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 rain forests - jungles. Remember the adventure films about Indiana Jones - how difficult it is for the main characters to make their way through the dense vegetation of the jungle and escape from crocodiles who adore the muddy waters of small forest rivers. All this is the equatorial belt. Its climate is greatly influenced by the trade winds, which bring heavy rainfall from the ocean.

Northern: Africa (Sahara), Asia (Arabia, southern Iranian Plateau), North America (Mexico, Western Cuba).

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

In the tropics, the state of the atmosphere over the continent (earth) and the ocean is different, therefore a continental tropical climate and an oceanic tropical climate are distinguished.

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

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

Photo: Shutterstock.com

This type of climate, like the tropical one, forms two zones in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, which form over areas of temperate latitudes (from 40-45° North and South latitudes to the Arctic Circles).

There are many cyclones in the temperate zone, causing the weather to become capricious and produce either snow or rain. In addition, westerly winds blow here, which all year round bring precipitation. Summers in this climate zone are warm (up to +25°-28°C), winters are cold (from +4°C to -50°C). Annual precipitation ranges from 1000 mm to 3000 mm, and in the center of the continents it is only up to 100 mm.

In the temperate climate zone, unlike the equatorial and tropical ones, the seasons are clearly defined (that is, you can build snowmen in winter and swim in a river in summer).

Temperate climate is also divided into two subtypes - marine and continental.

Marine dominates the western parts of North America, South America and Eurasia. It is formed by westerly winds blowing from the ocean to the mainland, so summers here are quite cool (+15 -20°C) and warm winter(from +5°C). Precipitation brought by westerly winds falls all year round (from 500 to 1000 mm, in the mountains up to 6000 mm).

Continental predominates in central regions continents. Cyclones penetrate here less frequently, so there are warmer and drier summers (up to +26°C) and more Cold winter(down 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 zones: Arctic and 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 cool and the snow does not melt for most of the year. Since a high pressure area is forming here, there are almost no clouds, the winds are weak, and the air is saturated with small ice needles. The average summer temperature does not exceed 0°C, and in winter it ranges from -20° to -40°C. Rain falls only in the summer in the form of tiny droplets - drizzle.

Between the main climatic zones there are transitional zones, which have the prefix “sub” in their names (translated from Latin as “under”). Here, 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), average air temperature +30°C. Even in the spring the sun reaches its zenith and burns mercilessly. In winter, all climatic zones shift to the south, and tropical air masses begin to dominate in the subequatorial zone; winter is cooler than summer (+14°C). There is little precipitation. The 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, which is why many centers of civilization are located here.

The subequatorial climate forms two zones. The northern ones include: the Isthmus of Panama ( Latin America), Venezuela, Guinea, the Sahel desert belt in Africa, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, all of Indochina, Southern China, part of Asia. The southern zone includes: the Amazonian lowland, Brazil (South America), central and eastern Africa and the northern coast of Australia.

b) Subtropical climate. Here tropical air masses predominate in summer, and in winter - air masses of temperate latitudes, which determines the weather: hot, dry summers (from +30°C to +50°C) and relatively cold winters with precipitation, and no stable snow cover is formed.

c) Subpolar climate. This climate zone is located only on the northern edges of Eurasia and North America. In summer, humid air masses come here from temperate latitudes, so summers here are cool (from +5°C to +10°C) Despite the small amount of precipitation, evaporation is low, since the angle of incidence sun rays is small and the earth does not warm up well. Therefore, in the subpolar climate in northern Eurasia and North America there are many lakes and swamps. In winter, cold arctic air masses come here, so winters are long and cold, temperatures can drop to -50°C.

The tropical climate zone covers the globe from the 20th to the 30th parallel in the northern and southern hemispheres. These areas usually experience 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 cools greatly, often to negative readings on the thermometer.

