Climate of South America. Rainfall regime in the tropics What is the precipitation regime in the tropics

Equatorial climate zone

occupies the area of ​​the Congo River basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in Africa, the Amazon River basin in South America, the Sunda Islands off the coast of Southeast Asia. The gap in the climatic zone on the eastern shores of the continents is explained by the dominance of subtropical baric maxima over the oceans. The greatest flow of air goes along the equatorial periphery of baric maxima; it captures the eastern coasts of the continents. In the equatorial belt, humidification of the tropical air brought by the trade winds takes place. Equatorial air is formed at reduced pressure, light winds and high temperatures. The total radiation value of 580-670 kJ/cm 2 per year is slightly reduced due to the high cloudiness and humidity of the equatorial latitudes. The radiation balance on the mainland is 330 kJ/cm2 per year, on the ocean it is 420-500 kJ/cm2 per year.

At the equator, equatorial VMs dominate throughout the year. The average air temperature ranges from +25 to +28 ○ C, high relative humidity, 70-90%, remains. In equatorial latitudes, on both sides of the equator, an intratropical convergence zone is distinguished, which is characterized by the convergence of the trade winds of the two hemispheres, which causes powerful ascending air currents. But convection develops not only for this reason. The heated air, saturated with water vapor, rises, condenses, forms cumulonimbus clouds, from which showers fall in the afternoon. In this belt, the annual rainfall exceeds 2000 mm. There are places where the amount of precipitation increases up to 5000 mm. High temperatures throughout the year and a large amount of precipitation create conditions for the development of rich vegetation on land - humid equatorial forests - giley (in South America, wet forests are called selva, in Africa - jungle).

Continental and oceanic types of equatorial climate differ slightly.

The climate of the subequatorial zone

confined to the vast expanses of the Brazilian Highlands, Central Africa (to the north, east and south of the Congo Basin), Asia (on the Hindustan and Indochina peninsulas), Northern Australia.

The total solar radiation is about 750 kJ/cm 2 per year, the radiation balance is 290 kJ/cm 2 per year on land and up to 500 kJ/cm 2 per year on the ocean.

The subequatorial climatic zone is characterized by monsoonal air circulation: air moves from the tropical latitudes of the winter hemisphere as a winter dry monsoon (trade wind), after crossing the equator it transforms into a summer wet monsoon. A characteristic feature of this belt is the change of air masses by season: equatorial air dominates in summer, tropical air dominates in winter. There are two seasons - wet (summer) and dry (winter). In the summer season, the climate differs slightly from the equatorial one: high humidity, abundant precipitation caused by ascending currents of equatorial air. The total amount of precipitation is 1500 mm; on the windward slopes of the mountains, their amount increases sharply (Cherrapunji - 12,660 mm). In the winter season, conditions change dramatically with the advent of dry tropical air: hot, dry weather sets in, grasses burn out, trees shed their leaves. Inside the continents and on their western shores, the vegetation cover of the subequatorial belt is represented by savannahs, and humid equatorial forests dominate on the eastern shores.

Tropical climate zone

in the Southern Hemisphere it spreads in a continuous band, expanding over the oceans. The oceans are dominated throughout the year by constant baric maxima, in which tropical WMs form. In the Northern Hemisphere, the tropical belt is torn over Indo-China and Hindustan; The break in the belt is explained by the fact that the dominance of tropical VMs is not observed throughout the year. In summer, equatorial air penetrates into the South Asian Low; in winter, moderate (polar) VMs invade far to the south from the Asian High.

The annual value of total radiation on the continents is 750-849 kJ / cm 2 per year (in the Northern Hemisphere up to 920 kJ / cm 2 per year), on the ocean 670 kJ / cm 2 per year; radiation balance - 250 kJ/cm 2 per year on the mainland and 330-420 kJ/cm 2 per year on the ocean.

In the tropical climate zone, tropical VMs dominate throughout the year, which are characterized by high temperatures. The average temperature of the warmest month exceeds +30 ○ С, on some days the temperature rises to +50 ○ С, and the Earth's surface heats up to +80 ○ С (the maximum temperature of +58 ○ С was recorded on the northern coast of Africa). Due to the increased pressure and downward air currents, there is almost no condensation of water vapor, so there is very little precipitation in most of the tropical belt - less than 250 mm. This causes the formation of the greatest deserts in the world - the Sahara and Kalahari in Africa, the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, Australia.


