Some people assume that the "tropical climate" refers to the heavenly and warm corners of our planet. However, this opinion does not coincide a little with reality, since the word "tropic" in meteorology is defined differently. The tropical climate is the climatic characteristic of the tropics; that is, from the equator to the Tropic of Capricorn in the south and from the equator to the Tropic of Cancer in the north. The Köppen climate classification defines a tropical climate as a non-arid warm climate in which the average annual air temperature is around 18 ° C.

Unlike subtropical regions, which are characterized by varying degrees of temperature changes, in tropical climates, temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the year, as fluctuations for different seasons are dominated by precipitation. The tropical climate has only two seasons, which are the dry season and the rainy season. Changes in the angle of incidence of sunlight are small in tropical climates where frost is generally free. In the tropical climate zone, there are different subtypes of tropical climates based on rainfall. Below are the three main types of tropical climates.

Tropical climate with dry winters and rainy summers

Also known as a tropical climate, a tropical climate with dry winters and rainy summers experiences a long dry period and less annual rainfall. The driest month in this type of tropical climate receives less than 60 mm of rainfall, and the average annual rainfall is usually less than 100 mm. The tropical savannah climate is mainly found in Lagos, Nigeria; Bangalore, India; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Barquisimeto, Venezuela; Darwin, Australia; Honolulu, USA; Fort Myers, Florida; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Kupang, Indonesia and others.

Tropical monsoon climate

The tropical monsoon climate is a type of climate that is found in the southern and central regions of America and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Australia and Africa. The tropical monsoon climate is influenced by monsoon winds that change direction with the seasons. The driest month of the tropical monsoon falls either on or shortly after the winter solstice. Precipitation is usually less than 60 mm, but the total annual precipitation is more than 100 mm. Examples of regions experiencing a tropical monsoon climate are Jakarta, Indonesia; Miami, Florida; Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Chittagong, Bangladesh; Yangon, Myanmar; Cairns, Australia; Macapa, Brazil and others.

Equatorial tropical rainforest climate

The tropical rainforest climate is found in regions around the equatorial region, usually between 5 ° and 10 ° latitude. However, in several eastern coastal regions, this type of climate can extend up to more than 26 ° from the equator. The climate of tropical rainforests is mainly characterized by low pressure systems, as they are dominated by depression, while receiving uniform rainfall throughout the year. There are no distinct seasons in rainforest rainforests. All 12 months in this climate have an average rainfall of at least 60 mm. Examples of equatorial tropical rainforest locations include Mbandaka, Congo; Singapore; Klang, Malaysia; Hilo, Hawaii; Innisfile, Australia; Apia Samoa, Davao, Philippines; Bogor, Indonesia and others.

Exceptions

For various reasons, there are areas in the tropics that do not have a tropical climate; they include alpine and some desert areas. Examples of places without tropical climates include the Sahara Desert, the southern Arabian Peninsula, and alpine regions found in the tropics. Likewise, some mountain peaks located in the tropics can be cold, such as Mount Kenya. However, in the low-lying areas of the tropics, there are significantly fewer seasonal temperature fluctuations.

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 humid 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 crocodiles who adore the muddy waters of small forest streams. All this is the equatorial belt. Its climate is greatly influenced by the trade winds, which bring abundant rainfall here from the ocean.

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

Yuzhny: 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 (land) 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 one, but differs from it in less cloudiness and steady winds. Summers over the oceans are warm (+ 20-27 ° С), and winters are cool (+ 10-15 ° С).

Above the tropics (continental tropical climate), an area of ​​high pressure 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 ° C) and cool winters (+ 15 ° C). The air temperature can change dramatically per day - up to 40 ° С! That is, a person can languish from the heat during the day and shiver from the cold at night. Such differences 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, just like the tropical one, forms two belts in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, which are formed over the territories of temperate latitudes (from 40-45 ° North and South latitude to the Arctic Circle).

In the 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. Summers in this climatic zone are warm (up to + 25 ° -28 ° С), winters are cold (from + 4 ° С to -50 ° С). Annual precipitation is from 1000 mm to 3000 mm, and in the center of the continents only up to 100 mm.

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

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

Maritime 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 there are quite cool summers (+15 -20 ° С) and warm winters (from + 5 ° С). Precipitation brought by westerly winds falls all year round (from 500 to 1000 mm, in the mountains up to 6000 mm).

