• What countries are located in the tropical zone? Natural areas of the tropical belt Tropical belts and tropical climate

    Geographical zones, located in the northern and southern hemispheres between 20° and 30° latitude, where the trade wind circulation dominates and large areas occupy deserts and semi-deserts ... Geography Dictionary

    northern tropical belt- in the Northern Hemisphere, between the northern subtropical and northern subequatorial belts, mostly between 30 and 10 ° N; sh. In the Old World, it is most well expressed in Africa, where it occupies vast expanses in the north of the continent (Sahara, Nubian, ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

    southern tropics- in the Southern Hemisphere, between the southern subtropical and southern subequatorial belts. It is most widespread over the oceans, where it covers the space from the equator to 30 ° S. sh. On the continents, it is relatively narrow, in the main. between 30° and 20°S sh… Geographic Encyclopedia

    TROPICAL Dictionary Ushakov

    TROPICAL- 1. TROPICAL1, tropical, tropical. 1. adj. to the tropic located between the tropics. Tropical belt. tropical countries. 2. Tropical. A tropical forest. Tropical fever (a form of malaria). Tropical climate. 3.… … Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

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    tropical climate- South Florida has a tropical climate Tropical climate is a type of climate typical of the tropics. According to the classification adopted for climate by V.P. Köppen, it is defined as not ... Wikipedia

    Tropical dry climate- Tropical dry climate - a continental variety of the trade wind climate, where there is no change of monsoons, that is, where all year round tropical air prevails. The wind regime in these continental regions is not as characteristic and stable as in ... ... Wikipedia

    BELT- BELT, a, pl. oh, oh, husband. 1. Ribbon, cord, belt or sewn strip of fabric for tying, fastening at the waist. Leather p.p. skirts. For the belt and for the belt to shut up someone. (unconditionally surpass someone n. in what n.; colloquial). Plug the ax for point 2. transfer ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

    geographic belt- (physicogeographic belt), the largest unit of the zonal subdivision of the geographic envelope, which has common features of the structure of latitudinal landscape zones, which is due to the magnitude of the radiation balance. Many geographers identify ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

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    Tropical climate zone covers Earth ranging from the 20th to the 30th parallels in the northern and southern hemispheres. These areas generally have clear weather throughout the year, and the air temperature depends on how high the Sun rises above the horizon. In summer the air warms up to +30°C. Although sometimes it can rise to + 45-50 ° C. In winter, the air is very cold, often to negative readings on the thermometer.

    The air temperature can vary greatly during the day, when the sultry heat during the day is replaced by evening coolness and severe cooling at night. In the tropics, little precipitation falls - no more than 50-150 mm per year. Most of them are in winter months. These latitudes are very affected by the trade winds.

    Types of climate in tropical latitudes

    The tropical climate is usually divided into two categories, depending on the proximity of the territory to the ocean.

    Continental: In the depths of the continents, the climate in tropical latitudes is hot and arid, with a large temperature difference. This is a region of high atmospheric pressure. The weather is mostly clear and cloudless. And sudden changes in temperature give rise to strong winds and dust storms.

    The areas of distribution of the continental tropical climate in the western and eastern regions differ significantly. West Banks South America, Australia and Africa are washed predominantly by cold currents, therefore, in tropical latitudes, the climate in these areas is cooler, the air rarely warms up by more than 20-25 ° C.

    The eastern coasts of the continents are dominated by warm currents, so the temperatures are higher here, and there is more rainfall.

    Oceanic: In coastal areas and over the oceans, a milder climate is forming, with an abundance of rainfall, warm summer and mild winters. This type of climate is very similar to the equatorial one, but is less cloudy and strong winds. Precipitation falls mainly in the summer months.

    Temperature values

    (averaged, approximate for the tropical climate zone)

    ~ July +25 °С,

    ~ January +15 °С +20 °С.

    Natural zones of the tropical climate zone

    The tropics are dominated by three natural areas: forests, semi-deserts and deserts.

    tropical moist forests - this natural zone covers the eastern coasts of the continents. Such forests are common in Indochina, Madagascar, the West Indies, Florida, Australia, the islands of Oceania and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea.