The air temperature can vary greatly during the day, when the sultry heat during the day gives way to evening coolness and severe cold at night. In the tropics there is little precipitation - no more than 50-150 mm per year. Most of them occur in the winter months. These latitudes are very susceptible to the influence of trade winds.

Types of climate in tropical latitudes

Tropical climates are usually divided into two categories, depending on the proximity of the area to the ocean.

Continental: Inland, the climate in tropical latitudes is hot and arid, with large temperature differences. There is an area of ​​high atmospheric pressure here. The weather is mostly clear and cloudless. And sudden temperature changes 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. The western coasts of South America, Australia and Africa are washed predominantly by cold currents, so 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 temperatures here are higher and there is more precipitation.

Oceanic: In coastal areas and over the oceans, a milder climate is formed, with abundant precipitation, warm summer and mild winter. This type of climate is very similar to the equatorial climate, but is characterized by less cloudiness and strong winds. Precipitation occurs mainly in the summer months.

Temperature values

(averaged, approximate for the tropical climate zone)

~ July +25 °C,

~ January +15 °C +20 °C.

Natural zones of the tropical climate zone

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

Tropical rain forests- this natural area 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.

These forests are rich in flora and fauna, with a large number of endemic species.

Variable-humid or seasonal tropical forests distributed to the north and south of the humid tropics. They differ from the latter in that they have fewer vines and ferns, and the trees shed their leaves in 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 Atacama and Brazil; this natural zone also exists in Asia and Australia. Summer here is long and hot, the temperature often rises to +30°C; winter is not cold, since the temperature does not drop below +10°C. Due to high evaporation, more precipitation falls, but in the winter months. Groundwater lies very deep and is often salty.

Tropical deserts cover most of the continents and western coasts of tropical territories. They are at the mercy of high atmospheric pressure, little precipitation falls, and the air here is so hot that the rain often evaporates before reaching the ground. In tropical deserts it is very high level solar radiation, strong winds prevail. Only those plants grow 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 Namib.

Countries of the tropical climate zone

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

In Europe and Antarctica, the tropical zone 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.

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Equatorial climate zone

occupies the region of the Congo River basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in Africa, the Amazon River basin in South America, and the Sunda Islands off the coast of Southeast Asia. The rupture of the climate zone on the eastern shores of the continents is explained by the dominance of subtropical pressure maxima over the oceans. The greatest flow of air occurs along the equatorial peripheries of baric maxima; it covers the eastern shores of the continents. In the equatorial belt, tropical air brought by trade winds is humidified. Equatorial air is formed at low pressure, weak winds and high temperatures. The amount of total radiation 580-670 kJ/cm2 per year is slightly reduced due to high cloudiness and humidity at equatorial latitudes. The radiation balance on the continent 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, remains high relative humidity, 70-90%. In the equatorial latitudes, on both sides of the equator, an intertropical convergence zone is distinguished, which is characterized by the convergence of the trade winds of the two hemispheres, causing powerful upward air currents. But convection develops not only for this reason. Heated air, saturated with water vapor, rises, condenses, and cumulonimbus clouds form, from which rainfall falls in the afternoon. In this belt, the annual precipitation exceeds 2000 mm. There are places where the amount of precipitation increases to 5000 mm. High temperatures throughout the year and large amounts of precipitation create conditions for the development of rich vegetation on land - wet equatorial forests– Gila (in South America, moist forests are called selva, in Africa – jungles).

Continental and oceanic types of equatorial climate differ slightly.

Climate subequatorial belt

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

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 climate zone is characterized by monsoon air circulation: air moves from the tropical latitudes of the winter hemisphere as the winter dry monsoon (trade wind), after crossing the equator it transforms into the summer wet monsoon. Feature this belt is a change air masses by season: equatorial air dominates in summer, tropical air in winter. There are two seasons – wet (summer) and dry (winter). IN summer season The climate differs slightly from the equatorial one: high humidity, heavy precipitation caused by rising currents of equatorial air. Total precipitation is 1500 mm, on the windward slopes of the mountains their amount increases sharply (Cherrapunji - 12,660 mm). During the winter season, conditions change dramatically with the arrival of dry tropical air: hot, dry weather sets in, grasses burn out, trees shed their leaves. Within the continents and on their western shores, the vegetation cover of the subequatorial belt is represented by savannas, while moist equatorial forests dominate on the eastern shores.