Continental predominates in the central regions of the continents. Cyclones penetrate here less often, so there are warmer and drier summers (up to + 26 ° С) and colder winters (up to -24 ° С), 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: Arctic and Antarctic. The Polar Belt has a unique feature - the Sun does not appear here for several months (polar night) and for several months does not go beyond the horizon (polar day). Snow and ice reflect more heat than they receive, so the air is very cold and the snow does not melt for most of the year. Since a high pressure area is formed here, there are almost no clouds, the winds are weak, the air is saturated with small ice needles. The average summer temperature does not exceed 0 ° C, while in winter it is from -20 ° to -40 ° C. Rain falls only in the summer in the form of the smallest droplets - drizzle.

Between the main climatic zones there are transitional zones with the prefix "sub" in the name (translated from Latin "under"). Here air masses change seasons, 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 ° С. The sun reaches its zenith in spring and beats down 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 ° С). Little precipitation falls. The soils dry out after summer rains, therefore, in the subequatorial zone, in contrast to the equatorial, 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 zones. The north includes: the Isthmus of Panama (Latin America), Venezuela, Guinea, the Sahelian desert belt in Africa, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, all of Indochina, southern China, and part of Asia. The southern belt includes: the Amazonian lowlands, 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 temperate air masses in winter, 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 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 ° C to + 10 ° C) Despite the small amount of precipitation, evaporation is low, since the angle of incidence of sunlight is small and the earth does not warm up well. 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 winters are long and cold, temperatures can drop to -50 ° C.


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Equatorial climate zone

occupies the region of the Congo Basin and the Gulf of Guinea in Africa, the Amazon Basin in South America, the Sunda Islands off the coast of Southeast Asia. The rupture of the climatic zone on the eastern coasts of the continents is explained by the dominance of subtropical baric maxima over the oceans. The greatest crossflow of air goes along the equatorial periphery of the baric maxima, it captures the eastern coasts of the continents. In the equatorial zone, tropical air is humidified by the trade winds. Equatorial air is formed under reduced pressure, light winds and high temperatures. The value of the total radiation 580-670 kJ / cm2 per year is slightly reduced due to the high cloudiness and humidity of 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.

Equatorial VMs dominate the equator all year round. The average air temperature ranges from +25 to + 28 ○ ​​С, high relative humidity remains, 70-90%. In 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, which causes powerful ascending air currents. But convection develops not only for this reason. The heated air, saturated with water vapor, rises, condenses, cumulonimbus clouds form, from which heavy 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 a large amount of rainfall create conditions for the development of rich vegetation on land - humid equatorial forests - giles (in South America, humid forests are called selva, in Africa - jungles).

The continental and oceanic types of the equatorial climate differ insignificantly.

Subequatorial climate

confined to the vast expanses of the Brazilian Highlands, Central Africa (north, east and south of the Congo basin), Asia (on the Indian subcontinent and Indochina), 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 climate zone is characterized by monsoon 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 according to the seasons: equatorial air dominates in summer, tropical air in winter. There are two seasons - wet (summer) and dry (winter). In the summer season, the climate is slightly different from the equatorial one: high humidity, abundant precipitation caused by upward 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 arrival of dry tropical air: hot dry weather sets in, grasses burn out, trees shed their foliage. Within the continents and on their western shores, the vegetation cover of the subequatorial belt is represented by savannas; humid equatorial forests dominate on the eastern shores.

Tropical climate zone

in the Southern Hemisphere, it spreads in a continuous strip, expanding over the oceans. During the year, the oceans are dominated by constant baric maxima, in which tropical VMs are formed. In the Northern Hemisphere, the tropical belt is ripping apart 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) VMs invade from the Asian maximum far to the south.

The annual value of the 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.

The tropical climate zone is dominated by tropical VMs throughout the year, which are distinguished 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 currents of air, condensation of water vapor almost does not occur, therefore precipitation in most of the tropical belt is very small - 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 (trade winds blow from the ocean) is characterized by a large amount of precipitation - 1500 mm (Greater Antilles, the eastern coast of the Brazilian Highlands, the eastern coast of Africa in the Southern Hemisphere). The peculiarities of the climate 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, in Australia it is poorly expressed. 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 the constant baric maximum in the ocean and cold currents off the coast of the continents.

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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 transitional climate zones?

2. Sign the names of the continents. Indicate which of them is the coldest climate, in which it is the hottest, in which it is the driest, in which it is wet. Which 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 areas of the world where winds prevail throughout the year (blue arrows) and where are trade winds (red arrows).

5. Mark the boundaries of the sunburst stripes on the map and label their names. What is the reason for uneven illumination and heating of the earth's surface?

6. Mark high and low barometric pressure bands labeled "B" and "H" on the map.

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

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

Usually the border 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 ​​of the radiation balance; - Antarctic climate with low air temperatures; - a long polar night; - the predominance of ice deserts on land; - significant ocean ice coverage.