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Equatorial climate zone

occupies the area of ​​the Congo River basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in Africa, the Amazon River basin in South America, the Sunda Islands off the coast of Southeast Asia. The gap in the climatic zone on the eastern shores of the continents is explained by the dominance of subtropical baric maxima over the oceans. The greatest flow of air goes along the equatorial periphery of baric maxima; it captures the eastern coasts of the continents. In the equatorial belt, humidification of the tropical air brought by the trade winds takes place. Equatorial air is formed at reduced pressure, light winds and high temperatures. The total radiation value of 580-670 kJ/cm2 per year is slightly lowered due to the high cloudiness and humidity of the equatorial latitudes. The radiation balance on the mainland is 330 kJ/cm2 per year, on the ocean it is 420-500 kJ/cm2 per year.

At the equator, equatorial VMs dominate throughout the year. The average air temperature ranges from +25 to +28○С, high relative humidity, 70-90%, remains. In equatorial latitudes, on both sides of the equator, an intratropical convergence zone is distinguished, which is characterized by the convergence of the trade winds of the two hemispheres, which causes powerful ascending air currents. But convection develops not only for this reason. The heated air, saturated with water vapor, rises, condenses, forms cumulonimbus clouds, from which showers fall in the afternoon. In this belt, the annual rainfall exceeds 2000 mm. There are places where the amount of precipitation increases up to 5000 mm. High temperatures throughout the year and a large amount of precipitation create conditions for the development of rich vegetation on land - humid equatorial forests - giley (in South America, wet forests are called selva, in Africa - jungle).

Continental and oceanic types of equatorial climate differ slightly.

The climate of the subequatorial zone

confined to the vast expanses of the Brazilian Highlands, Central Africa (to the north, east and south of the Congo Basin), Asia (on the Hindustan and Indochina peninsulas), Northern Australia.

The total solar radiation is about 750 kJ/cm2 per year, the radiation balance is 290 kJ/cm2 per year on land and up to 500 kJ/cm2 per year on the ocean.

The subequatorial climatic zone is characterized by monsoonal air circulation: air moves from the tropical latitudes of the winter hemisphere as a winter dry monsoon (trade wind), after crossing the equator it transforms into a summer wet monsoon. A characteristic feature of this belt is the change of air masses by season: equatorial air dominates in summer, tropical air dominates in winter. There are two seasons - wet (summer) and dry (winter). In the summer season, the climate differs slightly from the equatorial one: high humidity, abundant precipitation caused by ascending currents of equatorial air. The total amount of precipitation is 1500 mm; on the windward slopes of the mountains, their amount increases sharply (Cherrapunji - 12,660 mm). In the winter season, conditions change dramatically with the advent of dry tropical air: hot, dry weather sets in, grasses burn out, trees shed their leaves. Inside the continents and on their western shores, the vegetation cover of the subequatorial belt is represented by savannahs, and humid equatorial forests dominate on the eastern shores.

Tropical climate zone

in the Southern Hemisphere it spreads in a continuous band, expanding over the oceans. The oceans are dominated throughout the year by constant baric maxima, in which tropical WMs form. In the Northern Hemisphere, the tropical belt is torn over Indo-China and Hindustan; The break in the belt is explained by the fact that the dominance of tropical VMs is not observed throughout the year. In summer, equatorial air penetrates into the South Asian Low; in winter, moderate (polar) VMs invade far to the south from the Asian High.

The annual value of total radiation on the continents is 750-849 kJ/cm2 per year (in the Northern Hemisphere up to 920 kJ/cm2 per year), on the ocean 670 kJ/cm2 per year; radiation balance - 250 kJ/cm2 per year on the mainland and 330-420 kJ/cm2 per year on the ocean.

