7 CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

 Equatorial climate can simply be defined as climate along the equator. the equatorial climate is also known as rainforest climate because there are mostly rainforest along the equator

The equator is an imaginary line running at the centre of the earth from east to west.

7 CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

Location of the climate

The climate is experienced by the areas located close to the equator between 5 degrees north and 5 degrees south of the equator. 

The climate is located in the Congo Basin, the West African coasts, in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and, the amazon basin in South America

The climate is found also on Lake Victoria shores and islands though it is modified by the altitude.  

It is found also in the coastal areas and the eastern parts of Pemba and Zanzibar Islands.

The following are characteristics of the equatorial climate.

The high mean annual temperature of about 27 0C.  

The difference between the average temperature of the hottest and coldest months (annual temperature range) is very small and it can be as small as 3 degrees Celsius

the difference between the highest temperature in the day and the lowest temperature at night (diurnal temperature range is usually large

Uniformly high temperatures of about 30 0C with only a small annual range. 

High relative humidity of about 80%.

 This is due to high rainfall which rains almost throughout the year and high temperature which cause evaporation which in turn leads to high humidity throughout the year

Abundant rainfall of 2000 mm on average.  

Double maxima rainfall around April and October each year

This means that The equatorial regions experience a long rainy season between March and June and a short rainy season between October and December. this is caused by inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) which occur when trade wind converge in the zone of low pressure in equatorial regions causing heavy rainfall and thunderstorm.

The region receives convectional rainfall

A diverse range of plants (equatorial rainforest) due to excessive rainfall and temperature

the equatorial rainforest have very dense vegetation. many different types of trees and other plants can be found growing in relatively small area of rainforest. more species of plants can be found in the rainforest than in other types of plant community. four square miles of rainforest may contain as many as 750 species of trees and 1500 species of flowering plants

Rainfall is accompanied by thunder and lightning.  

Absence of distinct dry season.

presence of rainforest

High rainfall and humidity lead to the formation of rainforest which comprises four layers namely crown of the tallest trees, canopy, understory, and shrub layer.

The rainforest is made up of very dense vegetation. Four square miles of rainforest may contain as many as 750 species of tree and 1,500 species of a flowering plant.

Rainforests cover only about 6 percent of the Earth’s surface. However, they contain about half of the world’s known animal species and provide about 40% of the world’s oxygen.

Characteristics of Natural Vegetation in an equatorial climate

  • Close cover of all tall trees of 20-50m metres

  • Trees are evergreen

  • The forests lack undergrowth because the canopy layers cut out light.

  • Trees form a canopy

  • Trees do not grow in pure stand

Natural Vegetation in equatorial climate

Equatorial climate has the following tree species:

  • Mahogany

  • Ebony

  • Greenheart

  • Rosewood

The following Economic activities carried out in equatorial climate regions

  • Due to the existence of dense forests, wildlife conservation has been made possible and this attracts tourists.

8 Economic activities carried out in equatorial climate regions

  • Equatorial climate has also favoured the existence of numerous water bodies giving rise to fishing activities.

  • The dense vegetation in equatorial regions harbours wild animals making hunting possible.

  • The dense forests due to heavy rainfall and hot temperatures experienced in that region have favored lumbering activities e.g. in Mabira forest.

  • Agriculture and forest products existing in equatorial region have made industrial growth possible.

  • Growing of perennial crops like coffee, palm oil, cocoa and tea due to heavy rainfall received throughout the year.

  • Charcoal burning due to existence of dense forest cover.

  • Food gathering e.g. passion fruits due to thick forests with fertile and dump grounds.

The following are the conditions leading to the equatorial climate 

  • Influence of trade winds, especially the southeast trade winds which blow over the Indian Ocean causing the intertropical convergence zone leading to heavy rainfall, high humidity along the equator.

Conditions leading to equatorial climate

  • Distance from the sea: areas near water bodies e.g. Lake Victoria and Kyoga receive heavy rains due to on-shore and off-shore breezes hence equatorial climate.

  • Latitudinal location: Areas along with the equator experience hot and wet conditions due to inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) formed when winds converge at the equator blowing from different areas, especially over the Indian Ocean.

  • Ocean currents especially the warm Mozambique currents that bring heavy rainfall along the equatorial belt of East Africa.

  • Mans activities through afforestation & re-afforestation programs lead to the creation of green belts of vegetation leading to heavy rainfall along the equator.

  • Influence of vegetation: Thick forests e.g. Mabira lead to rainfall formation through evapotranspiration.

  • Savannah climate: it occurs between 5o to 15o north and south of the Equator. It's found in the broad zone between the equatorial climate and the hot desert.

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