In Russia and on the territory of the former USSR, the classification of climate types was used, created in 1956 by the famous Soviet climatologist B.P. Alisov. This classification takes into account the peculiarities 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 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 seasons,

volatility, moisture coefficient.

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

2) Which territories of Russia receive the greatest amount of solar radiation?

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

    Answer: The southern regions receive the largest amount of radiation - 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 a 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 climatic zone do you live in?

    Answer: Moderate climatic zone

5) Using the pictures of the textbook, establish how climatic conditions change along the belts.

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

    from North to South.

    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) identify the most and least humid areas

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

    the least - the Caspian lowland.

    c) draw a conclusion about the reasons for the change in climatic conditions

    The change in climatic conditions is influenced by the dominance

    air masses, precipitation and evaporation

    d) explain the influence of climatic conditions on other components

    nature, on human life and activities

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

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


7) Determine the total solar radiation and humidity coefficient for individual regions from the climatic map.

Sources of information: maps of the atlas, textbook.


8) Fill the table.

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


9) Fill in yourself.


10) The main characteristics of the climate and their change over the seasons are shown in 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 transient.
Permanent climatic zone- A dog where one air dominates throughout the year.

transition- written with the prefix "sub" in them 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 climatic zones: 1) Equatorial climate zone-A 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 bands.

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

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

This, however, creates an area of ​​increasing pressure on the climate zone with clear weather throughout the year. Thus, the 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 on cold winter nights it can drop below zero temperatures.

Sudden changes from warm to cold throughout the day and year and little rainfall have resulted in the tropical climate being an area formed by natural desert and semi-desert areas of very rare plant and animal species.
3) temperate climatic zone-A 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 in the southern hemisphere it practically does not affect the continent. since the temperature of the temperate air mass changes with the seasons, there is a clear change in the temperate zone. All seasons are very pronounced: spring changes snow, replaced by hot summers and autumn.

Temperate temperatures are very important. In fact, the border with the subtropical regions practically coincides with the winter isotherm of 0 ° C. Subzero temperatures are observed in the temperate zone. In the characteristic zone of the belt, snow is formed in winter.
4) Climatic zone of the Arctic (Antarctica)-A type: permanent 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 far north of Eurasia and North America, including the Baffin Islands, Greenland, the Taimir Peninsula, Novaya Zemlya, 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 as we move further into the field.

A strong winter is especially noticeable in Antarctica. Precipitation is very low.

What is the prevailing tropical weather?

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

test for geography "Climate of Russia"

test on geography "Climate of Russia" 1. The degree of total radiation received by the 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) even distribution throughout the year
3) summer maximum
3. Summer maximum precipitation is most pronounced in ... 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) Increase in temperature in January and precipitation
4) January temperatures and precipitation
fifth

The highest annual temperature range and minimum precipitation are typical for ...
1) moderate continental type of climate 2) continental type of climate 3) acute continental type of climate 4) monsoon type of climate 6. The Ob river basin is a type of climate
1) moderately continental 2) continental 3) suddenly continental 4) monsun7.

Rainfall in tropical stripes

The greatest influence on the climate of Russia is ... the ocean
1) Quiet 2) Atlantic 3) North Arctic 8. Cyclones on the territory of Russia most often determine the weather ...
1) Eastern European aircraft 2) Eastern and Northeastern Siberia 3) Western Siberia 4) Eastern Siberia 9.

The weary influence of the Atlantic Ocean is more pronounced ...
1) summer 2) winter 3) during the transitional seasons 10. The most severe frosts are observed when ... the weather
1) cyclone 2) anticyclonic 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 the 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) anticyclonic 3) frontal 14. Climatic conditions in the country are unfavorable for the development of the economy due to ...
1) lack of moisture 2) heat deficiency 3) excess moisture 4) excess heat 15.

The lowest temperatures are 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 north-east of Siberia

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

The tropical climate zone spans the globe from the 20th to 30th parallels in the northern and southern hemispheres. In these areas, clear weather usually reigns 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 ° С. Although sometimes it can rise up to + 45-50 ° С. In winter, the air is greatly cooled, 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 the evening coolness and a strong cold snap at night. In the tropics, there is little rainfall - no more than 50-150 mm per year. Most of them occur during the winter months. These latitudes are highly influenced by the trade winds.

Climate types in tropical latitudes

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

Continental: Inland, the climate in tropical latitudes is hot and dry, with a large temperature difference. The area of ​​increased atmospheric pressure is widespread 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 mainly by cold currents, therefore, in tropical latitudes, the climate in these regions is cooler, the air rarely warms up more than 20-25 ° С.

