30/07/2022
Have you ever wondered why the tropics are hotter and contain more deserts than the equator (the region that receives the highest amount of sunlight)?
Because the Equator receives sunlight the most throughout the year, many presume that equatorial regions are the hottest regions on Earth. However, that is not the case.
The hottest parts of the world do not lie ‘on’ the Equator (as many would assume), but rather around the tropics, i.e., the areas that lie just above and below the Equator. What’s the reason behind this?
The answer to this question lies in the difference between the heat of dry air and moist air. Sun rays descending on the Equator generates rising air currents that help in the formation of clouds over equatorial regions, which then cause rains and thunderstorms. Hence, contrary to what many assume about the equatorial regions, the areas lying on the Equator experience lower temperatures, and are not the hottest on the planet.
Unlike the tropics which have very few water bodies and, hence, contain more deserts, there is a cloud cover on the Equator. The Equator gets the most sunlight, but a little portion of this sunlight is used up in evaporating water from seas and other water bodies, rather than increasing the actual temperature of the region. This results in the formation of moist and warm air over equatorial oceans, which then begins to rise and form clouds.