Tropics

The tropics are the region of Earth surrounding the equator, where the Sun may shine directly overhead. This area gets more sunlight than any other part of the planet, making it the warmest region on Earth. Unlike places farther north or south, the Sun is always close to overhead in the tropics, so temperatures stay fairly steady throughout the year.

Because of this steady, intense sunlight, the tropics host a amazing variety of climates and landscapes. You can find lush rain forests, seasonal monsoons, wide-open savannahs, dry deserts, and even high altitude snow-capped mountains. These different environments support countless plants and animals, many found nowhere else on Earth.

The tropics cover almost 40% of Earth's surface and hold about 36% of its land. Many people live there, and numbers are expected to grow. However, changes in the Earth's climate, such as global warming, are affecting the tropics. Some areas are becoming warmer and drier, while others may face more intense storms. These changes challenge both wildlife and people living in the region.

Etymology

The word "tropic" comes from Ancient Greek. It means "to turn" or "change direction." Tropics are special lines on Earth where the Sun can shine straight down. The Tropic of Cancer is where this happens in summer in the north. The Tropic of Capricorn is where it happens in winter in the south. These points move slowly because of how Earth moves.

Astronomical definition

The tropics are the area between the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. These lines are about 23.5 degrees from the equator, in each direction.

At these special places, the Sun can shine right overhead at its highest point in the sky. Because of this, the tropics get more direct sunlight than other parts of Earth, making these areas generally warmer.

Seasons and climate

Many tropical areas have both a dry and a wet season. The wet season is when most of the year's rainfall falls. This season can happen in different parts of the tropics and even in some temperate regions. During the wet season, plants grow a lot, and crops may produce more. However, heavy rains can cause rivers to overflow.

Not all tropical regions have a tropical climate. Some places, like the Sahara Desert, are very dry. There are also cool, high places with snow, such as Mount Kilimanjaro and parts of the Andes. The climate in the tropics is changing, with temperatures rising due to greenhouse gases. Models predict more warming in the future.

Ecosystems

Tropical plants and animals live in areas near the equator, called the tropics. These areas include many different places to live, such as tropical rainforests, seasonal tropical forests, dry (often deciduous) forests, deserts, savannahs, and grasslands. These places often have many different kinds of plants and animals, especially in rainforests. Some famous examples are the Amazon rainforest in South American countries and forests in Madagascar.

Scientists divide the tropics into two main groups: the Paleotropics, which includes Africa, Asia, and Australia, and the Neotropics, which includes the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Together, these areas are sometimes called the Pantropic.

Flora

See also: Tropical garden

Flora are plants that grow in certain places. The tropics have many special plants. You might know Bamboo, Banana trees, and Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. Other plants include Coconut trees, Coffee, Dragon fruit, Ferns, Jackfruit, Orchids, Palm trees, Papaya trees, and Rubber tree.

Some tropical plants have special features. The Giant Water Lily is very strong. Dragon fruit comes from cacti from the Americas. These plants grow well in the warm, sunny tropics.

Tropicality

Tropicality is how people who live far from the tropics imagine those warm regions. This idea became important in geography when French geographer Pierre Gourou wrote about it in the late 1940s.

There are two main ways people think about the tropics. One view is that the tropics are like a 'Garden of Eden', a beautiful paradise with many plants and animals. Another view is that the tropics can be wild and hard to manage. Over time, these ideas have changed to become more balanced and detailed.

Some scholars wondered why it seemed harder for human societies to live in tropical areas compared to colder places. They often thought the very hot and humid climate of tropical jungles and rainforests was a reason.