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 regions and over the oceans, a milder climate is formed, with an abundance of precipitation, warm summers and mild winters. This type of climate is very similar to the equatorial one, but differs in less cloudiness and strong winds. Precipitation occurs 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

Three natural zones dominate in the tropics: forests, semi-deserts and deserts.

Tropical rainforest- 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.

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

Variable wet or seasonal rainforests distributed to the north and south of 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-desert occupy vast territories, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In South America, they are found in the north of 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, since the temperature does not drop below + 10 ° С. Due to the high evaporation rate, more precipitation falls, but in the winter months. Groundwater is very deep and often salty.

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

Countries of the tropical climatic zone

(Map of climatic zones of the Earth, 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.

Climate- this is a long-term weather regime typical for a particular area. It manifests itself in the regular change of all types of weather observed in this area.

The climate has an impact on living and inanimate nature. Water bodies, soil, vegetation, animals are closely dependent on the climate. Certain sectors of the economy, primarily agriculture, are also highly dependent on the climate.

The climate is formed as a result of the interaction of many factors: the amount of solar radiation entering the earth's surface; circulation of the atmosphere; the nature of the underlying surface. At the same time, climatic factors themselves depend on the geographical conditions of a given area, primarily on geographic latitude.

The geographic latitude of the area determines the angle of incidence of the sun's rays, the receipt of a certain amount of heat. However, getting heat from the Sun also depends on proximity to the ocean... In places far from the oceans, there is little precipitation, and the mode of precipitation is uneven (more in the warm period than in the cold), the cloudiness is low, the winter is cold, the summer is warm, the annual temperature amplitude is large. This climate is called continental because it is typical for places located in the interior of continents. Above the water surface, a maritime climate is formed, which is characterized by: a smooth course of air temperature, with small daily and annual temperature ranges, large cloud cover, uniform and sufficiently large amount of atmospheric precipitation.

The climate is greatly influenced by sea ​​currents... Warm currents warm the atmosphere in the areas where they flow. For example, the warm North Atlantic Current creates favorable conditions for the growth of forests in the southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, while most of Greenland, which lies at about the same latitudes as the Scandinavian Peninsula, but is outside the zone of influence of the warm current, all year round covered with a thick layer of ice.

An important role in the formation of the climate belongs relief... You already know that as the terrain rises, the air temperature decreases by 5-6 ° С for every kilometer. Therefore, on the high mountain slopes of the Pamirs, the average annual temperature is 1 ° C, although it is located slightly north of the tropic.

The location of mountain ranges has a great influence on the climate. For example, the Caucasus Mountains hold back moist sea winds, and significantly more precipitation falls on their windward slopes facing the Black Sea than on the leeward ones. At the same time, the mountains serve as an obstacle to cold northerly winds.

The climate is also dependent on prevailing winds... On the territory of the East European Plain, westerly winds, coming from the Atlantic Ocean, prevail throughout almost the entire year, therefore winters in this area are relatively mild.

The regions of the Far East are under the influence of monsoons. In winter, winds constantly blow from the depths of the mainland. They are cold and very dry, so there is little rainfall. In summer, on the contrary, winds bring a lot of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. In autumn, when the wind dies down from the ocean, the weather is usually sunny and calm. This is the best time of the year in the area.

Climatic characteristics represent statistical conclusions from long-term series of weather observations (in temperate latitudes, 25-50-year series are used; in the tropics, their duration may be shorter), primarily over the following main meteorological elements: atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, temperature and air humidity, cloudiness and precipitation. They also take into account the duration of solar radiation, the visibility range, the temperature of the upper layers of the soil and water bodies, the evaporation of water from the earth's surface into the atmosphere, the height and condition of the snow cover, various atmospheric phenomena and ground hydrometeors (dew, ice, fog, thunderstorms, blizzards, etc.) ... In the XX century. The climatic indicators included the characteristics of the elements of the heat balance of the earth's surface, such as total solar radiation, radiation balance, values ​​of heat exchange between the earth's surface and the atmosphere, heat consumption for evaporation. Complex indicators are also used, i.e. functions of several elements: various coefficients, factors, indices (for example, continentality, aridity, moisture), etc.

Climatic zones

Long-term mean values ​​of meteorological elements (annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, etc.), their sums, frequency of occurrence, etc. are called climatic norms: the corresponding values ​​for individual days, months, years, etc. are considered as deviations from these norms.

