Grade Six Social Studies
Where can we find the Tropical Climate Zone? The Tropical Climate Zone lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. These two lines of latitude are very important because they mark the northern and southern boundaries of this hot/warm part of the earth. This zone forms a narrow band around the middle of the earth, on both sides of the equator. It is also called the Tropics and Torrid Zone, which means the “Hot Zone”.
Now, on the map below locate the lines of latitude that mark the northern and southern margins of the “Hot Zone”. Countries in this zone are near the equator; so they receive intense heat from the sun. As a result high amounts of moisture rise into the atmosphere from the oceans, seas, rivers and lakes that are around and then condense and fall back to earth as rain. The high amounts of moisture in the atmosphere can also result in many thunderstorms, which can be violent, floods, cyclones, hurricanes and heavy rain. The Tropical Climate Zone receives high temperatures throughout the year and lots and lots of rain too. However, the amount of rain varies from time to time. Most often, rainfall is heavy during the months of May, June, November and December; while the months of August and September tend to be the time when the heat of the sun is most intense. Now, let us use a globe or map to identify and name some countries in the Tropical Climate Zone.
Countries and places in the Tropical Climate Zone ● Mexico in North America.
● All of Central America, including Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama
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Countries in South America including Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay and Suriname
African countries including Malawi, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali and Zambia
Asian countries including India, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
● All of the Caribbean Islands, including Dominica, Grenada, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago
● Fiji Islands ● The Sahara Desert and the Australian Outback
● The large rainforests in the basin of the Amazon River in South America and in the basin of the Congo River in Africa and the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia
● Tropical savannahs of South America, Africa and Asia As a result of the abundance of rain in the tropics, and the warm/hot temperatures the climate is always humid (very wet, moist and extremely hot). When the temperature is warm, the air can hold a lot of moisture in the form of water vapour. Tropical rainforests and other tropical plants love a humid climate, but people find it very uncomfortable because it is usually hot and sticky. The areas of tropical rainforests can be seen on the map.
The good about the tropical climate The Tropical Zone has the ideal climate for growing a wide range of food crops, including rice, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, soya beans, coffee, tea, and fruits like mangoes and bananas.
Problems in the Tropical Climate Zone It is not only plants that the climate in the Tropical zone is suitable for, but also many insects that make their home in this zone. When and where there is lots of water around, we can expect to find mosquitoes.
The problems caused by these insects include the spread of diseases, like malaria. They breed in pools, puddles, ponds and in any container that holds stagnant water. What action we can take to make our environment free of them? Malaria is spread by mosquitoes
The Tropical Climate Zone has two seasons: a wet season and a dry season. Countries near the equator get a lot of rain during all seasons and are covered by tropical rainforests. Whereas, further north or south of the equator either one or two dry seasons occur yearly. Other areas still further from the equator experience one long dry season and one long wet season every year. Such areas are covered by grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs.
Something for you to do Draw a circle to represent the earth. Then draw lines to represent the equator, the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Next, shade and label the Tropical Zone.
Goodbye Boys and Girls, until next week.