    In these forests, the world of flora and fauna is richly represented, a large number of endemics.

    Variable rainforest or seasonal rainforest distributed north and south of the humid tropical. They differ from the latter in that they have fewer vines and ferns, and trees shed their leaves for the winter.

    Tropical semi-deserts occupy vast territories, especially in Africa south of the Sahara. In South America, they are found in the north of the Atacama and Brazil, there is this natural zone also in Asia and Australia. Summer here is long and hot, the temperature often rises to +30°С, in winter it is not cold, as the temperature does not fall below +10°С. Due to the high evaporation, more precipitation falls, but in the winter months. Groundwater is very deep and often saline.

    tropical desert cover most of the continents and western coasts of the tropics. They are at the mercy of the high pressure of the atmosphere, there is little precipitation, and the air here is so hot that the rain often evaporates before it reaches the ground. IN tropical deserts very high level of solar radiation, strong winds dominate. Of the plants grow only those that are able to survive in conditions of extremely high temperatures and drought.

    Tropical deserts are more common in Africa. The largest of them are the Sahara and the Namib.

    Countries of the tropical climate zone

    (Map of the Earth's climatic zones, click on the image to enlarge)

    In Europe and Antarctica, the tropical belt is not represented. But in Africa, it is found twice: both northern and southern.

    Africa: from the north - Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Egypt, Chad, Mali, Sudan, Niger. The southern tropical belt in Africa covers Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.

    Asia: Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India.

    North America: Mexico, western regions of Cuba

    South America: Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, northern Chile, Brazil.

    Australia is the central region.

    The air temperature here is constant (+24° -26°C), at sea temperature fluctuations can be less than 1°. The annual amount of precipitation is up to 3000 mm, and in the mountains of the equatorial belt, precipitation can fall up to 6000 mm. More water falls from the sky than evaporates, so there are many wetlands and dense, moist forests - jungles. Remember the adventure films about Indiana Jones - how hard it is for the main characters to make their way through the dense vegetation of the jungle and escape from the crocodiles that adore muddy waters small forest streams. All this - equatorial belt. On its climate big influence have trade winds, bringing here abundant rainfall from the ocean.

    Northern: Africa (Sahara), Asia (Arabia, south of the Iranian Highlands), North America (Mexico, Western Cuba).

    Southern: South America (Peru, Bolivia, Northern Chile, Paraguay), Africa (Angola, Kalahari Desert), Australia (central part of the mainland).

    In the tropics, the state of the atmosphere over the mainland (earth) and the ocean is different, therefore, the continental tropical climate and oceanic tropical climate.

    The oceanic climate is similar to the equatorial climate, but differs from it by less cloudiness and steady winds. Summers over the oceans are warm (+20-27°С), and winters are cool (+10-15°С).

    Above the land-tropics (mainland tropical climate), a high-pressure area prevails, so rain is a rare visitor here (from 100 to 250 mm). This type of climate is characterized by very hot summers (up to +40°С) and cool winters (+15°С). The air temperature during the day can change dramatically - up to 40 ° C! That is, a person can languish from the heat during the day and shiver from the cold at night. Such drops lead to the destruction of rocks, the creation of a mass of sand and dust, so dust storms are frequent here.

    Photo: Shutterstock.com

    This type of climate, like the tropical one, forms two belts in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, which are formed over the territories temperate latitudes(from 40-45 ° North and South latitude to the Arctic Circles).

    IN temperate zone there are many cyclones that make the weather capricious and give out either snow or rain. In addition, westerly winds blow here, which bring precipitation all year round. Summer in this climatic zone is warm (up to +25°-28°С), winter is cold (from +4°С to -50°С). The annual precipitation is from 1000 mm to 3000 mm, and in the center of the continents only up to 100 mm.

    In the temperate climate zone, unlike the equatorial and tropical, the seasons are pronounced (that is, you can make snowmen in winter and swim in the river in summer).

    The temperate climate is also divided into two subtypes - maritime and continental.