Tropical climate zone

spreads in the Southern Hemisphere solid stripe, expanding over the oceans. The oceans are dominated throughout the year by constant baric maxima, in which tropical EMs are formed. In the Northern Hemisphere, the tropical belt breaks over Indochina and Hindustan; The gap 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 minimum; in winter, moderate (polar) air forces invade from the Asian maximum far to the south.

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 is 250 kJ/cm2 per year on the continent and 330-420 kJ/cm2 per year on the ocean.

In the tropical climate zone, tropical VMs, which are characterized by high temperatures, dominate throughout the year. The average temperature of the warmest month exceeds +30○C, on some days the temperature rises to +50○C, and the Earth's surface heats up to +80○C (on the northern coast of Africa the maximum temperature is +58○C). Due to the increased pressure and downward air currents, condensation of water vapor almost does not occur, 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, and Australia.

The climate in the tropical zone is not dry everywhere. The climate of the eastern coasts (trade winds blow from the ocean) is characterized by a large amount of precipitation - 1500 mm (Greater Antilles, the eastern coast of the Brazilian Plateau, the eastern 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 shores 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 is 85-90%. The formation of the climate of the western coasts is influenced by a constant pressure maximum on the ocean and cold currents off the coasts of the continents.

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Related information:

Search on the site:

1. Take a map to the climatic zones of the world, create backup copies of the names of the main climatic zones.

African climate

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

2. Label the names of the continents. Indicate which of them has the coldest climate, which has the hottest, which has the driest, which has the wettest. Which continent is represented in all climate zones?

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

fourth

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

5. Mark the boundaries of the sun streaks on the map and label them with their names. What is the reason for uneven lighting and heating of the earth's surface?

6. Mark the bands of high and low atmospheric pressure with indexes “B” and “H” on the map.

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

Antarctic belt - southern natural geographical zone Land, including Antarctica with adjacent islands and the ocean waters washing it.

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

What is the precipitation regime in the equatorial climate zone?

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

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

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

Tropical zone

Climate and climate resources.

Main climate characteristics: air temperature,

the amount of precipitation and its distribution by season,

evaporation, moisture coefficient.

1) Using Figure 31 in the textbook, determine how radiation is distributed. Using atlas maps, indicate how the amount of radiation changes from north to south along the 60°E meridian.

2) Which territories of Russia receive greatest number solar radiation?

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

Answer: The greatest amount of radiation is received southern regions— 110 — 120 kcal/cm2 ° year

+ Which territories of Russia receive the least amount of solar radiation?

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

3) Mark on contour map Russian climate boundaries

belts and sign their names.

4) Determine which climate zone occupies the largest area in Russia.

+ What climate zone do you live in?

Answer: Temperate climate zone

5) Based on the pictures in the textbook, determine how climatic conditions change across zones.

a) follow the progress of changes in average temperatures in January and July

from North to South.

Average temperatures in January 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 wet areas

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

the least is the Caspian Lowland.

c) draw a conclusion about the causes of changes in climate conditions

Changes in climatic conditions are influenced by dominance

air masses, precipitation and evaporation

d) explain the influence of climatic conditions on other components

nature, on human life and activity

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

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

7) Determine by climate map total solar radiation and humidification coefficient for individual areas.

Sources of information: atlas maps, textbook.

8) Fill the table.

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

9) Fill it out yourself.

10) The main characteristics of climate and their changes by season are shown in climate diagrams.

