Question

8 climate drivers and the worlds biomes
key question: how does circulation of air and water masses distribute heat and influence climate zones? biomes are distinct biological communities that occur as a result of a shared physical climate. these biomes exist in part because of the climate zones created by the earths air and ocean circulation, its rotation, and its topography. the
earth is circled in the northern and southern hemispheres by three air cells. the cells form areas of rising or descending air, affecting the amount of rainfall. surface features, such as oceans and mountain ranges, affect the final positions and size of these biomes but four general climate - defined regions in each hemisphere can be identified (lower blue panel).
the equator receives most of the incoming solar radiation. atmospheric circulation redistributes this heat around the globe. air rising at the equator loses its moisture as tropical rainstorms and moves away from the equator as dry air.
dry air descends. the land beneath receives no moisture and is dry.
air rising again causes the formation of rain clouds around 60° north and south.
dry air descends at the poles.
80°n 30°n 0° 30°s 60°s
polar temperate desert tropical desert temperate polar
global atmospheric circulation leads to areas of high rainfall, like the tropical rainforests, and areas of dry air, like deserts. the movement of air as it rises, cools, and descends creates east - to - west prevailing winds that flow in equatorial regions and the prevailing westerlies in the mid - latitudes.
atmospheric circulation redistributes most of the heat from the tropics towards the poles (~78% in the northern hemisphere and 92% in the southern hemisphere). ocean circulation transports the rest of the heat. these include warmer surface, wind - driven currents and deeper saltier, density currents.
explain why the tropics tend to be both hot and wet:

Explanation:

The equator receives most incoming solar radiation, heating the air. Warm air rises, cools, and condenses to form clouds and rainfall, making tropics hot and wet. Also, global atmospheric circulation patterns contribute to high - rainfall in tropics.

Answer:

The tropics tend to be both hot and wet because the equator receives most of the incoming solar radiation, heating the air. As warm air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and rainfall. Additionally, global atmospheric circulation patterns lead to areas of high rainfall in the tropics.