equatorial belt - the geographical area of the planet, which is located along the equatorial band.It covers areas of both northern and southern hemispheres, and at the same climatic conditions in both parts of the world are the same.Equatorial climate zone is considered to be the hottest in the world, but at the same time there are high temperatures combined with the same high levels of humidity.Well, consider in more detail all the features of this natural area, and understand, what specific latitudes it is
coordinates and geographical features position
First, let's deal with the exact position with respect to numbers.The equatorial zone located on both sides of the equator, with from 5-8 °.w.to 4-11 ° S.co., limited sub-equatorial belts.That is, it is surrounded by strip sub-Saharan zone, which by its climate and natural features are very similar.The peculiarity of his position is that he runs not along the equatorial belt.It is discontinuous and divided into a number of isolated areas dedicated to the continents (Africa and South America) and the cluster of islands in the ocean (Malay Archipelago, Sri Lanka, etc.).
Belt covers adjacent to the zero-latitude area of land in the west of South America, as well as the coastal area of the Pacific Ocean.Next spot - is the Gulf of Guinea and the central part of West Africa.The most extensive and lingering band of equatorial climate is in the Indian Ocean.It captures and waters and islands that are there.
Weather characteristics equatorial belt
main feature of this natural area is the prevalence here of equatorial air masses.They form over the region a zone of stable temperatures that do not change throughout the year.Indicators of the thermometer in the shade range from 25 to 30 above zero, and this difference is uncharacteristic feature of seasonal temperature change.It all depends on solar activity and the amount of clouds that formed over the region in a given day.It should also be noted that the temperatures in the equatorial belt is largely dependent on whether a specific geographical point removed from the ocean.The deeper into the continent, the hotter.Coastal territory longer filled with moisture, because then more likely to occur precipitation, and air is heating up too much.
Precipitation and humidity
equatorial zone - a zone of dynamic minimum.The pressure here is extremely low because the amount of precipitation that falls on the area, the maximum.In the year immediately falls from 7 to 10 thousand millimeters of precipitation.It is worth noting that in the equatorial latitudes and very high volatility, which is a little "corrects" the whole picture.Thanks to the region is not buried in the rain, which then happen very often.Themselves precipitation falls as heavy showers with thunder and lightning, and almost every day.After such bad weather that lasts for a few hours (especially at noon), the sun comes out, the moisture evaporates and the ground dries out and is recovering "typical summer".
Movement sun
What else is unique in the equatorial belt, so it is the unique dynamics of the sun.Many believe that the length of the day is not changed for a second during the year, but in fact it is not.On average, the sun is above the equatorial ground 12 hours a day.Thus its degree relative to the planet is equal to 90. These data are typical only for narrow strips, which he crosses the equator.In the Northern Hemisphere, as well as in all other areas of the planet, summer day increases by 1-2 hours, and in the winter at the same time reduced.Summer is here falls as we have - in June-August.In the southern hemisphere, on the contrary, in these months the day is reduced by 1-2 hours, and in December and February increases.
Flora and fauna
Because the equatorial climate zone - a zone of huge humidity here for centuries formed an incredibly lush flora, which is inhabited by no less diverse fauna.There are plants that can not be found anywhere else on the planet.This evergreen thickets, impenetrable jungle.They are formed by oil palms, ficus, kausukonosami, date and coffee bushes.Here, too, there are various forks of ferns, vines, and a lot of black trees.Local animals are divided into two types: those that live in the trees, and the class of land.The former include many monkeys, most of the chimpanzees.There are also representatives of the cat family - leopards, cheetahs, jaguars.In the equatorial forests there are many sloths that live in the trees.There tapirs, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses.
interaction with tropics
now briefly consider the natural areas that surround the equatorial climate zone.The tropical zone, if not to take into account the transition sub-equatorial latitude, has as much to do and a lot of differences with the equator.Firstly, the area of maximum dynamic.Here falls a minimum rainfall - less than 500 mm.Also, there can be traced minor temperature fluctuations - up to 3 degrees in the course of the seasons.A special feature of this area is that the flora and fauna here only rich coasts.All areas that are located far from the ocean, dry and covered with impenetrable deserts.
Conclusion
equatorial belt - the hottest and most unique part of our planet.It occupies an extremely small part of the territory, but it will fit a lot of rare species of animals and plants.This is the wettest area of the Earth where there is rain every day, and every day all traces of dried hot sun.