In the tropical climate zone, tropical VMs dominate throughout the year, which are characterized by high temperatures. The average temperature of the warmest month exceeds +30○С, on some days the temperature rises to +50○С, and the Earth's surface heats up to +80○С (the maximum temperature of +58○С was recorded on the northern coast of Africa). Due to the increased pressure and downward air currents, there is almost no condensation of water vapor, so there is very little precipitation in most of the tropical zone - less than 250 mm. This causes the formation of the greatest deserts in the world - the Sahara and Kalahari in Africa, the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, Australia.

In the tropical zone, the climate is not dry everywhere. The climate of the eastern coasts (the trade winds blow from the ocean) is characterized by a large amount of precipitation - 1500 mm (Greater Antilles, the east coast of the Brazilian Plateau, the east coast of Africa in the Southern Hemisphere). The climate features are also explained by the influence of warm currents approaching the eastern shores of the continents. The climate of the western coasts (called "garua" - drizzling fog) is developed on the western coasts of North and South America, Africa, and is weakly expressed in Australia. The peculiarity of the climate is that in the absence of precipitation (in Atacama 0 mm per year), the relative humidity of the air is 85-90%. The formation of the climate of the western coasts is influenced by a constant baric maximum on the ocean and cold currents off the coast of the continents.

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1. Take a map to the climate zones of the world, back up the names of the main climate zones.

African climate

What is the difference between the main and transitional climate zones?

2. Sign the names of the continents. Indicate which of them is the coldest climate, which is the hottest, which is the driest, which is wet. What continent is represented in all climatic zones?

Select areas where the annual amplitude of air temperature can reach the highest values, and if it is equal to O "C.

fourth

Indicate the areas of the world where the winds prevail during the year (blue arrows) and where the trade winds are (red arrows).

5. Mark the boundaries of the sunbeams on the map and label their names. What is the cause of uneven illumination and heating of the earth's surface?

6. Mark the bands of high and low atmospheric pressure with indices "B" and "H" on the map.

Where does the rain fall? Mark the areas with the most rainfall.

The Antarctic belt is the southern natural geographical belt of the Earth, including Antarctica with adjacent islands and the ocean waters washing it.

Usually the boundary of the Antarctic belt is drawn along the isotherm 5 deg. From the warmest month (January or February).

What is the precipitation pattern in the equatorial climate zone?

The Antarctic belt is characterized by: - ​​negative or low positive values ​​of the radiation balance; - Antarctic climate with low air temperatures; - long polar night; - the predominance of ice deserts on land; - Significant ice cover of the ocean.

In Russia and on the territory of the former USSR, a classification of climate types was used, created in 1956 by the famous Soviet climatologist B.P. Alisov. This classification takes into account the features of atmospheric circulation. According to this classification, four main climatic zones are distinguished for each hemisphere of the Earth: equatorial, tropical, temperate, and polar (in the northern hemisphere - arctic, in the southern hemisphere - antarctic).

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate

tropical belt

Climate and climatic resources.

The main characteristics of the climate: air temperature,

the amount of precipitation and their distribution by season,

evaporation, moisture coefficient.

1) According to figure 31 of the textbook, determine how the radiation is distributed. Indicate, using the maps of the atlas, how the amount of radiation changes from north to south along the meridian 60 ° E.

2) What areas of Russia receive the most solar radiation?

Name them, indicate the amount of radiation received (in kcal / cm2 ° year).

    Answer: The southern regions receive the greatest amount of radiation - 110 - 120 kcal / cm2 ° year

+ What areas of Russia receive the least amount of solar radiation?

    Answer: The least - the northern regions - 50-60 kcal / cm2 ° year

3) Mark on the contour map of Russia the boundaries of climatic

belts and sign their names.

4) Determine which of the climatic zones occupies the largest area in Russia.

+ What climate zone do you live in?

    Answer: temperate zone

5) According to the textbook drawings, establish how climatic conditions change along the belts.

    a) track the course of changes in the average temperatures of January and July

    from North to South.

