the high temperature 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 grow in layers: shrubs under tall trees, and bushes under shrubs. Tropical plants are rich in resources, including coffee, cocoa and oil palm.^[3][4] Listed below are types of vegetation unique to each of the three climates that make up the tropical climate biome.

Natural vegetation[]

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.

Tropical rainforest climate[]

The Köppen classification identifies tropical rainforest climate (Zone Af: f = feucht, German for moist) as having north and south latitudinal ranges of 5-10 degrees from the equator.^[5][6] Tropical rainforest climates have high temperatures: the yearly average temperature is between 21 °C to 30 °C ( 70 °F to 85 °F ).^[7][8] The precipitation can reach over 100 inches a year.^[7][8] The seasons are evenly distributed throughout the year, and there is almost no drought period.^[6] Regions affected by 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.^[6]

The tropical rainforest climate differs from other subtypes of tropical climates as it has more kinds of trees.^[8] The large number of trees contribute to the humidity of the climate because of the transpiration, which is the process of water lost from the surface of living plants to the atmosphere. The warmth and abundant precipitation contributes to the diversity and characteristics of vegetations under the tropical rainforest climate.^[7] The vegetations develop a vertical stratification and various growth forms to receive enough sunlight, which is unusual under other types of climate.^[7]

Tropical monsoon climate[]

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 occurs in the winter.^[9] The tropical monsoon climate is usually found within countries in the south and southeast Asia region between the latitude of 10 degrees north and the Tropic of Cancer. These regions include India, Philippines, the northern coast of Australia and Hainan Island of China. The annual temperature of regions under tropical monsoon climate is stable.

The tropical monsoon climate has the following main characteristic. The average annual temperature is 27.05 °C (80.69 °F) and has an annual temperature range of 3.6 °C (2 °F).^[10] Distinction between wet and drought seasons, the tropical monsoon climate is different from other tropical climates because of its uneven precipitation throughout the year. The precipitation is heavy in the summer, and a short-drought season occurs in the winter. This climate has an annual total precipitation of 3409.2mm, and a 3115.9mm summer precipitation and 293.3mm winter precipitation.^[10]

There are three main seasons of tropical monsoon climate: the cool dry season is from October to February, the hot dry season is from March to mid-June and the rainy season is from mid-June to September.^[11]

The tropical monsoon forest mainly consists of three layered structures. The first layer is the ground layer which is a very dense layer of shrubs. The second layer is the understory layer with trees about 15 meters tall. The top layer is called the canopy tree which has trees from 25 to 30 meters tall and those trees grow closely.^{[citation needed]}

Tropical wet and dry or forest climate[]

Tropical savanna climates are mainly located between 10° and 20° north-south latitude, 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.^[12] The temperature range of savanna climate is between 20 °C to 30 °C (68 °F - 86 °F). In summer, the temperature is between 25 °C - 30 °C, while in winter the temperature is between 20 °C - 30 °C.^[13] The annual precipitation is between 700 to 1000 mm. The driest months are from November to March and they have less than 60 mm of rainfall.

Regions under the savanna climate usually have lands covered with flat grassland vegetation. Those grassland biomes cover almost 20% of the earth’s surface.^[14] The grassland vegetation types include Rhodes grass, red oats grass, star grass and lemongrass.^[15]

References[]