Based on the diagrams, indicate and explain the climate features 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.
Constant 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: summer is hot (the one that is closer to the equator), winter is cold (those that are closer to half). In December and February, air masses move 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 the subequatorial stripes.

-description: Prevalence of equatorial air masses throughout the year. Constantly high temperatures(on the plains 24 ° - 28 ° C). Weak, unstable winds. This is typical for the presence low pressure with a constant flow of wind to trade and a tendency towards general rises in the air and the rapid transformation of tropical air into humid equatorial air.

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

This, however, creates an area of ​​increasing pressure on the climate zone to have clear weather throughout the year. Thus, time in the tropics depends entirely on the height of the sun above the horizon. In the summer months, when the sun rises to its 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 in the cold winter nights it can be lowered to negative temperatures.

Sudden changes from warm to cold throughout the day and year and little rainfall have resulted in tropical climates containing a zone formed by natural desert and semi-desert areas of very rare species plants and animals.
3) temperate climate zone-Type: constant primary location: It is located between 40 and 60 latitudes, bordering the subtropical and subarctic (in the southern hemisphere - subantarctic) climate zone.

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

Temperate zone temperatures 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 characteristic zone belt in winter, snow cover is created.
4) Arctic climate zone (Antarctica)-Type: permanent core -location: The dog occupies the polar regions of the Earth. Largest area takes Antarctic belt, extending over almost the entire continent.

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

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

Severe winters are especially noticeable in Antarctica. Precipitation is very low.

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 shells glacial glaciers. 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 “slide” along the surface of the earth and heat it even in polar day conditions, when the polar night (and the poles lasts half of the year ), the surface of the planet does not receive any 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 radiation received by a territory is lower if ... 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 precipitation is most pronounced under ... climate conditions
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) Increase in temperature in January and precipitation
4) January temperatures and precipitation
fifths

The largest annual temperature range and minimal amount precipitation is typical for...
1) moderate continental climate type 2) continental climate type 3) acute continental climate type 4) monsoon climate type 6. The Ob River basin is a climate type
1) temperate continental 2) continental 3) suddenly continental 4) monsun7.

Precipitation in the tropics

The greatest influence on Russia's climate is... the ocean
1) Quiet 2) Atlantic 3) Northern Arctic 8. Cyclones in Russia most often determine the weather...
1) Eastern European aircraft 2) Eastern and Northeastern 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 year 10. The most severe frosts occur when... weather
1) cyclone 2) anticyclonic 3) frontal 11. The highest level of snow cover in Russia is typical for ...
1) western slopes of the Urals, 2) eastern coast of Kamchatka, 3) Black Sea coast Caucasus, 4) northeastern Siberia. For economic activity climatic conditions are the best in ... parts of Russia
1) North-West 2) North-East 3) South-West 4) South-East 13.

Drought and dry winds occur in... weather conditions
1) cyclone 2) anticyclonic 3) frontal14. Climatic conditions in the country are unfavorable for economic development due to...
1) lack of moisture 2) heat deficit 3) excess humidity 4) excess heat15.

The most low temperatures in January …
1) in the European part 2) in Western Siberia3) 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) eastern coast of Kamchatka

12) southwest

13. 2) anticyclone

14. 2) heat deficiency

15.3) in the northeast of Siberia

The Atlantic Ocean has the greatest influence on Russia's climate

Tropical and subtropical zones are the richest natural zones in terms of diversity of flora and fauna. The tropical zone is one of the main climatic zones of the planet, and the subtropical zone is one of the transitional ones. They are characterized by a rather hot climate, as they are located near the equator. The formation of the tropics and subtropics occurs under constant high blood pressure atmosphere, which leads to the establishment of low clouds and the hottest temperatures compared to other zones.

Climate

Tropical zone

The tropical zone, according to its climate, divides its natural zones into dry and wet. Distinctive feature Both subzones are considered to have constant strong dry trade winds blowing along the equator.

