EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

Many regions close to the equator experience an equatorial climate. These regions
include, the Amazon Basin (South America), the Congo Basin (Africa), Malaysia, Indonesia
and some areas in northern Australia.
Characteristics of Equatorial Climates

Regions with this climate experience high temperatures all year round. The average monthly
temperatures are about 26 – 28 degrees Celsius. The annual temperature range (the
difference between the average temperature of the hottest and coldest months) is very
small. The annual temperature range may be as low as 3 degrees Celsius. The diurnal or
daily temperature range (the difference between the highest temperature in the day and the
lowest temperature at night) is usually greater. Humidity is usually very high.

Another major characteristic of this climate is the high rainfall. These regions usually
experience 2000 mm of rainfall or more in a year. Rainfall is high for most of the year. Many
equatorial regions are affected by the ITCZ. As the ITCZ passes over these areas it brings
heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. In some areas, the ITCZ causes two periods of very
heavy rainfall every year. One occurs when the ITCZ crosses these areas on its way north
and another occurs when it crosses these areas again on its way south. The climograph
below shows the rainfall and temperature pattern of an area which experiences an
equatorial climate.

Equatorial / Tropical Rainforest

Tropical rainforests have dense vegetation. From ground level up these levels of vegetation are:

 The shrub layer. It is dark and gloomy with very little vegetation between the trees.
During heavy rainfalls this area can flood.
 The under canopy is the second level up. There is limited
sunlight. Saplings wait here for larger plants and trees to
die, leaving a gap in the canopy which they can grow into.
Woody climbers called lianas avoid having to wait for gaps
by rooting in the ground and climbing up trees to get to the
sunlight.
 The canopy is where the upper parts of most of the trees
are found. The canopy is typically about 65 to 130 feet (20
to 40 metres) tall. This leafy environment is home to
insects, arachnids, birds and some mammals.
 emergents are the tops of the tallest trees in the
rainforest. These are much higher, and so are able to get
more light than the average trees in the forest canopy.

How Plants have adapted to survive

Fan palms have large, fan-shaped leaves that are good for catching sunshine and water.
The leaves are segmented, so excess water can drain away.
 Rainforests have a shallow layer of fertile soil, so trees only need shallow roots to reach the
nutrients. However, shallow roots can't support huge rainforest trees, so many tropical trees
 have developed huge buttress roots. These stretch from the ground
to two metres or more up the trunk and help to anchor the tree to the
ground.
 Lianas are woody vines that start at ground level, and use trees to
climb up to the canopy where they spread from tree to tree to get as
much light as possible.
 Strangler figs start at the top of a tree and work down. The seed is
dropped in a nook at the top of a tree and starts to grow, using the
debris collected there as nourishment. Gradually the fig sends aerial
roots down the trunk of the host, until they reach the ground and take
root. As it matures, the fig will gradually surround the host, criss-cross
its roots around the trunk and start to strangle. The figs branches will
grow taller to catch the sunlight and invasive roots rob the host of
nutrients. Eventually the host will die and decompose leaving the
hollow but sturdy trunk of the strangler fig.

Tropical Continental/ Savannah

The savannah biome is located further away from the equator than the tropical rainforest biome
in the central part of Africa and in South America. It is dry, but not as dry as desert areas.

Characteristics
Savannahs - also known as tropical grasslands - are found to the north and south of tropical
rainforest biomes. The largest expanses of savannah are in Africa, where much of the central
part of the continent, for example Kenya and Tanzania, consists of tropical grassland.
Savannah grasslands can also be found in Brazil in South America.

Savannah regions have two distinct seasons - a wet season and a dry season. There is very little
rain in the dry season. In the wet season vegetation grows, including lush green grasses and
wooded areas. As you move further away from the equator and its heavy rainfall, the grassland
becomes drier and drier - particularly in the dry season. Savannah vegetation includes scrub,
grasses and occasional trees, which grow near water holes, seasonal rivers or aquifers.