Climate maps are called climatic(temperature distribution map, pressure distribution map, etc.).

Depending on temperature conditions, prevailing air masses and winds, they emit climatic zones.

The main climatic zones are:

  • equatorial;
  • two tropical;
  • two moderate;
  • arctic and antarctic.

Transitional climatic zones are located between the main zones: subequatorial, subtropical, subarctic, subantarctic. In the transition zones, air masses change with seasons. They come here from neighboring zones, so the climate of the subequatorial zone in summer is similar to the climate of the equatorial zone, and in winter - to the tropical climate; the climate of the subtropical zones in summer is similar to the climate of the tropical, and in winter - with the climate of the temperate zones. This is due to the seasonal movement of the belts of atmospheric pressure over the globe following the Sun: in summer - to the north, in winter - to the south.

Climatic zones are subdivided into climatic regions... So, for example, in the tropical zone of Africa, areas of tropical dry and tropical humid climates are distinguished, and in Eurasia, the subtropical belt is subdivided into areas of the Mediterranean, continental and monsoon climates. In mountainous areas, altitudinal zonation is formed due to the fact that the air temperature decreases with height.

The variety of climates on Earth

Climate classification provides an ordered system for characterizing climate types, their regionalization and mapping. Let us give examples of the types of climate prevailing over vast territories (Table 1).

Arctic and Antarctic climatic zones

Antarctic and arctic climate dominates in Greenland and Antarctica, where average monthly temperatures are below 0 ° C. In the dark winter season, these regions do not receive any solar radiation at all, although there are twilight and aurora borealis. Even in summer, the sun's rays fall on the earth's surface at a slight angle, which reduces the efficiency of warming up. Most of the incoming solar radiation is reflected by ice. Both summer and winter, the elevated regions of the Antarctic Ice Sheet are characterized by low temperatures. The climate of the interior regions of Antarctica is much colder than the climate of the Arctic, since the southern continent is large and high, and the Arctic Ocean softens the climate, despite the widespread distribution of pack ice. In summer, during short warmings, drifting ice sometimes melts. Precipitation on ice sheets falls in the form of snow or small particles of ice fog. The interior regions receive only 50-125 mm of precipitation annually, but more than 500 mm can fall on the coast. Sometimes cyclones bring clouds and snow to these areas. Snowfalls are often accompanied by strong winds that carry significant masses of snow, blowing it off the slope. Strong katabatic winds with blizzards blow from the cold ice sheet, carrying snow to the coast.

Table 1. Climates of the Earth

Climate type

Climatic belt

Average temperature, ° С

Mode and amount of atmospheric precipitation, mm

Circulation of the atmosphere

Territory

Equatorial

Equatorial

During a year. 2000

In the area of ​​low atmospheric pressure, warm and humid equatorial air masses are formed

Equatorial regions of Africa, South America and Oceania

Tropical monsoon

Subequa-torial

Mostly during the summer monsoon, 2000

South and Southeast Asia, West and Central Africa, Northern Australia

Tropical dry

Tropical

Throughout the year, 200

North Africa, Central Australia

Mediterranean

Subtropical

Mainly in winter, 500

In summer - anticyclones at high atmospheric pressure; in winter - cyclonic activity

Mediterranean, Southern coast of Crimea, South Africa, Southwestern Australia, Western California

Subtropical dry

Subtropical

During a year. 120

Dry continental air masses

Inner parts of the continents

Moderate marine

Moderate

During a year. 1000

Westerly winds

Western Eurasia and North America

Moderate continental

Moderate

During a year. 400

Westerly winds

Inner parts of the continents

Moderate monsoon

Moderate

Mainly during the summer monsoon, 560

Eastern edge of Eurasia

Subarctic

Subarctic

Throughout the year, 200

Cyclones prevail

Northern outskirts of Eurasia and North America

Arctic (antarctic)

Arctic (Antarctic)

Throughout the year, 100

Anticyclones prevail

Water area of ​​the Arctic Ocean and mainland Australia

Subarctic continental climate formed in the north of the continents (see the climatic map of the atlas). In winter, arctic air prevails here, which forms in areas of high pressure. Arctic air spreads from the Arctic to the eastern regions of Canada.

Continental subrctic climate Asia is characterized by the largest annual amplitude of air temperature on the globe (60-65 ° С). The continentality of the climate reaches its maximum value here.

The average temperature in January varies across the territory from -28 to -50 ° C, and in lowlands and basins, due to stagnation of air, its temperature is even lower. In Oymyakon (Yakutia), a record negative air temperature (-71 ° С) for the Northern Hemisphere was recorded. The air is very dry.

