Tropical climate is the first of the five major climate groups in the Köppen climate

classification identified with the letter A. Tropical climates are defined by a monthly average
temperature of 18 °C (64.4 °F) or higher in the coolest month, and feature hot temperatures all year-
round. Annual precipitation is often abundant in tropical climates, and shows a seasonal rhythm but
may have seasonal dryness to varying degrees. There are normally only two seasons in tropical
climates, a wet (rainy / monsoon) season and a dry season. The annual temperature range in
tropical climates is normally very small. Sunlight is intense in these climates.
There are three basic types of tropical climates within the tropical climate group: tropical rainforest
climate (Af), tropical monsoon climate (Am) and tropical wet and dry climate or tropical
savannah (Aw for dry winters, and As for dry summers), which are classified and distinguished by
the precipitation and the precipitation levels of the driest month in those regions.[1]

Köppen climate classification[edit]

The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It
defines a tropical climate as a region where the mean temperature of the coldest month is greater
than or equal to 18 °C (64.4 °F) and does not fit into the criteria for B-group climates, classifying
them as an A-group (tropical climate group).[2] A-group regions are usually found in the tropics, below
23.5 latitude in both the southern and northern hemisphere; they include areas around the Equator,
Central America, North-central portions of South America, central Africa, southern portions of Asia
and parts of North Australia and the Pacific Ocean islands.[3]
In Group A, there are three types of this climate: the tropical rainforest climate (Af), tropical monsoon
climate (Am) and tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Aw or As). All of the three climates are
classified by their Pdry (short for precipitation of the driest month). Tropical rainforest climate's
Pdry should be greater than or equal 60 mm (2.4 inches). Tropical monsoon climate's Pdry should be in
the range from to 60 mm. Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate's Pdry should be less than .[2]
 Tropical Rainforest Climate Region

Tropical Monsoon Climate Region

Tropical Savanna Climate

Tropical climate biome[edit]

Amazon rainforest nearby Iquitos, Perú.

Tropical climates normally have only two seasons, a wet season and a dry season. Depending on
the location of the region, the wet and dry seasons can have varying duration. Annual temperature
changes in the tropics are small. Due to the high temperatures and abundant rainfall, much of the
plant life grows throughout the year. High temperature and humidity is the most suitable environment
for epiphytes to grow.[4] In many tropical climates, vegetation grow in layers: shrubs under tall trees,
bushes under shrubs and grasses under bushes. Tropical plants are rich in resources, including
coffee, cocoa and oil palm.[5][6] Listed below are the types of vegetation unique to each of the three
climates that make up the tropical climate biome.
Natural vegetation[edit]
Tropical rainforest vegetation including: Bengal bamboo, bougainvillea, curare, coconut
tree, durian and banana.
Tropical monsoon vegetation including: teak, deodar, rosewood, sandalwood and bamboo.
Tropical wet and dry or savanna vegetation including: acacia senegal, elephant grass, jarrah
tree, gum tree eucalyptus and whistling thorn.

Biak, Indonesia

Climate chart (explanation)

J F M A M J J A S O N D

250 240 250 200 250 230 250 240 220 180 190 230

29 28 29 29 29 29 28 29 29 29 30 29

25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C

█ Precipitation totals in mm

Source: [1]

showImperial conversion

Tropical rainforest climate[edit]

The Köppen classification identifies tropical rainforest climates (Zone Af: f = "feucht", German for
moist) as usually having north and south latitudinal ranges of just 5-10 degrees from the equator.[7]
[8]
Tropical rainforest climates have high temperatures: the yearly average temperature is normally
between 21 °C and 30 °C ( 70 °F and 85 °F ).[9][10] The precipitation can reach over 100 inches a year.
[9][10]
The seasons are evenly distributed throughout the year, and there is almost no drought period
here.[8] Regions that contain tropical rainforest climate mainly include the upper Amazon basin of
South America, the Northern Zaire (Congo) basin of Africa, and the islands of the East Indies.[8]
The tropical rainforest climate differs from other subtypes of tropical climates as it has more kinds of
trees due to its precipitation.[10] The large number of trees contribute back to the humidity of the
climate because of the transpiration, which is the process of water evaporated from the surface of
living plants to the atmosphere. The warmth and abundant precipitation heavily contributes to the
diversity and characteristics of vegetations under the tropical rainforest climate.[9] The vegetations
develop a vertical stratification and various growth forms to receive enough sunlight, which is
unusual under other types of climate.[9]
Tropical monsoon climate[edit]
Miami

Climate chart (explanation)

J F M A M J J A S O N D

51 53 61 72 158 237 145 193 194 143 68 47

24 25 26 28 30 31 32 32 31 29 27 25

15 16 18 20 22 24 25 25 24 22 19 16

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C

█ Precipitation totals in mm

Source: [2]

showImperial conversion

The Köppen classification tool identifies tropical monsoon climate as having small annual
temperature ranges, high temperatures, and plentiful precipitation. This climate also has a short dry
season which almost always occurs in the winter.[11] The tropical monsoon climate is often found
within countries in the south and southeast Asia region between the latitude of 10 degrees north and
the Tropic of Cancer. It can also be found in West Africa and South America. The annual
temperature of regions under tropical monsoon climate is also stable.
The tropical monsoon climate has the following main characteristic. The average annual temperature
is around 27.05 °C (80.69 °F) and has an average annual temperature range of about 3.6 °C (2 °F).
[12]
Distinction between wet and drought seasons, the tropical monsoon climate is different from other
tropical climates because of its uneven precipitation throughout the year. The precipitation is heavy
in the summer, and a short-drought season occurs in the winter. This climate has an annual total
precipitation of on average 3409.2mm, and a 3115.9mm summer precipitation and 293.3mm winter
precipitation.[12]
There are three main seasons of tropical monsoon climate: the cool dry season is from fall to late
winter, the hot dry season is in the spring and the rainy or monsoon season is near or during the
summer months.[13]
The tropical monsoon forest mainly consists of three layered structures. The first layer is the surface
layer which is a very dense layer of shrubs and grasses. The second layer is the understory
layer with trees about 15 meters tall. The top layer is called the canopy tree layer which has trees
from 25 to 40 meters tall and those trees grow closely while above is the emergent layer with
sporadic trees taller than 35 meters.[14]
 Brasília, Brazil

Climate chart (explanation)

J F M A M J J A S O N D

241 215 189 124 39 8.8 12 13 52 172 238 249

27 27 27 27 26 25 25 27 28 28 27 26

17 17 18 17 15 13 13 15 16 17 18 18

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C

█ Precipitation totals in mm

Source: [3]

showImperial conversion

Tropical wet and dry or forest climate[edit]

Tropical savanna climates are mainly located between the 10° and 25° north-south latitudes, and
often occur at the outer margins of the tropics. Typical regions include central Africa, parts of South
America, as well as northern and eastern Australia.[15] The temperature range of savanna climate is
between 20 °C and 30 °C (68 °F and 86 °F). In summer, the temperature is between 25 °C and
30 °C, while in winter the temperature is between 20 °C and 30 °C, but still stays above an 18 °C
mean.[16] The annual precipitation is between 700 and 1000 mm. The driest months are generally in
the winter and they have less than 60 mm of rainfall (often much less).[17]
Regions under the savanna climate usually have lands covered with flat grassland vegetation with
areas of woodlands. Those grassland biomes cover almost 20% of the Earth's surface.[18] The
grassland vegetation types include Rhodes grass, red oats grass, star grass and lemongrass.[19]