SSLC GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER: 3
FROM THE RAINY FORESTS TO THE LAND OF PERMAFROST
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The countries included in the Equatorial Climatic Region
Continents Countries
Asia Indonesia, Malaysia, Srilanka
Africa Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya,
Somalia, Gabon
South America Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Features of the climate in the Equatorial Climatic Region
The equatorial climatic region generally receives high temperature and high
rainfalls and light annual range of temperature throughout the year.
Temperature
The Temperature is almost the same throughout the year.
In the Equatorial Region, There is no Significant Variation in the annual and diurnal
ranges of Temperature.
The mean Monthly temperature and the mean annual temperature are both around
27° C.
The high rate of insolation received here causes high temperature throughout the
year. Because of this, the region does not experience winter.
The mornings experience moderate temperature, but it increases considerably.
It causes high rate of evaporation and heavy convectional rain in the afternoon.
Rainfall
The rainfall is heavy throughout the year in the Equatorial Climactic region.
The annual rainfall in this region is between 175 cm and 250 cm.
High temperature and high rate of evaporation are the reason for the heavy rainfall.
Along with convectional rainfall, orographic rainfall is also received in certain
places.
It is the mountainous areas of Indonesia and Africa where orographic rainfall is
experienced.
These areas Sometimes receive Intermittent cyclonic rain.
Other Features
In spite of being situated in the equatorial climatic region, Kilimanjaro, the highest
mountain peak in Africa is snow-covered throughout the year.
Excessive humidity, High rates of insolation and intense heat make the days in the
equatorial climatic region quite oppressive.
However, the moderating effect of sea wind brings some relief along the coastal
areas from intense heat. As a result, the coastal regions tend to be more popu
lated.
Natural Vegetation
Tropical rain forests are one of the salient features of this climatic region.
These rain forests are also called equatorial evergreen forests.
These rain forests spread over the Amazon Basin in South America, West-Central
Africa, Indonesia, the Malay Peninsula, and New [Link] More Resources visit: Bio-vision
The rainforest found in the Amazon Basin is called Selvas.
There is no particular season for seeding, flowering, fruiting and shedding leaves in
this climatic Region.
As these processes occur year round in the tropical rain forest, they remain ever
green throughout the year.
Large Trees Seen in this Region:-
Ebony Mahogany
Cinchona Rosewood
Other Trees:-
Smaller Palms. Climbing Plants like Lianas.
Epiphytes like Orchids. Numerous Parasitic.
Ferns. Grasses like Lalang.
Features of the Equatorial Evergreen Forests
These rainy forests is multiple species co-exist in a particular area is the Significant
Features.
It has been estimated that in the Malaysian rainforests, as many as 200 species of
plants may be found in an acre of forest.
Plants grow to varying heights depending on the availability of sunlight.
Trees form canopies at different levels according to their heights.
These evergreen rain forests absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen at a
massive rate. As a result, these forests are referred to as the 'Lungs of the World'.
In the Coastal areas and brackish Swamp, Mangrove Forest are seen.
Belukar
In Equatorial rain forests, the forest is cleared at certain places for shifting
cultivation.
When these clearings are abandoned after cultivation, less luxuriant secondary
forests spring up. Such secondary forests are called 'belukar' in Malaysia.
Fauna in the Equatorial Climatic Region For More Resources visit: Bio-vision
Because of the climatic Characteristics of this Region, Most of the Wildlife thrive in
trees.
The animals which spend most of their lives in trees are called "Arboreal" Animals.
Since sufficient sunlight does not penetrate to the floor in these dense forests,
undergrowth is absent.
As a result, Herbivores animals that live on ground are not commonly seen.
Carnivores that prey on them are also few.
Wildlife in this region includes Lemurs, Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Tree-dwelling
reptiles, Hippo potamuses, Alligators, and many birds such as Parrots, Toucan and
Hornbills.
Human Life
This area is Sparsely Populated.
The Pygmies of Africa, the Indian tribes of the Amazon Basin, and the Orang Asli of
Malaysia are some of the important native groups of this region.
The tribes living in this Region sustain themselves by hunting animals, gathering
nuts and fruits and fishing.
Most of the natives in the Equatorial Climactic Region are nomads.
Most houses are built with locally available resources.
Agriculture
The Traditional Method of Cultivation Practiced here is shifting cultivation also
know as Slash - and - burn agriculture.
Farming here after Clearing a forest area by cutting and burning the trees.
Cultivation Continues until the land loses its fertility.
Crops such as Manioc ( Tapioca ), Yam, Maize, Bananas and groundnuts are culti
vated here.
With the arrival of Europeans, plantation agriculture was started extensively.
The climate Characteristics of this region are very favorable for many crops of
industrial importance. An important crop among them is rubber.
Malaysia and Indonesia are the leading rubber-producing countries in the world.
Another plantation crop widely cultivated in here is Cocoa.
Other major plantation crops extensively grown here is oild palm, Coconuts, Sugar
cane, Coffee, Tea, Bananas and Pineapples.
Cities
There are many beautiful tourist destinations and modern cities here.
Cities like Equitas, Quito, Bogota, Singapore, Jakarta, and Manaus and Belem
cities of Amazon basin are a few examples.