    The average January temperatures are 0…-5°С —

    Kaliningrad and Ciscaucasia. -40…-50°С in Yakutia. July temperatures

    from -1°С in the north to +24…25°С in the Caspian region.

    b) determine the most and least humid areas

    the most humid are the mountains of the Caucasus and Altai, the south of the Far East,

    the least - the Caspian lowland.

    c) make a conclusion about the causes of climate change

    Changes in climatic conditions are influenced by the dominance

    air masses, precipitation and evaporation

    d) explain the influence of climatic conditions on other components

    nature, human life and activity

+ In what zone do you think the climatic conditions are most favorable for human life and activity?

6) Specify the properties of air masses dominating the territory of Russia.


7) Based on the climate map, determine the total solar radiation and the moisture coefficient for individual areas.

Sources of information: atlas maps, textbook.


8) Fill the table.

Note which of the adverse climatic phenomena are typical for your area.


9) Fill it out yourself.


10) The main characteristics of the climate and their seasonal changes are shown on climate diagrams.

According to the diagrams, indicate and explain the features of the climate of the territories.


Characteristics of climatic zones (table)
There are 7 types of climates on the planet. They are divided into two types: permanent (basic) and transitional.
Permanent climate zone- A dog where one air dominates throughout the year.

transition- written with the prefix "sub" they are replaced by two air masses of the year: hot summer (the one closer to the equator), cold winter (those closer to half). In December and February, air masses move to the south, and June - August - to the north of the planet.
Name of climate zones: 1) Equatorial climate zone-Type: permanent core - location: located on both sides of the equator from 5 ° to 8 ° north latitude to 4 ° -11 ° south latitude, between subequatorial bands.

-description: The prevalence of equatorial air masses during the year. Constantly high temperatures (on the plains 24 ° - 28 ° C). Weak unstable winds. This is characterized by the presence of low pressure with a constant influx of wind to trade and a tendency to general air rises and the rapid transformation of tropical air into humid equatorial air.

Heavy rainfall throughout the year. Constant warm and humid equatorial climate, caused by a large influx of sunlight.
2) Tropical climate zone-Type: constant core -location: The dog is in tropical latitudes. You can clearly recognize the northern and southern tropical belts of the Earth. description: In the tropical zone - the only annual tropical air mass.

This, however, creates an area of ​​increasing pressure on the climate zone with clear weather throughout the year. Thus, time in the tropics depends entirely on the height of the sun above the horizon. During the summer months, when the sun rises to the zenith, the temperature in the tropics rises above + 30 ° C. In winter, when the sun is above the horizon, it is not so high, the temperature in the tropics drops, and on cold winter nights it can drop below freezing temperatures.

Sudden changes from heat to cold during the day and year and low rainfall have resulted in a tropical climate zone formed by natural desert and semi-desert areas of very rare plant and animal species.
3) temperate climate zone-Type: permanent primary location: It is located between 40 and 60 latitudes, bordering on the subtropical and subarctic (in the southern hemisphere - subantarctic) climatic zone.

-description: The planet has a northern and southern temperate zone, but the southern hemisphere has little to no effect on the continent. since the temperature of a temperate air mass varies with the seasons of the year, a clear change in the temperate zone. All seasons are very pronounced: spring changes snow, is replaced by hot summer and autumn.

The temperatures of the temperate zone are very important. In fact, the border with subtropical regions practically coincides with the winter isotherm of 0 ° C. Negative temperatures are observed in the temperate zone. In the characteristic zone of the belt, a snow cover is created in winter.
4) The climatic zone of the Arctic (Antarctic)-Type: constant core -location: The dog occupies the polar regions of the Earth. The largest area is occupied by the Antarctic belt, which extends over almost the entire continent.

In the northern hemisphere, it is located in the extreme north of Eurasia and North America, including the Baffin Islands, Greenland, the Taimir Peninsula, Novaya Zemlya, the Svalbard Islands in the Arctic Ocean.

description: Throughout the year, one arctic air mass dominates in the southern hemisphere - Antarctica. For almost a year in the climatic zone of the Arctic, the air temperature does not rise above 0 ° C and continues to remain negative with further removal into the field.

A severe winter is especially noticeable in Antarctica. Precipitation is very small.

What is the prevailing weather in the tropics?

