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Special characters of equatorial region

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What are some characteristics of an equatorial region?

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4 ANSWERS



Saumya Mishra, M.A. Geography, Delhi School of Economics - Department of Geography (2019)

Answered Dec 18, 2016 · Author has 240answers and 489.4k answer views

What is equatorial region?

Equatorial regions are found between 5°-10° north and south latitudes of the equator.

Regions between these latitudes include- Amazon basin, Congo basin, Niger basin and South east Asia.



Climate of equatorial regions:-

Temperature:- temperature generally remains high throughout the year with very less diurnal, seasonal and annual changes. Average annual temperature is 30°-35° C.

Average humidity:- also remains high because of high temperature and vast sea surface. It results in higher evaporation. Average humidity is 85–95%

Precipitation:- is also very high because of high humidity. 60–100 inches is average rainfall spread uniformly throughout the year.

Equatorial regions are dominated by equatorial trough. Weak and variable winds mostly from west.

There are no distinct seasons. Climatic characteristics remain same throughout the year.

Equatorial Flora (vegetation)

Vegetation in equatorial regions is comprised of four vertical layers starting from the canopy of tree to the ferns on ground.

The tallest trees can attain a height of 150 feet or above. Trees have thick canopies which don't let sunlight to reach the ground.

There are broad leaved evergreen forests of dense and prolific growth of flora as well as fauna.

All the tree plants strive to reach the light so that they can become very tall.

Beneath the tree canopy, exists a well developed layering of understorey vegetation, which is so dense that hardly any light reaches ground level.

The dominant trees are extremely varied in species but have a similar appearance, typically characterized by thick buttress roots, dark leaves and a thin bark.

Mahogany, ebony, greenheart and redwood are few major tree species.



Here you can see try layers of vegetation in a tropical rainforest of Trinidad.
Equatorial Fauna (animals)
Evolution occurs more quickly near the equator and equatorial regions boast some of the Earth's greatest species diversity. Rainforests are also home to may endangered animals, due mostly to habitat loss.
The African elephant is the world's largest land mammal and the forest subspecies of this huge mammal makes its home in equatorial forests of western and central Africa. Equally impressive is the jaguar, which makes its home in a diversity of habitats including the equatorial rainforests of South America.
Amphibians and reptiles abound in equatorial regions. Tiny, jewel-like poison dart frogs provide indigenous hunters with poison for darts and arrows. Native to Central and South America, the green anaconda is one the world's largest snakes. The golden toad was once found in 1.5 square miles of high altitude forest in Costa Rica; sadly, the last sighting of a golden toad was in 1989.
African grey parrots, king vultures and Andean condors are among the endangered bird species of equatorial regions.
Insect biodiversity in rainforests is staggering and includes leafcutter ants. Leafcutters are a model of sustainable agriculture; these ants harvest only small pieces of a great variety of plants, ensuring that no one