    Marine dominates the western parts North America, South America and Eurasia. It is formed by westerly winds that blow from the ocean to the mainland, so there is a rather cool summer here (+15 -20 ° С) and warm winter(from +5°С). Precipitation brought by western winds falls all year round (from 500 to 1000 mm, in the mountains up to 6000 mm).

    Continental prevails in the central regions of the continents. Cyclones penetrate here less often, therefore, there are warmer and drier summers (up to + 26 ° C) and colder winters (up to -24 ° C), and the snow lasts a very long time and melts reluctantly.

    Photo: Shutterstock.com

    polar belt

    It dominates the territory above 65°-70° latitude in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, therefore it forms two belts: the Arctic and the Antarctic. The Polar Belt has a unique feature - the Sun does not appear here at all for several months (polar night) and does not go below the horizon for several months (polar day). Snow and ice reflect more heat than they receive, so the air is very cold, and the snow does not melt almost all year. Since an area of ​​high pressure is formed here, there are almost no clouds, the winds are weak, the air is saturated with small ice needles. average temperature in summer it does not exceed 0°С, and in winter it is from -20° to -40°С. Rain falls only in the summer in the form of tiny droplets - drizzle.

    Between the main climatic zones are transitional, having the prefix "sub" in the name (translated from Latin "under"). Here, the air masses change seasonally, coming from neighboring belts under the influence of the Earth's rotation.

    a) Subequatorial climate. In summer, all climatic zones shift to the north, so equatorial air masses begin to dominate here. They shape the weather: a lot of precipitation (1000-3000 mm), the average air temperature is +30°C. The sun reaches its zenith in spring and scorches mercilessly. In winter, all climatic zones shift to the south, and in subequatorial belt tropical air masses begin to dominate, winters are cooler than summers (+14°C). There is little rainfall. Soils dry out after summer rains, so in the subequatorial zone, unlike the equatorial zone, there are few swamps. The territory of this climatic zone is favorable for human life, therefore it is here that many centers of the emergence of civilization are located.

    The subequatorial climate forms two belts. To the north are: the Isthmus of Panama ( Latin America), Venezuela, Guinea, the Sahelian desert belt in Africa, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, all of Indochina, South China, part of Asia. TO southern belt include: the Amazonian lowland, Brazil (South America), the center and east of Africa and the northern coast of Australia.

    b) subtropical climate . Tropical air masses prevail here in summer, and air masses of temperate latitudes prevail in winter, which determines the weather: hot, dry summers (from + 30 ° C to + 50 ° C) and relatively cold winters with precipitation, and stable snow cover is not formed.

    c) Subpolar climate. This climatic zone is located only on the northern outskirts of Eurasia and North America. In summer, humid air masses come here from temperate latitudes, so the summer is cool here (from + 5 ° С to + 10 ° С) Despite the small amount of precipitation, evaporation is low, since the angle of incidence sun rays is small and the earth warms up poorly. Therefore, in the subpolar climate in the north of Eurasia and North America, there are many lakes and swamps. In winter, cold arctic air masses come here, so the winters are long and cold, the temperature can drop to -50°C.

    The tropical belt covers the main parallels within the northern and southern hemispheres. Air in the summer season can be heated up to +30 or +50, in winter the temperature drops.

    In summer, intense heat during the day can be combined with a cold evening. More than half of the annual precipitation falls during the winter.

    Types of climate

    The degree of proximity of the territory to the ocean allows us to distinguish several varieties in a tropical climate:

    • continental. It is characterized by the presence of hot and dry weather in the central regions of the continents. Clear weather prevails more often, but dust storms with strong winds are also possible. A number of such countries are well suited to this: South America, Australia, Africa;
    • oceanic climate is mild with high rainfall. The weather is warm and clear in summer, and the winter is as mild as possible.

    In summer, the air can warm up to +25, and in winter it can cool down to +15, which creates optimal conditions for human life.

