Tropics

Tropics

The Tropics are a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. They are delimited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at 23°26′11.6″ (or 23.43657°) N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at 23°26′11.6″ (or 23.43657°) S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth. The tropics are also referred to as the tropical zone and the torrid zone (see geographical zone). The tropics include all the areas on the Earth where the Sun contacts a point directly overhead at least once during the solar year (which is a subsolar point) - thus the latitude of the tropics is roughly equal to the angle of the Earth's axial tilt.

Climate

The tropics are distinguished from the other climatic and biomatic regions of Earth, which are the middle latitudes and the polar regions on either side of the equatorial zone. The tropical climate is characterized by hot, wet weather and lush plant growth. The annual rainfall in the tropics ranges from 80 to 400 inches (2,000 to 10,000 mm) a year. Tropical rainforests, which are among the most diverse terrestrial ecosystems, cover about 7 percent of the Earth’s land surface and contain about half of its plant and animal types.

Biodiversity

The tropics harbor the majority of the world's biodiversity. This is due to the constant and high energy found in these regions that is provided by the intense sunlight. The tropics are home to many unique species of animals and plants. Rainforests, both tropical and temperate, are the most biodiverse terrestrial biome.

Human Geography

The tropics contain 40% of the world's population and are typically agricultural. The largest tropical countries are Brazil and Indonesia.

See Also

• Tropical climate
• Tropical rainforest
• Tropical disease
• Tropical cyclone

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