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. As of 2014, around 40% of the world’s population lived there, with numbers 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, meaning "to turn" or "change direction." It refers to special lines on Earth where the Sun can shine directly overhead. The Tropic of Cancer is where this happens during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic of Capricorn is where it happens during the winter in the Southern Hemisphere. These points change slowly over time due to the way 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 latitudes, 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 experience 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, vegetation grows a lot, and crops may produce more. However, heavy rains can cause rivers to overflow and may increase certain health risks.

Not all tropical regions have a tropical climate. Some areas, like the Sahara Desert, are very dry. There are also cool, high-altitude areas 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 further warming in the coming decades.

Ecosystems

Tropical plants and animals live in areas near the equator, called the tropics. These areas include many different types of 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 at certain times. The tropics are home to many special plants that you might recognize, like Bamboo, Banana trees, and Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons. Other tropical plants include Coconut trees, Coffee, Dragon fruit, Ferns, Jackfruit, Orchids, Palm trees, Papaya trees, and Rubber tree.

Some amazing tropical plants are known for their unique features. For example, the Giant Water Lily is so strong it can hold up to 32 kilograms. Dragon fruit comes from special cacti originally from the Americas. These plants thrive in the warm, sunny climate of the tropics, making the region a vibrant home for many kinds of flora.

Tropicality

Tropicality is the way people who live outside the tropics imagine the tropical regions. This idea became more 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 full of rich plants and animals. Another view is that the tropics are wild and hard to control. Over time, these ideas have changed to become more balanced and detailed.

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