Tropical climates are probably the most exotic of all in the world, associated as they are with thick, luscious jungle or rain forest, and a rich variety of plants, insects and animals. To someone used to the changeability of the British weather, however, the weather routine in the tropics may, at first sight, seem a little monotonous. Rain, often very heavy downpours, is likely to occur every day more or less at the same time. The days begin sunny and hot, and with the topics situated within a ten degree band either side of the equator the sun is directly overhead. As the day wears on the heat causes the extremely humid air to rise. Clouds form quickly often resulting in showers in the late afternoon, which usually clear to give a fine evening.
Temperatures in the tropics remain constantly high throughout the year, with as little as 2°C (3.6°F) separating the highest noon temperature from the lowest throughout the year. There are no real seasons, indeed it is said that night-time is the winter of the tropics. However, nights are also very warm and sticky, and unless there are cooling sea breezes life in the tropics can feel very humid and unpleasant to those not used to it.
The best-known tropical areas are the Amazon rain forest in South America which is fed by the huge Amazon river, the Congo basin in Central Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia and southern Vietnam. Typical of such jungle areas are massively tall trees whose leaves meet at the top to form a kind of canopy. Beneath, in the semi-twilight, grow smaller trees and ferns, but there is little undergrowth itself as sunlight finds it hard to penetrate the dense foliage.
There is, however, all sorts of abundant wildlife and a large number of plants which have yet to be properly studied and classified. Animals like monkeys, jaguars and multicoloured birds are residents of these jungles though many are becoming increasingly rare as man develops more and more of the rain forests of the world.
In fact the destruction of the rain forests is now being seen as a major environmental problem for the planet. Some estimates claim that destruction of the rain forests at the present rate would mean that by the end of the 20th Century there will be little left. The impact is not just on the dwindling numbers of indigenous people who still inhabit the rain forests, or the flora and fauna. Rain forests are know to contain around 40 per cent of all carbon existing in plant life on Earth. The cutting and burning of those forests – the standard technique to clear them – may well have a major impact on the greenhouse effect, as well as on local water cycles; it is predicted that clearance of all the Amazon rain forest would reduce local rainfall by 20 per cent. Environmentalists are now calling for controls on the removal of the rain forests as research goes on into its likely impact.
Other features in the Climate Zones series:
- Polar Zone
- Desert Zone
- Temperate Zone
- Monsoon Zone
- Continental Zone
- Mediterranean Zone