    Tropical countries

    • Australia is the central region.
    • North America: Mexico, western regions of Cuba
    • South America: Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, northern Chile, Brazil.
    • Africa: from the north - Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Egypt, Chad, Mali, Sudan, Niger. The southern tropical belt in Africa covers Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.
    • Asia: Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India.

    Tropical map

    Click to enlarge

    natural areas

    The main natural zones of this climate are:

    • forests;
    • semi-deserts;

    Moist type forests are located on the eastern coasts from Madagascar to Oceania. and rich in diversity. It is in such forests that more than 2/3 of all species of flora and fauna of the Earth live.

    The forest smoothly turns into savannas, which have a large length, where small vegetation in the form of grasses and cereals predominates. Trees in this area are not common and are drought-resistant species.

    Seasonal forests spread closer to the north and south of the wet ones. They are characterized by a small number of vines and ferns. IN winter time years, such trees completely lose their foliage.

    Land with semi-deserts can be found in countries such as Africa, Asia and Australia. These natural areas have hot summers and mild winters.

    In tropical deserts, the air can heat up above +50 degrees, and along with its increased dryness, rain turns into steam and is unproductive. In deserts of this type there is elevated level solar exposure. The vegetation is sparse.

    The largest deserts are located on the territory of Africa, they should include: and.

    Flora and fauna

    The tropical belt is known for its rich vegetation; more than 70% of the representatives of the entire Earth flora are present on its territory:

    • marshy type forests have a small amount of vegetation due to the fact that the soil contains a small amount of oxygen. Most often, such a forest is located in lowlands with wetlands;
    • are close to warm currents air masses, plants make up a multi-level system. Such a forest is characterized by a high density of crowns with the presence of roots in the form of litter;
    • mountain forests grow at an altitude of more than a kilometer and have several tiers. Trees belong to the upper tier: ferns, evergreen oaks, and the lower tier is occupied by grass: lichens, mosses. Heavy rainfall contributes to the appearance of fog;
    • seasonal forests are subdivided into evergreen forests (eucalyptus), semi-evergreen forests have trees that shed their leaves only on the upper tier without affecting the lower one.

    In the tropical zone can grow: palm trees, cacti, acacia, various shrubs, euphorbia and reed plants.

    Most representatives of the animal world prefer to settle in the crowns of trees: rodents of the family,. In this zone are found: hedgehogs, tigers, leopards, lemurs, rhinos, elephants.

    Small predators, rodents prefer to settle in savannahs various kinds, ungulate mammals, insects.

    Tropical climate zones - video

    The concept of "tropics"

    Definition 1

    Tropics (from the Greek. "turning circle") - climate zone planets. In strictly geographical concept the tropics are located between the southern and northern tropics, that is, between the tropic of Capricorn and the tropic of Cancer - the main parallels located south and north of the equator and determining the maximum latitude at which the sun can rise to zenith at noon.

    In the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer, the Sun is at its zenith on the day of the winter and on the day of the summer solstice. At all other latitudes, the Sun is at the zenith twice: when moving to the north and back - to the south.

    Tropics are tropical zones with a characteristic hot climate.

    The opposite of the tropic is the polar circle.

    More than 40 countries are located in the tropics: Ecuador, Ethiopia, Uganda, Philippines, Thailand, Chad, Sudan, Tanzania, USA, Rwanda, Somalia, Peru, Oman, Panama, Mali, Nicaragua, Malaysia, Kenya, Congo, Zambia, Cameroon , Dominican Republic, Yemen, Vietnam, Brunei, etc. Partially located in the tropics: Algeria, Australia, Bahamas, Egypt, Bangladesh, Western Sahara, Libya, China, United United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Paraguay, Chile, Taiwan.

    The tropics occupy about 25 of the entire land mass of the planet. There is a variety of soil cover, vegetation and animal world.

    Tropical belts and tropical climate

    There are two tropical zones on Earth: northern and southern, located in the Northern and Southern hemispheres within the boundaries from 20º to 30º north latitude and south latitude, respectively. Part of the tropical belt belongs to the ancient mainland Gondwana.

    Remark 1

    According to Alisov's classification, the tropical zone is located between the subequatorial and subtropical zones.