The dry tropics have a fairly hot, dry climate. The average temperature of the warmest months reaches +30 - +35 degrees, and the coldest months never drop below +10 degrees. High Atmosphere pressure led to the fact that the territory of this natural zone has extremely low cloudiness and little precipitation falls, up to 200 mm per year.

Humid areas of the tropics are characterized by large volumes of precipitation, reaching up to 7000 mm per year. The climate there is as hot as in dry ones.

Subtropical zone

The subtropical zone is located immediately after the tropical one. Scientists divide this zone, depending on the amount of precipitation, into wet and semi-wet. Average summer temperature subtropical zone reaches 20-25 degrees Celsius, and in winter - not lower than 5 degrees Celsius.

Natural zones of the subtropical zone are found on many continents of our planet. This led to a large number of climate types in this natural zone. Perhaps it is the subtropical zone that can boast of the diversity of these conditions. According to the type of climate, the described zone is divided:

• Mediterranean climate with typical winter abundant moisture;
• Continental climate with rather poor moisture;
• Monsoon climate with abundant moisture in summer

Natural areas

Tropical zone

The tropical zone is usually divided into the following natural zones, starting from east to west:

• Tropical rainforest zone;
• Woodland zone;
• Zone of dry forests and hot savannas;
• Zone tropical semi-deserts and deserts.

As a rule, all zones are sparsely populated by humans, with the exception of some areas of the eastern sites.

Subtropical zone

The tropical zones are more diverse, since their individual sections are found on each continent. On the western part of the oceanic coast they are located in the following order:

• Hard-leaved forests;
• Subtropical steppes;
• Subtropical semi-deserts and deserts;

The Southern Hemisphere “hides” zones deep on the continent:

• Subtropical steppes;
• To the east are subtropical deciduous forests;
• In high areas there are subtropical evergreen forests.

Vegetable world

Tropical zone

The tropical zone, due to its favorable location, boasts a rich flora. It is in this natural zone that more than 75% of all flora existing on Earth grow.

swampy forests

In the swamps of the tropical forest, the soil is severely depleted of oxygen, which is why species composition plants are scarce here. All representatives of the flora have an external root system that allows them to receive enough oxygen. Usually this type wet forest It is formed in swampy lowlands and is characterized by an insignificant diversity of species.

Mangroves

Mangrove forests grow in coastal areas or in areas with a temperate climate zone, a prerequisite for everyone is access to warm currents. Here you can see, as if in levels, plants:

• Rhizophores;
• Avicennia;
• Brughieres and conocarpus;
• Ceriops;
• Aegitseras;
• On the border with the forest there are nipa palms.

The tree crowns of the mangrove forest are located very densely, so light practically does not pass through them to the lower tiers. Almost the entire forest floor is occupied by stilted roots, making progress difficult.

Mountain forests

Such forests grow at an altitude of more than a kilometer. Due to heavy rainfall, the fog condenses quite heavily here. The forest is formed by two poorly formed tiers:

• The top one is woody. Represented by tree ferns, magnolias, camellias, giant evergreen oaks, and rhododendrons.
• The lower tier is grassy. It is represented by mosses and lichens, ferns, undergrowth of trees and herbs.
• There is also extra-tiered vegetation: lianas and epiphytic mosses.

Seasonal forests

Seasonal forests receive less rainfall during certain months. Based on the leaves they shed during drought, forests are divided into:

• Evergreen forests (eg eucalyptus);
• Semi-evergreen (the upper tier sheds its leaves, but the lower one does not);
• Sparse ones are represented by one type.

By location in climate zone:

• Monsoon: laurel, sugar cane, annual grasses, lianas and epiphytes;
• Savannah: palms, bottle trees, cacti, milkweeds and grasses;
• Prickly xerophilous: legumes (acacia and mimosa), thin vines and herbaceous grasses;

Subtropical zone

Hardleaf forests are found in a Mediterranean climate and are usually represented by:

• On the upper tier: oak, olive wood, cedar and black pine;
• On the second: strawberry tree, boxwood and phyllyria;
• On the bottom: grasses and mosses.