Plants and animals have to adapt to the long dry periods. Many plants are xerophytic - for
example, the acacia tree with its small, waxy leaves and thorns. Plants may also store water, for
example the baobab tree) or have long roots that reach down to the water table. Animals
may migrate great distances in search of food and water.

Soils
Savannah grassland soils are not very fertile. The nutrients in the soil are found near the surface
as they come from decayed organic matter (vegetation) from the previous growing season. This
organic matter decays rapidly due to the high temperatures.

Soils tend to be red in colour due to their high iron content. The diagram below shows the
different horizons, or layers, of soil in savannah grassland. Plant roots cannot penetrate the hard
'pan' layer in the B-horizon, or subsoil. This restricts vegetation growth.
 Confierous Woodland - Coniferous or boreal forests occur in cold northern regions
characterised by long cold winters and short summers. Although there is a lot of precipitation,
most of it falls as snow.

This biome is found between 50° and 60° north of the equator and is characterised by evergreen
coniferous trees with needles instead of leaves. It is also known as Taiga.

Typical trees include spruce, pine and fir. Animals commonly found in the region are reindeer,
voles and hares.

At the most northern extent, summer temperatures rarely rise above 10°C. As you move further
north, trees are shorter and less dense because of the shorter growing season. Winter
temperatures can fall as low as minus 30°C. At its southern margins, the trees become taller and
denser and merge with deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves). Temperatures here can
rise as high as 20°C in the summer and can fall to minus 15°C in winter. Precipitation is 300–900
mm, and most falls as snow in winter.

Adaptations of vegetation
Coniferous trees have thick bark to protect against the cold. They are cone-shaped, with
flexible branches which help them to cope with heavy snow fall.
 Pine cones protect the seeds during the harsh winter.
 The thin waxy needles reduce water loss.
 Their evergreen nature means that the needles can photosynthesize whenever there is
sufficient sunlight.
 The dense forest creates warmth during the harsh winter

Taiga soils

 Soils are shallow due to lack of decomposition and weathering

caused by the cold. They are acidic due to leaching from rainfall
and they are also poor in nutrients.
 The litter layer is thick with needles due to slow decomposition.
 The humus (decomposed) layer is thin.
 There are clear boundaries between the layers in the soil as there
are few worms to mix it in the cold conditions.
 Trees have shallow roots.
 The typical soil is a podsol, which has a distinctive ash grey layer
(or horizon) above a red layer, which is rich in iron.
 Fishing in the Caribbean and Fishing in British Columbia, Canada
Factors Fishing in Trinidad (Gulf of
Paria)
Continental Shelf Abundant marine life provide
food for fish in the coral reefs
Fishing grounds The shallow coastal waters
around Trinidad are rich in
nutrients which are washed into
the sea by rivers such as the
Orinoco in Venezuela
Mangrove swamps provide
important habitats and breeding
grounds for fish and shrimps
Processing/Technology
Exports/ Market
harbours
Fishing In British Columbia,
CA
The good climatic conditions
created by the ocean currents
(the warm North pacific current
and the cold Alaska current).
These lead to the upwelling of
cold water along the coast thus
bringing plankton food for the
fish to the surface thus extracting
the fish in great members.
The presence of the water bodies
both fresh (the lakes, rivers and
ponds) and the salty ocean
waters (marine fishing), this leads
to a variety of fish in the area.
Improved technology is another
factor. This is reflected in
developed fish methods which
include; the use of drifters,
trenkers,etc and also improved
preservation methods use of
refrigerators and canning. In
addition to the cool climate in the
region offers naturalpreservation.
Presence of market for fish. Most
of the natives depend on fish for
proteins. There is ready market at
home and abroad especially U.S.A
and North America.
Good harbors - The North
American coast around the British
Columbia is an identified
coastline, which offers the
province safe sheltered harbors
for good landing grounds, for
development of ports and fish
landing sites.