Climate Aspects of the Tropics

Abstract

Unlike the high latitudes and most of the mid-latitudes, the tropical ecozone benefits from a constant radiation surplus (Fig. 1). In daytime, the sunrays descend at a steep angle up to 90° at noon between the tropics twice per year. Hence, long-term shaded slopes in mountain landscapes do not exist. Lengths of day and night stay almost the same at the equator (approx. 12 h.), while at the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, minimum and maximum day lengths vary within a time span from 10.5 to 13.5 h. As a result marked thermal seasons are absent in the tropical climates.