In Malaysia, Singapore and Eastern Brazil, significant development has also been
made through systematic planning and hard work.
Major challenges faced by Equatorial Climactic Region
1. Spread of diseases
The hot and wet equatorial climate cause the growth andFor spread of pests and
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bacteria.
As germs and bacteria are more easily transmitted through moist air, this leads to a
widespread occurrence of diseases in this region.
The spread of insects is also harmful to crops.
2. Lack of basics amenities
Unlike in modern cities, most of the equatorial climatic region is devoid of basic
amenities.
The thick, luxuriant forests hinders the development of this region.
It is too difficult and expensive to construct and maintain roads and railway lines
through these dense forests and over swamps.
Many remote area of the Amazon Basin, the Congo, and Borneo lack modern
communication systems even today.
3. Adversely affects the Cultivation
Tall grasses like Lalang and thick undergrowth spring up as soon as the trees are
cut. It often adversely affects the cultivation of crops.
4. Challenging Commercial Forest extraction
The abundance of trees and the difficultly of transporting the timber from one place
to another hinder commercial logging.
5. It hinders Cattle rearing
Due to the absence of grazing land and insect attacks, Livestock rearing is not a
primary subsistence activity in most part of this climatic regions.
6. Deforestation
Human activities such as agriculture, construction, urbanization and mining are
wildly destroying these forests.
The Countries included in the Tundra Region
Places Continents
Siberia Asia
Greenland North America
Iceland Europe
North Scandinavia Europe
North Canada North America
Alaska North America
The Tundra region spreads along the Arctic coasts of North America and Eurasia,
and the coasts of Greenland.
This climatic region also called the Artic or Polar Climatic region.
The Tundra region can be categorized into Arctic Tundra and Alpine Tundra.
Artic Tundra:-
In parts located to the North of Taiga in Alaska, Northern Canada, Siberia,
Greenland, Iceland and Scandinavia. For More Resources visit: Bio-vision
Alpine Tundra:-
In high mountainous regions.
Climate Features of Tundra Region
Short Summers and long Winters prevails here.
Very low mean annual temperature.
In mid-winter, temperature falls between -25 and -35° C.
Only a few weeks have the temperature rising above 0°C in summer.
The sun never sets for weeks in the area between the Arctic Circle and the Pole.
Likewise, the sun never rises for weeks in this area.
When the sun's apparent position is in the Northern Hemisphere, ( March 21 to
September 23 ), the North Pole experiences day for around six months.
When the sun's apparent position is in the Southern Hemisphere (September 23 to
March 21 ), theNorth Pole experiences night for around six months.
During winter the precipitation is in the form of snow fall.
The coastal areas where cyclones are strong, have much heavier rainfall.
The strong snowstorms that blow over this climatic region are called blizzards.
They often cause heavier snowfall.
Flora (Vegetation)
The Natural vegetation is scanty in this region due to insufficient in sunlight and
long winters.
Mosses, lichens, sedges, and bushes are commonly found here.
Some hardy grasses grow in the coastal lowlands.
In summer, as the snow melts, Bushes start bearing berries and flowers begin to
bloom.
Fauna
The diversity of Fauna is also scanty here.
Birds Migrate to tundra during Summer from south to prey on insects that come out
at this time.
Arctic foxes, wolves, polar bears, musk-oxen and arctic hares are the other ani-
mals found here.
Human life in the Tundra
The Tundra is a sparsely populated region.
Human life in this region is largely confined to the coast.
The Tundra is mainly inhabited by some nomadic tribes.
Greenland, North Canada, Alaska Eskimos or Inuit
North Finland, Scandinavia Lapps
Siberia Samoyeds
Lena Basin Yakuts
North- Eastern Asia Koryaks, Chuckchi
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Hunting and fishing are the major activities for subsistence.
Whales, seals, caribou, various kinds of fish, birds, and fur-bearing animals provide
them with everything they need for food and clothing.
Their bones and other parts are used as weapons, tools, and even utensils.
The Polar Eskimos of Greenland lead a primitive lifestyle.
During winter, they live in houses called igloos and in summer, they migrate to
other places for hunting and fishing.
During the summer season, they live by the side of streams in portable tents made
of animal skin.
In the last 60 years, the way of life of the Eskimos has undergone tremendous
changes through their contact with Europeans.
In coastal villages, Eskimos live in houses with modern amenities.
They now use speedboats for fishing instead of small rowing boats called kayaks.
Fur-bearing animals are being reared on a commercial scale.
In some areas of the Tundra in Canada and Alaska, schools have been established
for Eskimo children to enable them to live a modern life.
In the Eurasian Tundra, most of the tribal groups lead a nomadic life, wandering
with their herds of reindeer in search of pastures.
In the Siberian Tundra, large farms have been established for rearing fur-bearing
animals,including reindeer, on a commercial scale.
Mining in the Tundra region results in the development of new settlements.
In certain areas of the Southern Tundra cereals with short growing season are also
cultivated.
The Tundra and the Climate Change
The Tundra is one of the places that is adversely affected by climate change.
Due to the global warming, the permafrost in the Tundra melts considerably.
This adversely affects the ecosystem and environmental equilibrium of the region.
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Prepared by,
HAMZA KANNANTHODI
MUHSS OORAKAM
9847767121