Monsoon mixed forest is formed by evergreen oak (and other representatives of beech trees), magnolias, pines, laurels, firs, camellias, palms and vines. Closer to the equator, the species composition is significantly depleted.

Evergreens (hemigilea) differ from their tropical neighbors in a smaller diversity of species. Vegetable world represented by tree ferns, evergreen oaks, camellias and camphor laurel. Among the grassy areas there are thickets of bamboo.

Animal world

Tropical zone

In terms of the number of living animal species, tropical forests surpass almost all other natural zones. Animals here usually live in the canopies tall trees. Among the mammals of the tropical zone there are: Flying squirrels, Hippopotamuses, Elephants, Rhinoceroses, Palm squirrels, Many species of monkeys (spider monkey, howler monkey, marmosets), Sloths, Tapir, Tree porcupines,
Spike-tailed squirrels, Leopards, Tiger, Hedgehogs, Okapi, Lemur loris.

Amphibians include a huge variety of frogs (colorful steeplejacks), peep toads, caecilians and tree frogs.

Subtropical zone

The fauna of the subtropical zone is represented by species of the tropics and temperate zone. To the previous animals are added: mouflon, red deer, fallow deer, ferret, fox, jackal, otter, chaffinch, goldfinch and blackbird.

The subtropical and tropical zones are distinguished by a rich flora and fauna and have a comfortable warm climate.

Planets located in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

It covers individual areas on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.

The tropical belt passes 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, small amounts of precipitation, persistent anticyclonic air circulation, and constant easterly winds - 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 ranges from 50 to 200 mm, and only in the eastern oceanic region does it fall up to 2000 mm.

The tropical climate zone is heterogeneous; subspecies that differ from each other are distinguished:

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

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

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

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

Air temperature changes during the day are significant. Summer is hot, with average temperature above +30 degrees, although not always, winter temperature does not exceed +20 degrees, but frosts may also occur during this period. Similar climatic conditions are observed in the Sahara, Kalahari, Namib, and Atacama.

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

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

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

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

This type of climate is typical for Paraguay.

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

The eastern trade wind transfer of air masses is being 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 area above sea level in the formation of its climatic conditions has great importance. Ocean currents play an important role in shaping the climate of sea coasts and island countries.

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

Note 1

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

According to the classification of B.P. Alisov, the tropical climate zone is located between the subtropical and subequatorial. He bases the identification of climatic zones on the general circulation of the atmosphere, i.e. Climate formation occurs under the influence of one type of air mass.

Since the tropical zone lies between the summer position of tropical fronts and the winter position of 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;
• monsoon tropical climate;
• monsoon climate on tropical plateaus.

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

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

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

The tropical climate includes 4 types, 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. Koeppen, a tropical climate with wet summers and dry winters has two well-defined seasons. He believes that if in a tropical climate there is at least 60 mm of precipitation during a month, then this month is considered rainy, and the rest are dry.

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

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

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

Tropical belt in the ocean

In the ocean, the tropical zone is characterized by the stability of trade winds.

Summer over the oceans is not as hot as on tropical land. Summer temperatures range from +20 to +28 degrees, winter temperatures are much lower and vary from +10 to +15 degrees. Precipitation in the tropics over the ocean is 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, which is food for fish. The color of the water is blue, it is transparent. Blue color sea ​​water says 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 Pacific Ocean. In its area (88 million sq. km) it significantly exceeds the corresponding belt of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans combined.

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

The warm surface layer in the western part of the Pacific Ocean reaches 75-100 m. Less than 25 m this layer is observed at the eastern edge of the ocean.

Characteristic of the Pacific Ocean are currents of different water temperatures, the general pattern of which is determined by the patterns of general atmospheric circulation.