    In humid areas there are savannahs and deciduous forests, in arid areas - deserts and semi-deserts.

    The tropics have a tropical climate.

    On both sides of the band of low pressure in the tropics are zones of high pressure. A trade wind climate prevails over the ocean with regular east winds - trade winds.

    In coastal regions of the land, the weather is relatively dry. Precipitation falls up to 500 mm per year. There is moderate cloudiness. The average temperature in winter is +10-15 ºС, in summer - +20-27 ºС.

    On the windward slopes of islands with mountain ranges, precipitation increases dramatically.

    Tropical cyclones are rare.

    In the middle of the continent, average temperatures in winter do not fall below +14 ºС, in summer - + 30-35 ºС (in the warmest month it can rise to 40 ºС).

    Most high temperatures observed during hinterland California and northern Africa - + 57-58 ºС. In Australia, the temperature can rise up to +55 ºС.

    On the continents are well expressed seasonal changes air temperature. During the day, temperature fluctuations can reach 40 ºС. The trade winds predominate.

    The average annual rainfall is extremely low - 50-150 mm. The exception is the coastal regions of the continents, where moisture is brought from the ocean.

    In Africa, cyclonic activity dominates in winter, precipitation falls. In summer, precipitation is very rare. The dominance of the trade winds is replaced by a monsoonal tropical climate in many tropical areas:

    • northern Australia;
    • South Asia;
    • Southeast Asia;
    • Equatorial Africa.

    The intratropical convergence zone in these areas moves further north from the equator in summer. Eastern trade winds are replaced by western monsoon winds, which bring the bulk of the precipitation.

    According to the Köppen climate classification, a tropical climate is a non-arid climate characterized by average monthly temperature air +17 ºС and above.

    In the tropical climate of Köppen, the following types of climate are distinguished:

    • tropical rainy - corresponds to the climate of Alisov;
    • tropical monsoon tropical - corresponds to the subequatorial climate of Alisov;
    • tropical climate with dry winter period and rainy summer
    • tropical climate with dry summers and rainy winters.

    Soils, flora and fauna

    In the tropical zone, the most common types of soils are:

    • red-yellow ferrallitic soils - constantly wet tropical rainforests;
    • red ferrallite-laterite soils - seasonally wet deciduous forests;
    • red-brown soils - savannahs;
    • infertile soils of deserts and semi-deserts.

    Red-yellow soils are common in Africa, South America, Ceylon, Madagascar and Australia.

    Tropical rainforests have a huge biomass. Most of the litter decomposes due to the active activity of microorganisms. Soil-forming rocks are sedimentary-metamorphic and volcanic rocks. The humus content is from 3 to 10%, soil acidity is 5.5-6.5.

    In wet tropical forests Significant areas are occupied by soils of tropical swamps. Tropical forest soils are insufficiently supplied with potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and some other trace elements. Feature of biocenoses moist forests that everything chemical elements, necessary for plant nutrition, are in the plants themselves and are not washed out by precipitation.

    A feature of soils is the poverty of water-soluble substances. Nutrients are washed deep into the soil by heavy rainfall or are immediately absorbed by plants. For tropical areas that were under forests, a slash-and-burn farming system is characteristic - cutting down small areas of forest, burning cut wood, processing the site for one to two years with its further abandonment.

    The tropics are distinguished by a variety of plant and animal forms. Many species can only be found here.

    A feature of tropical forests is that trees are arranged in several (5) tiers. Trunks wrapped around different types vines, and many epiphytes on the branches. Lots of orchids, ferns, lichens and terrestrial algae.

    The forests and savannas are home to many predators, mostly cats. Scorpions, spiders, centipedes and ants are found everywhere.

    Jaguars, ocelots, oncillas live in the Amazon tropics. In South Asia and Africa, you can meet leopards, mongooses, civets, genets.

    In tropical forests, there are many amphibious inhabitants of the terrestrial (large snakes, small ungulates, reptiles and amphibians) or tree (chameleons, snakes, geckos) layer.

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