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tropics
tropics also called tropical zone or torrid zone, all the land and water of the earth situated between the Tropic of Cancer at lat. 23 1/2 °N and the Tropic of Capricorn at lat. 23 1/2 °S. Every point within the tropics receives the perpendicular rays of the sun at noon on at least one day of the year. The sun is directly overhead at lat. 23 1/2 °N on June 21 or 22, the summer solstice, and at lat. 23 1/2 °S on Dec. 21 or 22, the winter solstice. Since the entire tropical zone receives the rays of the sun more directly than areas in higher latitudes, the average annual temperature of the tropics is higher and the seasonal change of temperature is less than in other zones. The seasons in the tropics are not marked by temperature but by the combination of trade winds taking water from the oceans and creating seasonal rains called monsoons over the eastern coasts. Several different climatic types can be distinguished within the tropical belt, since latitude is only one of the many factors determining climate in the tropics. Distance from the ocean, prevailing wind conditions, and elevation are all contributing elements. The tropics contain the world's largest regions of tropical rain-forest climate (Amazon and Congo basins). These lush rain-forest regions, whose immense vegetation growth is attributed to monsoon rains, contain some of the most prolific and widely speciated regions on earth for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Toward the northern and southern limits are low-latitude savanna , steppe , and desert climates (with decreasing seasonal rainfall). Tropical highland climates, which have the characteristics of temperate climates, also occur where high mountain ranges lie in the zone. High temperatures and rainfall make rubber, tea, coffee, cocoa, spices, bananas, pineapples, oils and nuts, and lumber the leading agricultural exports of the countries in the tropical zone. Progress in tropical medicine, advancing technology, and the pressure of increasing populations have led in recent years to the cultivation and settlement of some rain-forest areas. Such population growth has led to deforestation of the tropical forest, which is thought to contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming , and to the elimination of numerous unique species.
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"tropics." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tropics." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tropics.html "tropics." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tropics.html |
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tropic
trop·ic1 / ˈträpik/ • n. the parallel of latitude 23°26′ north (tropic of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the equator. ∎ Astron. each of two corresponding circles on the celestial sphere where the sun appears to turn after reaching its greatest declination, marking the northern and southern limits of the ecliptic. ∎ (the tropics) the region between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. • adj. another term for tropical (sense 1). trop·ic2 • adj. 1. Biol. relating to, consisting of, or exhibiting tropism. 2. Physiol. variant spelling of trophic. |
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"tropic." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tropic." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tropic.html "tropic." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tropic.html |
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tropic
tropic †each of the two solstitial points XIV; each of the two circles of the celestial sphere touching the ecliptic at the solstitial points XVI; either boundary of the torrid zone; pl. region between these XIX; adj. tropical XVI. — late L. tropicus — Gr. tropikós
1. pert. to the ‘turning’ of the sun at the solstice, 2. fig., f. tropē turning; see prec., -IC. So tropical pert. to a tropic XVI (of the torrid zone XVII); metaphorical XVI. |
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T. F. HOAD. "tropic." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "tropic." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tropic.html T. F. HOAD. "tropic." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tropic.html |
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tropic
tropic the parallel of latitude 23°26′ north (tropic of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the equator; the tropics is the name given to the region between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The word is recorded from late Middle English, denoting the point on the ecliptic reached by the sun at the solstice.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "tropic." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "tropic." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-tropic.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "tropic." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-tropic.html |
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tropic
tropic Either of the two latitudes on Earth at which the Sun appears overhead at the summer and winter solstices each year. The tropics lie at latitudes of about 23½° north and south, an angle defined by the Earth's axial tilt. See tropic of cancer; tropic of capricorn.
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"tropic." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tropic." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-tropic.html "tropic." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-tropic.html |
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tropics
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"tropics." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tropics." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-tropics.html "tropics." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-tropics.html |
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tropic
tropic
•priapic • aspic • epic
•philippic, prototypic, stereotypic
•Olympic • nitpick
•ectopic, gyroscopic, heliotropic, horoscopic, isotopic, isotropic, kaleidoscopic, macroscopic, microscopic, misanthropic, myopic, philanthropic, phototropic, telescopic, topic, tropic
•Ethiopic • biopic
•Inupik, Yupik
•toothpick
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"tropic." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tropic." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-tropic.html "tropic." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-tropic.html |
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