Summer in subarctic belt although short, it is quite warm. The average monthly temperature in July ranges from 12 to 18 ° С (daily maximum - 20-25 ° С). Over the summer, more than half of the annual precipitation falls, amounting to 200-300 mm on the flat territory, and on the windward slopes of the hills - up to 500 mm per year.

The climate of the subarctic zone of North America is less continental in comparison with the corresponding climate in Asia. There are less cold winters and colder summers.

Moderate climatic zone

Moderate climate of the western coasts of the continents has pronounced features of the maritime climate and is characterized by the predominance of sea air masses throughout the year. It is observed on the Atlantic coast of Europe and the Pacific coast of North America. The Cordillera are the natural border separating the maritime coastline from the inland areas. The European coast, except for Scandinavia, is open to free access to maritime temperate air.

The constant transfer of sea air is accompanied by large clouds and causes protracted springs, in contrast to the interior of the continental regions of Eurasia.

Winter in temperate the western coasts are warm. The warming influence of the oceans is enhanced by warm sea currents washing the western shores of the continents. The average temperature in January is positive and varies across the territory from north to south from 0 to 6 ° С. During incursions of the Arctic air, it can decrease (on the Scandinavian coast to -25 ° С, and on the French coast - to -17 ° С). When tropical air spreads to the north, the temperature rises sharply (for example, it often reaches 10 ° C). In winter, on the western coast of Scandinavia, large positive temperature deviations from the average latitudinal temperature (by 20 ° C) are noted. The temperature anomaly on the Pacific coast of North America is less and does not exceed 12 ° C.

Summers are rarely hot. The average temperature in July is 15-16 ° C.

Even during the day, the air temperature rarely exceeds 30 ° C. Due to frequent cyclones, cloudy and rainy weather is typical for all seasons. There are especially many cloudy days on the west coast of North America, where cyclones are forced to slow down in front of the Cordillera mountain systems. In this regard, the weather regime in the south of Alaska, where there are no seasons in our understanding, is characterized by great uniformity. Eternal autumn reigns there, and only plants remind of the onset of winter or summer. Annual precipitation ranges from 600 to 1000 mm, and on the slopes of mountain ranges - from 2000 to 6000 mm.

In conditions of sufficient moisture, broad-leaved forests are developed on the coasts, and in conditions of excess, conifers. The lack of summer heat reduces the upper border of the forest in the mountains to 500-700 m above sea level.

Moderate climate of the eastern coasts of the continents has monsoon features and is accompanied by a seasonal change of winds: in winter, northwestern flows prevail, in summer - southeastern ones. It is well defined on the east coast of Eurasia.

In winter, with a north-westerly wind, cold continental temperate air spreads to the coast of the mainland, which is the reason for the low average temperature of the winter months (from -20 to -25 ° C). Clear, dry, windy weather prevails. There is little precipitation in the southern regions of the coast. The north of the Amur region, Sakhalin and Kamchatka are often affected by cyclones moving over the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, in winter there is a thick snow cover, especially in Kamchatka, where its maximum height reaches 2 m.

In summer, with a southeasterly wind on the coast of Eurasia, maritime temperate air spreads. Summers are warm, with an average July temperature of 14 to 18 ° C. Precipitation is frequent due to cyclonic activity. Their annual number is 600-1000 mm, with most of them falling in summer. Fogs are frequent at this time of the year.

In contrast to Eurasia, the eastern coast of North America is characterized by marine climate features, which are expressed in the predominance of winter precipitation and the marine type of annual air temperature variation: the minimum occurs in February, and the maximum in August, when the ocean is warmest.

The Canadian anticyclone, in contrast to the Asian, is unstable. It forms off the coast and is often interrupted by cyclones. Winters are mild, snowy, wet and windy here. In snowy winters, the height of snowdrifts reaches 2.5 m. Ice often occurs with a southerly wind. Therefore, some streets in some cities in eastern Canada have iron railings for pedestrians. Summers are cool and rainy. Annual precipitation is 1000 mm.

Moderate continental climate most clearly expressed on the Eurasian continent, especially in the regions of Siberia, Transbaikalia, northern Mongolia, as well as in the Great Plains in North America.

A feature of the temperate continental climate is a large annual amplitude of air temperature, which can reach 50-60 ° C. In winter months, with a negative radiation balance, the earth's surface is cooled. The cooling effect of the land surface on the surface layers of air is especially great in Asia, where a powerful Asian anticyclone forms in winter and cloudy, calm weather prevails. The temperate continental air forming in the area of ​​the anticyclone has a low temperature (-0 ° ...- 40 ° C). In valleys and basins, due to radiation cooling, the air temperature can drop to -60 ° C.