The dog occupies the natural zone of the Arctic and Antarctic deserts. Most of it is covered with a huge kilogram of glacial glacier shells. At many low temperatures in these areas, due to the fact that the sun never rises high above the horizon in the polar latitudes, its rays "glide" over the surface of the earth and heat it even during the polar day, when the polar night (and the poles last half a year ), the surface of the planet does not receive heat from the sun at all, and it cools down to -70 -80 ° C.

test for geography "Climate of Russia"

geography test "Climate of Russia" 1. The degree of total radiation received by the territory is lower if ... the weather
1) clear 2) cloudy 3) cloudy
second

The structure of precipitation in most regions of Russia is characterized by …
1) winter maximum
2) uniform distribution throughout the year
3) summer maximum
3. The summer maximum of precipitation is most pronounced in the conditions of ... climate
1) subarctic 3) sharply continental
2) continental 4) monsoon
4. In a temperate climate zone, when you move from east to west...
1) average January temperatures and precipitation
2) Drop in temperature and precipitation in January
3) Increasing temperature in January and precipitation
4) January temperatures and precipitation
fifth

The largest annual temperature amplitude and the minimum amount of precipitation are typical for …
1) temperate continental climate type 2) continental climate type3) acute continental climate type 4) monsoonal climate type6. The Ob River basin is a type of climate
1) temperate continental 2) continental 3) suddenly continental 4) monsun7.

Precipitation in tropical bands

The greatest influence on the climate of Russia has ... the ocean
1) Quiet 2) Atlantic 3) Northern Arctic 8. Cyclones in Russia most often determine the weather ...
1) Eastern European plane 2) Eastern and North-Eastern Siberia 3) Western Siberia 4) Eastern Siberia9.

The weary influence of the Atlantic Ocean is more pronounced...
1) summer 2) winter 3) during the transitional seasons of the year10. The most severe frosts are observed when ... the weather
1) cyclone 2) anticyclone 3) frontal 11. The highest level of snow cover in Russia is typical for …
1) the western slopes of the Urals, 2) the eastern coast of Kamchatka, 3) the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, 4) northeastern Siberia. For economic activity, climatic conditions are best in … parts of Russia
1) Northwest 2) Northeast 3) Southwest 4) Southeast 13.

Drought and dry winds occur in…weather conditions
1) cyclone 2) anticyclone 3) frontal14. The climatic conditions on the territory of the country are unfavorable for the development of the economy due to …
1) lack of moisture 2) heat deficit 3) excess humidity 4) excess heat15.

The coldest temperatures in January...
1) in the European part 2) in Western Siberia 3) in northeastern Siberia 4) in the Far East

1. 2) cloudy

2. 3) summer maximum

3. 4) Monsoon

fourth

5. 3) extreme continental climate

6. 3) suddenly continental

7.2) Atlantic

8.1) East European Plain

9. 2) in winter

10.2) anticyclone

11.2) east coast of Kamchatka

12) southwest

13. 2) anticyclone

14. 2) heat deficit

15.3) in the northeast of Siberia

The Atlantic Ocean has the greatest influence on the climate of Russia

The tropical climate zone is one of two geographic zones on the globe. The tropics are located in the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth between the subequatorial and subtropical zones from 20 to 30°N. and y.sh. Tropical belts capture certain areas on all continents except Antarctica, including the territory of such countries as Australia, Algeria, Egypt, China, Libya, UAE, Taiwan, Chile, Brazil, Vietnam, Hawaii, Maldives, Oman, Nigeria, Thailand, etc. The tropical climate has characteristic features over the oceans.

Climatic conditions are formed under the influence of tropical air masses, which are characterized by high atmospheric pressure and persistent anticyclonic air circulation, low cloudiness, low relative humidity, and low annual precipitation. Over the continents, seasonal temperature changes are pronounced. The prevailing winds are the trade winds - constant easterly winds.

Average annual temperatures

The average annual temperatures of the warmest months are 30-35°C, the coldest - at least 10°C. The maximum temperature was recorded at 61°С, the minimum - 0°С and below. The average annual rainfall is between 50 and 200 mm. Only in the eastern oceanic region can fall up to 2000 mm of precipitation per year.

