Hot Wet Equatorial Climate

THE HOT, WET equatorial CLIMATE Distribution -Is assemble between 5 and 10N and S of the equator. Its big(p)est extent is found in the lowlands of the Amazon, Congo D. R, Malaysia and the tocopherol Indies. -Further away from the equator, the influence on the on-shore Trade Winds gives rise to a special type of equatorial modality with the Monsoon influences. -Within the tropics, the equatorial highlands have a distinctively cooler climate, modified by altitude such as the Cameron highlands, blue Andes and Kenyan highlands in East AfricaMap CLIMATE 1. Temperature The most outstanding vaunt of an equatorial climate is its great uniformity of temperature through out the stratum The mean annual temperatures argon always around 27C with actually little variation. - in that respect is no winter. -cloudiness and precipitation help to moderate the everyday temperature so that even at the equator itself the climate is bearable. -regular land and sea breezes as well as assist in maintaining a truly equable climate. -the diurnal reach is small and so is the annual range.Figures below illustrate the rhythm of climate experienced in two different equatorial regions, one on lowland (Kuala Lumpur) and the other on the highland (Bogota). Kuala Lumpur Month JFMAMJJASOND Temp(C)262627272727262626262627 rainwaterwater (mm)170170236279216127104157185274257231 annual precipitation 2 413mm Annual temperature range 1C (27C 26C) Bogota Month JFMAMJJASOND Temp(C)141415151414141414141414 Rainfall (mm)948912424416581668474213224142 Annual precipitation 1 610mm Annual temperature range 1C (15C 14C) 2. Rainfall Rainfall is heavy, between 1 524mm and 2 540mm and well distributed throughout the year. on that point is no month without rain. There argon two periods of maximum rainfall, April and October which descend shortly after the equinoxes. The double rainfall peaks coinciding with the equinoxes be a characteristic feature of equatorial climates not found in whate ver other type of climate. -Due to great heat in the equatorial fringe mornings are bright and sunny. There is much evaporation and convection air currents are set up, followed by heavy downpours of convectional rains in the afternoon from the towering cumulonimbus clouds. -Besides the convectional rainfall, mountainous regions also experience much Orographic or relief rainfall.In addition, there are some intermittent showers from cyclonic atmospheric disturbances caused by the convergence of air currents in the doldrums. -The relative humidity is constantly high (over80%) make one feel sticky and uncomfortable. NATURAL VEGETATION -Equatorial region contribute a luxuriant type of cloggy vegetation the tropical rain forest- because of heavy rainfall and uniform temperature. -In the Amazon lowlands, the forest is so dense and so complete that a special term Selvas is used. 1. A great variety of vegetation -The equatorial vegetation comprises a multitude of half-evergreen trees t hat yield tropical hardwood e. . mahogany, ebony, greenheart, cabinet woods and dyewoods. -There are smaller ribbon trees, climbing plants like lianas or rattan which may be deoxycytidine monophosphate of metres long and epiphytic and parasitic plants that live on other plants. -Under the trees bring forth a wide variety of creepers, ferns, orchids and lalang 2. A distinct layer emplacement .-From the air, the tropical rain forest appears like a thick cover of foliage. All plants struggle upwards for sunlight resulting in a unexpended later arrangement. -The tallest trees attain a height of 45m with dense undergrowth that dope tolerate shade. 3. Multiple species Trees of equatorial rainforest are not found in pure stands of a single species like in the equable where forests where only a few species occur in a token area. This has made timber exploitation to be difficult. 4. Forest clearings -Many parts of the saturated tropical rainforests have been cleared either for lumb ering or work shift cultivation. When these clearings are abandoned, less luxuriant secondary forests, called belukar in Malaysia, spring up. -These are characterised by short trees and very dense undergrowth. Mangrove forests thrive in the coastal areas and brackish swamps. LIFE AND DEVELOPMENTThe equatorial regions are generally sparsely populated. In the forests most primitive people live as hunters and collectors and the to a greater extent advanced ones practice shifting cultivation. Food is so abundant in such a habitat that many people worry very little the life of the next day. There are numerous animals, birds and reptiles and groundwork be hunted to serve the needs of the community. Crops grown include mandioc (tapioca), yams, maize, bananas and groundnuts. Plantation agriculture is also practised widely with the outstanding crop, rubber. Malaysia and Indonesia are the leading producers of rubber.Another tropical crop is cocoa, which is more extensively cultivated in Wes t Africa in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Other crops include vegetable oil palm, cocoanuts, coffee, tea, tobacco, spices, bananas, pineapples, etc. FACTORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT Equatorial climate and health uppity heat and humidity expose human beings to sunstroke and to such diseases as malaria and yellow fever. Prevalence of bacteria and insect pests. Jungle hinders development and maintenance. fast deterioration of tropical soil. Difficulties in lumbering and live stock farming. poor pasture.