In the middle of winter, the continental air in the lower layers becomes even colder than the arctic. This very cold air of the Asian anticyclone spreads to Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, southeastern regions of Europe.

The winter Canadian anticyclone is less stable than the Asian anticyclone due to the smaller size of the North American continent. Winters are less severe here, and their severity does not increase towards the center of the mainland, as in Asia, but, on the contrary, decreases somewhat due to the frequent passage of cyclones. Continental temperate air in North America has a higher temperature than continental temperate air in Asia.

The formation of the continental temperate climate is significantly influenced by the geographical features of the continental territory. In North America, the Cordillera mountain ranges are the natural boundary separating the maritime coastline from the inland continental regions. In Eurasia, a temperate continental climate is formed over a vast land area, approximately from 20 to 120 ° E. e. Unlike North America, Europe is open for free penetration of sea air from the Atlantic deep into the interior regions. This is facilitated not only by the western transport of air masses, which prevails in the temperate latitudes, but also by the flat relief, strong indented coasts and deep penetration into the land of the Baltic and North Seas. Therefore, a temperate climate of a lesser degree of continentality is formed over Europe in comparison with Asia.

In winter, the sea Atlantic air, moving over the cold land surface of the temperate latitudes of Europe, retains its physical properties for a long time, and its influence extends to the whole of Europe. In winter, with the weakening of the Atlantic influence, the air temperature decreases from west to east. In Berlin, it is 0 ° C in January, -3 ° C in Warsaw, and -11 ° C in Moscow. In this case, the isotherms over Europe have a meridional direction.

The wide front of Eurasia and North America facing the Arctic basin contributes to the deep penetration of cold air masses to the continents throughout the year. Intense meridional air mass transfer is especially characteristic of North America, where arctic and tropical air often replace each other.

Tropical air entering the plains of North America with southern cyclones is also slowly transforming due to the high speed of its movement, high moisture content and continuous low clouds.

In winter, a consequence of the intense meridional circulation of air masses is the so-called "jumps" in temperatures, their large day-to-day amplitude, especially in areas where cyclones are frequent: in the north of Europe and Western Siberia, the Great Plains of North America.

In the cold period, it falls in the form of snow, a snow cover forms, which protects the soil from deep freezing and creates a moisture reserve in the spring. The depth of the snow cover depends on the duration of its occurrence and the amount of precipitation. In Europe, a stable snow cover on the flat area forms east of Warsaw, its maximum height reaches 90 cm in the northeastern regions of Europe and Western Siberia. In the center of the Russian Plain, the height of the snow cover is 30-35 cm, and in Transbaikalia - less than 20 cm. On the plains of Mongolia, in the center of the anticyclonic region, the snow cover is formed only in some years. The absence of snow, along with low winter air temperatures, leads to the presence of permafrost, which is no longer observed anywhere on the globe at these latitudes.

In North America, on the Great Plains, snow cover is negligible. To the east of the plains, tropical air increasingly begins to take part in frontal processes, it aggravates frontal processes, which causes heavy snowfalls. In the Montreal area, the snow cover lasts up to four months, and its height reaches 90 cm.

Summers in the continental regions of Eurasia are warm. The average July temperature is 18-22 ° C. In the arid regions of southeastern Europe and Central Asia, the average air temperature in July reaches 24-28 ° C.

In North America, continental air is somewhat colder in summer than in Asia and Europe. This is due to the lesser extent of the continent in latitude, the large indentedness of its northern part with bays and fjords, the abundance of large lakes, and the more intense development of cyclonic activity in comparison with the inner regions of Eurasia.

In the temperate zone, the annual precipitation on the flat territory of the continents varies from 300 to 800 mm, more than 2000 mm falls on the windward slopes of the Alps. Most of the precipitation falls in summer, which is primarily associated with an increase in the moisture content of the air. In Eurasia, there is a decrease in precipitation across the territory from west to east. In addition, the amount of precipitation also decreases from north to south due to a decrease in the frequency of cyclones and an increase in air dryness in this direction. In North America, a decrease in precipitation across the territory is noted, on the contrary, in the direction to the west. Why do you think?

Most of the land in the continental temperate zone is occupied by mountain systems. These are the Alps, Carpathians, Altai, Sayans, Cordillera, Rocky Mountains, etc. In mountainous regions, climatic conditions differ significantly from the climate of the plains. In summer, the air temperature in the mountains drops rapidly with altitude. In winter, when cold air masses invade, the air temperature in the plains is often lower than in the mountains.