The territory lying in the tropical zone is conditionally divided into four regions:

1. Eastern Oceanic (with high humidity and dominant forests);

2. Eastern Transitional (with a predominance of shrubs and light forests);

3. Inland;

4. Western oceanic (with a predominance of deserts and semi-deserts).The latter region experiences high relative humidity with frequent fogs and relatively stable temperatures.

For areas of the continents located in the tropical zone, a change in natural processes is characteristic when moving from east to west: the runoff layer becomes less abundant (from 100 mm to 2-10 mm) and the water content of rivers decreases (eastern rivers are full-flowing constantly, western - periodically).

To the east, erosion processes and chemical weathering are predominant, to the west and in the inland region - deflation and physical weathering. From east to west, the thickness of the soil cover decreases; for inland and western regions, desert soils with a primitive composition (gypsum, carbonate, solonchaks) are characteristic, which alternate with sands and accumulations of rubble. Also, the types of plant communities change from east to west: mixed evergreen forests are replaced by monsoon deciduous forests and further by savannahs or light forests, dry forests, bush thickets, semi-deserts and deserts. Accordingly, the composition of the fauna is changing - from many forest dwellers to rare inhabitants of desert regions.

There are such zones of the tropical belt on land from east to west: zone of tropical moist forests, zone of light forests, zone of savannahs and dry forests, tropical semi-deserts and deserts. Mountainous areas are characterized by zones of altitudinal zonation.

Parts of the continents with a tropical climate are poorly developed and inhabited by humans, except for the eastern regions of the continents. In the eastern oceanic region, agriculture and logging are developed, in the western oceanic and inland regions - pasture cattle breeding with areas of irrigated agriculture, as a result of which natural landscapes are almost completely transformed in the process of human economic activity.

Related content:

Planets located in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

It captures separate areas on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.

The tropical belt runs through the territory of Australia, Algeria, China, Egypt, Brazil, Vietnam, Chile, Oman, Thailand and other countries, and has characteristic features over the oceans.

The formation of climatic conditions occurs under the influence of tropical air masses. They are characterized by such indicators as high atmospheric pressure, slight cloudiness, low air humidity, low precipitation, persistent anticyclonic air circulation, constant winds east direction - trade winds.

The tropics are characterized by seasonal changes in air temperature over the continents.

In the summer months, the average annual air temperature is +30 ... +35 degrees, in the cold months it does not fall below +10 degrees.

The recorded maximum air temperature was +61 degrees, and the minimum was 0 degrees.

Precipitation in the tropics falls from 50 to 200 mm, and only in the eastern oceanic region does it fall to 2000 mm.

The tropical climatic zone is heterogeneous; subspecies differing from each other are distinguished in it:

  • tropical humid climate;
  • desert tropical climate;
  • trade wind tropical climate.

The humid climate of the tropics is typical for those regions that are adjacent to the ocean. Tropical maritime air masses dominate throughout the year. The average air temperature ranges from +20 to +28 degrees.

A humid tropical climate takes place in Brazil - the region of Rio de Janeiro, in the state of Florida, on the Hawaiian Islands.

Inside the continents and in coastal areas washed by cold currents, a desert tropical climate has formed. It is characterized by tropical dry air masses.

Temperature fluctuations during the day are significant. The summer is hot, with an average temperature above +30 degrees, although not always, the winter temperature does not exceed +20 degrees, but frosts can also occur during this period. Similar climatic conditions are observed in the Sahara, the Kalahari, the Namib, and in the Atacama.

The opposite of the desert tropical climate is the humid tropical climate zone. These are small moist places with dry periods.

In Eurasia, these will be the coastal regions of India, the southern part of Asia.

As the tropical climate moves from west to east, arid deserts are replaced by rainforests with high rainfall.

In the trade wind tropical climate, there is a seasonal change of trade winds, the summer is hot, with a temperature of +27 ... +29 degrees, the winter is much colder, and the temperature in the winter months rises to +17 ... +19 degrees.

A similar type of climate is characteristic of Paraguay.

In regions such as equatorial Africa, South and Southeast Asia, northern Australia, the trade wind tropical climate is being replaced by a monsoonal tropical climate. Here, the intratropical convergence zone moves further north of the equator in summer.

