Tropical rainforest climate

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Worldwide zones of tropical rainforest climate (Af). Koppen-Geiger Map v2 Af 1991-2020.svg
Worldwide zones of tropical rainforest climate (Af).

A tropical rainforest climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as Bermuda, the coast of southernmost Florida, United States (Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach), and Okinawa, Japan that fall into the tropical rainforest climate category. They experience high mean annual temperatures, small temperature ranges, and rain that falls throughout the year. Regions with this climate are typically designated Af by the Köppen climate classification. A tropical rainforest climate is typically hot, very humid, and wet with no dry season.

Contents

Description

Borneo, with the typical vegetation of tropical forests. Cloud forest mount kinabalu.jpg
Borneo, with the typical vegetation of tropical forests.
Amazon rainforest, Manaus, Brazil. Amazon Manaus forest.jpg
Amazon rainforest, Manaus, Brazil.

Tropical rainforests have a type of tropical climate (at least 18 C or 64.4 F in their coldest month) in which there is no dry season—all months have an average precipitation value of at least 60 mm (2.4 in). There are no distinct wet or dry seasons as rainfall is high throughout the months. One day in a tropical rainforest climate can be very similar to the next, while the change in temperature between day and night may be larger than the average change in temperature during the year. [1]

Equatorial climates and tropical trade-wind climates

When tropical rainforest climates are more dominated by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) than the trade winds (and with no or rare cyclones), so usually located near the equator, they are also called equatorial climates. Otherwise, when they are more dominated by the trade winds than the ITCZ, they are called tropical trade-wind climates. In pure equatorial climates, the atmospheric pressure is almost constantly low so the horizontal pressure gradient is low. Consequently, the winds are rare and usually weak (except sea and land breezes in coastal areas) while in tropical trade-wind climates, often located at higher latitudes than the equatorial climates, the wind is almost permanent which incidentally explains why rainforest formations are impoverished compared to those of equatorial climates due to their necessary resistance to strong winds accompanying tropical disturbances. [2] [3]

Cities with tropical rainforest climates

Asia

Oceania

Africa

Americas

Paramaribo, Suriname
Climate chart (explanation)
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90
 
 
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120
 
 
32
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180
 
 
30
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
7.9
 
 
86
72
 
 
5.5
 
 
86
72
 
 
5.9
 
 
86
72
 
 
8.3
 
 
88
72
 
 
11
 
 
86
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11
 
 
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9.1
 
 
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6.7
 
 
90
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3.5
 
 
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3.5
 
 
91
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4.7
 
 
90
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7.1
 
 
86
72
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Mbandaka, DR Congo
Climate chart (explanation)
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100
 
 
29
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200
 
 
30
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210
 
 
30
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190
 
 
30
19
 
 
120
 
 
30
19
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
3.1
 
 
88
66
 
 
3.9
 
 
90
68
 
 
5.9
 
 
90
68
 
 
5.5
 
 
88
68
 
 
5.1
 
 
88
68
 
 
4.3
 
 
86
66
 
 
3.9
 
 
86
63
 
 
3.9
 
 
84
63
 
 
7.9
 
 
86
66
 
 
8.3
 
 
86
66
 
 
7.5
 
 
86
66
 
 
4.7
 
 
86
66
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Pontianak, Indonesia
Climate chart (explanation)
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260
 
 
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215
 
 
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256
 
 
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329
 
 
33
23
 
 
400
 
 
32
23
 
 
302
 
 
32
22
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
10
 
 
90
73
 
 
8.5
 
 
91
73
 
 
10
 
 
91
73
 
 
11
 
 
92
74
 
 
10
 
 
91
74
 
 
8.3
 
 
92
74
 
 
7.9
 
 
91
72
 
 
7.1
 
 
92
73
 
 
12
 
 
91
73
 
 
13
 
 
91
73
 
 
16
 
 
90
73
 
 
12
 
 
90
72
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Climate chart (explanation)
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227
 
 
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270
 
 
34
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302
 
 
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146
 
 
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220
 
 
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284
 
 
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356
 
 
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281
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Monthly Statistical Bulletin Sarawak
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
8.9
 
 
91
75
 
 
7.6
 
 
92
75
 
 
11
 
 
93
76
 
 
12
 
 
93
76
 
 
9.1
 
 
92
77
 
 
5.7
 
 
92
77
 
 
6.5
 
 
91
76
 
 
6.9
 
 
91
76
 
 
8.7
 
 
91
76
 
 
11
 
 
91
76
 
 
14
 
 
90
75
 
 
11
 
 
90
75
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Davao, Philippines
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
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140
 
 
31
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109
 
 
31
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108
 
 
32
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125
 
 
33
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159
 
 
33
25
 
 
187
 
 
32
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165
 
 
32
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170
 
 
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170
 
 
32
24
 
 
175
 
 
32
24
 
 
138
 
 
32
24
 
 
113
 
 
31
24
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
5.5
 
 
87
74
 
 
4.3
 
 
88
74
 
 
4.3
 
 
90
74
 
 
4.9
 
 
91
76
 
 
6.2
 
 
91
76
 
 
7.4
 
 
89
76
 
 
6.5
 
 
89
75
 
 
6.7
 
 
89
75
 
 
6.7
 
 
89
75
 
 
6.9
 
 
90
75
 
 
5.4
 
 
90
75
 
 
4.4
 
 
89
75
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Quibdó, Colombia
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
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579
 
 
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852
 
 
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702
 
 
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654
 
 
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728
 
 
30
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589
 
 
30
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
23
 
 
86
73
 
 
20
 
 
86
74
 
 
21
 
 
87
74
 
 
26
 
 
87
74
 
 
31
 
 
88
74
 
 
30
 
 
88
73
 
 
32
 
 
88
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34
 
 
88
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28
 
 
87
73
 
 
26
 
 
87
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29
 
 
86
73
 
 
23
 
 
85
73
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

See also

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References

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  4. "Nicobar Islands rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.