The influence of mountains on precipitation is great. Precipitation increases on windward slopes and at some distance in front of them, and decreases on leeward slopes. For example, the differences in annual precipitation between the western and eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains in some places reach 300 mm. In the mountains, precipitation increases with height to a certain critical level. In the Alps, the level of the greatest amount of precipitation falls at an altitude of about 2000 m, in the Caucasus - 2500 m.

Subtropical climate zone

Continental subtropical climate determined by the seasonal change of temperate and tropical air. The average temperature of the coldest month in Central Asia is below zero in places, in the northeast of China -5 ...- 10 ° С. The average temperature of the warmest month is in the range of 25-30 ° С, while daily highs can exceed 40-45 ° С.

The most strongly continental climate in the air temperature regime is manifested in the southern regions of Mongolia and in the north of China, where the center of the Asian anticyclone is located in the winter season. Here, the annual amplitude of air temperature is 35-40 ° С.

Sharply continental climate in the subtropical zone for the highland regions of the Pamirs and Tibet, the height of which is 3.5-4 km. The climate of the Pamirs and Tibet is characterized by cold winters, cool summers and low rainfall.

In North America, a continental arid subtropical climate is formed in closed plateaus and intermontane basins located between the Coastal and Rocky ridges. Summers are hot and dry, especially in the south, where the average July temperature is above 30 ° C. The absolute maximum temperature can reach 50 ° C and above. In Death Valley, a temperature of +56.7 ° C was recorded!

Humid subtropical climate characteristic of the eastern coasts of the continents to the north and south of the tropics. The main areas of distribution are the southeastern United States, some southeastern regions of Europe, northern India and Myanmar, eastern China and southern Japan, northeastern Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil, the coast of Natal province in South Africa and the east coast of Australia. Summers in the humid subtropics are long and hot, with the same temperatures as in the tropics. The average temperature of the warmest month exceeds +27 ° С, and the maximum temperature is +38 ° С. Winters are mild, with average monthly temperatures above 0 ° C, but occasional frosts have a detrimental effect on vegetable and citrus plantations. In humid subtropics, the average annual precipitation ranges from 750 to 2000 mm, the distribution of precipitation over the seasons is quite even. In winter, rains and occasional snowfalls are brought mainly by cyclones. In summer, precipitation occurs mainly in the form of thunderstorms associated with powerful inflows of warm and humid oceanic air, characteristic of the monsoon circulation of East Asia. Hurricanes (or typhoons) occur in late summer and fall, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.

Subtropical climate with dry summers typical of the western coasts of the continents north and south of the tropics. In southern Europe and North Africa, such climatic conditions are typical for the Mediterranean coasts, which was the reason to call this climate also Mediterranean... A similar climate in southern California, central Chile, in the extreme south of Africa and in several areas in southern Australia. All these areas have hot summers and mild winters. As in the humid subtropics, there are occasional frosts in winter. Inland temperatures are much higher in summer than on coasts and are often the same as in tropical deserts. In general, clear weather prevails. Fogs are common on the coasts near which ocean currents pass in summer. For example, in San Francisco, summers are cool, foggy, and the warmest month is September. The maximum precipitation is associated with the passage of cyclones in winter, when the prevailing air currents mix towards the equator. The influence of anticyclones and downdrafts over the oceans are responsible for the dryness of the summer season. Average annual precipitation in a subtropical climate ranges from 380 to 900 mm and reaches its maximum values ​​on the coasts and slopes of the mountains. In summer, there is usually not enough rainfall for the normal growth of trees, and therefore a specific type of evergreen shrub vegetation develops there, known as maquis, chaparral, mal and, macchia and finbosh.

Equatorial climate zone

Equatorial type of climate distributed in equatorial latitudes in the Amazon basins in South America and Congo in Africa, on the Malacca Peninsula and on the islands of Southeast Asia. Typically, the average annual temperature is about +26 ° С. Due to the high noon standing of the Sun above the horizon and the same day length throughout the year, seasonal temperature fluctuations are small. Humid air, cloudiness and dense vegetation prevent nighttime cooling and maintain maximum daytime temperatures below +37 ° C, lower than in higher latitudes. Average annual rainfall in the humid tropics ranges from 1,500 to 3,000 mm and is usually evenly distributed over the seasons. Precipitation is mainly associated with the intertropical convergence zone, which is located slightly north of the equator. Seasonal displacements of this zone to the north and south in some areas lead to the formation of two maximum precipitation during the year, separated by drier periods. Thousands of thunderstorms roll over the humid tropics every day. In between, the sun shines in full force.