The eastern trade wind transport of air masses is replaced by the western monsoon. It is with this replacement that the bulk of the precipitation is associated.

Tropical climate classification

The physical and geographical characteristics of a particular area include climate.

The height of the terrain above sea level in the formation of its climatic conditions is of great importance. Currents in the ocean play an important role in shaping the climate of sea coasts and island countries.

Figure 1. Surface water circulation. Author24 - online exchange of student papers

Remark 1

There are several classifications of climates, both for the entire planet and for individual territories, individual climatic zones. The most famous are the classifications of V. P. Köppen, B. P. Alisov, M. I. Budyko and others.

According to the classification of B.P. Alisov, the tropical climatic zone is located between subtropical and subequatorial. He puts the general circulation of the atmosphere as the basis for the allocation of climatic zones, i.e. climate is formed under the influence of one type of air mass.

Since the tropical zone lies between the summer position of the tropical fronts and the winter position of the polar fronts, it will be occupied mainly by tropical air throughout the year.

As a result, in the tropical climate zone, he distinguishes:

  • tropical trade wind climate;
  • dry tropical climate;
  • monsoonal tropical climate;
  • monsoon climate on tropical plateaus.

One of the more common classification systems for climate types is the classification of V.P. Köppen (this is a Russian and German climatologist).

The classification was developed as early as 1900, and in 1918 and 1936. he made changes to it.

In his classification, he defines the tropical climate as non-arid with an average monthly air temperature above +17 degrees.

It includes 4 types in the composition of the tropical climate, differing from each other in the distribution of precipitation throughout the year:

  1. rainy tropical climate (according to B.P. Alisov, it corresponds to the equatorial type);
  2. tropical rainy monsoon (corresponding to subequatorial according to B.P. Alisov);
  3. tropical climate with rainy summers and dry winters;
  4. tropical climate with dry summers and rainy winters.

According to W. P. Köppen, a tropical climate with wet summers and dry winters has two distinct seasons. He believes that if in a tropical climate precipitation falls at least 60 mm during the month, then this month is considered rainy, and the rest are dry.

This type of climate is formed when during the calendar year the number of rainy months is from 3 to 9. Under such conditions, the natural zone of the savannas is formed, and sometimes it is called the tropical climate of the savannas.

It was formed in both hemispheres. In the Northern Hemisphere, these will be Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, the southern part of India, Sri Lanka, the southern part of Papua New Guinea, etc.

In Africa, it stretches from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans. In North America - the Hawaiian Islands, the south of Florida, the Pacific coast of Mexico, the center and northeast of Brazil, etc.

Tropical belt in the ocean

In the ocean, the tropical belt is distinguished by the stability of the trade winds.

Summer over the oceans is not as hot as on tropical land. Summer temperature is from +20 to +28 degrees, winter temperature is much lower and varies from +10 to +15 degrees. Precipitation in the tropics over the ocean falls about 500 mm.

The temperature jump layer is clearly expressed, and hence there are significant temperature contrasts in depth. The salinity of the water is 36-37%0, the water is poor in oxygen.

There is little plankton in such water, and it is food for fish. The color of the water is blue, it is transparent. The blue color of sea water indicates that this is a "sea desert".

The water of the tropical part of the ocean is oversaturated with carbonates, which makes it possible for mollusks and coral polyps to build their internal skeleton and shells from it. This, in turn, contributes to the gradual accumulation of organogenic limestone on the ocean floor.

The largest tropical belt is characteristic of the Pacific Ocean. In terms of its area (88 million sq. km), it largely exceeds the corresponding belt of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans combined.

Meridional flows in the tropics in the surface layers are rather weak, the latitudinal transport of water is predominant. The temperature of the upper layers, as well as the distribution of animals in the tropical Pacific Ocean, is largely determined by the horizontal currents and vertical movements of the waters.

The warm surface layer in the western part of the Pacific Ocean reaches 75-100 m. This layer is less than 25 m near the eastern margin of the ocean.

Characteristic of the Pacific Ocean are currents of different water temperatures, the general scheme of which is determined by the laws of the general circulation of the atmosphere.