What are the characteristics of tropical rainforest climate? What are the main causes of tropical rainforest climate?

The tropical rainforest climate is also known as the "equatorial rainy climate". It is mainly distributed between 10° north and south latitude on both sides of the equator (near the equator). It is hot and rainy all year round, so the vegetation is particularly lush. Curious kids may wonder, how can a tropical rainforest climate be formed? Let's find out together!

Contents of this article

1. What are the characteristics of tropical rainforest climate?

2. The main causes of tropical rainforest climate

3. Differences between tropical rainforest climate and tropical savanna climate

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforest climate?

It is hot and rainy all year round, with no obvious seasonal differences. The annual average temperature is 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, the average temperature of the coldest month is above 18 degrees Celsius, and the extreme maximum temperature is mostly below 36 degrees Celsius.

The annual precipitation is usually more than 2000 mm and sometimes even up to 6000 mm. The rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. It is humid all year round and the relative humidity is above 95%.

Tropical rainforest climate is mainly distributed in tropical climate areas within 5 to 10 degrees north and south latitude of the equator.

The main causes of tropical rainforest climate

1. Solar radiation: Solar radiation ranges from 100 to 180 kcal cm per year, resulting in high temperatures throughout the year.

2. Atmospheric circulation: Under the influence of the equatorial low-pressure belt, upward air currents prevail all year round. Warm and humid air currents gather near the equator, converge and rise, and the water vapor they contain easily forms clouds and causes rain; or they are blown by trade winds, which bring warm and humid air, making it rainy all year round.

3. Influence of topography: The terrain is relatively low, which is suitable for the growth of rainforests; or the windward slopes of the mountains are uplifted by the terrain and have more precipitation.

4. Influence of ocean currents: The influence of warm currents will make the rainforest climate in the area more widely distributed and have more precipitation, while the distribution range along the coast where cold currents pass will be smaller.

5. Others: The distribution of land and sea and vegetation also have a certain impact on the tropical rainforest climate. The tropical rainforest climate is located near the sea or in the basin of a large river, which makes the rainfall abundant and the temperature difference small; the transpiration of vegetation is strong, making the environment more humid.

Difference between tropical rainforest climate and tropical savanna climate

The tropical rainforest climate is also known as the "equatorial rainy climate". It is mainly distributed between 10° north and south latitude on both sides of the equator (near the equator). It is hot and rainy all year round, with an average monthly temperature of 25-28°C and an annual precipitation of more than 2,000 mm. The seasons are evenly distributed, with no dry period.

The tropical savanna climate, also known as tropical dry and wet season climate, savanna climate, tropical savanna climate, and tropical open forest steppe climate, is roughly distributed between 10° north and south latitude and the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. It is typical in central Africa, most of Brazil in South America, and the northern and eastern parts of the Australian continent.

The differences between the two are:

1. Different distribution range: The tropical rainforest climate is distributed between 10° north and south latitude.

The tropical savanna climate is distributed between 10° north and south latitude and the Tropic of Cancer.

2. Different climate characteristics: Tropical rainforest climate is hot and rainy throughout the year.

The tropical savanna climate is hot all year round and is divided into two seasons: dry and wet.

3. Different vegetation types: The vegetation in the tropical rainforest climate zone is tropical rainforest.

The vegetation in the savanna climate zone is grassland or sparse grassland.