What are the characteristics of tropical climates?

Because these are the parts of the planet where the Sun's rays can strike from directly overhead at high noon, they can become extremely hot during the day and even very warm at night until early in the morning. Tropical climates are found at the middle band along the equator between the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere.

The cool mornings soon warm up to their maximum temperatures in the early afternoon, between 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. As the afternoon wears on, less light and heat energy strikes the Earth's surface, causing the temperature to drop slightly. It stays warm until the early evening after sunset, but then begins to drop off quickly until shortly before sunrise the following day.

At sea, the heat causes a great deal of water to evaporate into the lower atmosphere; by mid- to late afternoon, these can form thick cumulus clouds, which have the potential to develop into thunderheads (cumulo-nimbus). Depending on the wind patterns and season, rain can fall either as quick thunderstorms or as steady downpours.

Occasionally, the rising air creates low-pressure zones that give rise to "tropical cyclones" (hurricanes, typhoons, and willy-willies), where powerful winds and heavy precipitation can cause enormous ocean waves or demolish land-based structures through storm surges (high waves), flash floods, wind battering, and the formation of tornadoes and water spouts.

Tropical regions with low precipitation, like those found along "horse latitudes" or behind mountain ranges that cast "rain shadows," can become small or large deserts; regions with higher precipitation, either seasonally distributed or dispersed, can become grasslands and savannas with an abundance of wildlife; and regions with continuous precipitation, with unrelenting tree growth, can become thick, humid jungles and tropical rain forests.

Characteristics of tropical climates include high temperatures year-round, with little variation between seasons. These regions typically experience high humidity, abundant rainfall, and lush vegetation. Tropical climates are often associated with diverse ecosystems, including rainforests, savannas, and tropical wetlands. Additionally, tropical climates may experience frequent and intense weather phenomena such as hurricanes, cyclones, and monsoons.