What Is a Low-Latitude Climate Zone?

A low-latitude climate zone is one of the three main climate groups, which occur in areas near the equator and are controlled by tropical air masses. There are three major types of low latitude climates: tropical moist climates, wet-dry tropical climates and dry tropical climates.

Tropical moist low-latitude climates typically result in rain forests and are characterized by heavy moisture and precipitation throughout the year. In this type of climate, temperatures remain fairly steady throughout the year with only minor fluctuations.

Wet-dry tropical low-latitude climates typically result in savanna or grasslands, like those found in much of Africa. This type of climate has slightly more temperature fluctuation throughout the year, but instead of summer and winter, there is a wet season and a dry season.

Dry tropical low-latitude climates occur slightly further away from the equator and can be found between 18 and 28 degrees latitude, although they are typically concentrated near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This type of climate results in a desert biome, which is characterized by intense heat and extremely small amounts of precipitation throughout the year. This type of climate can be found on almost every continent throughout the globe, including the deserts of Africa, Australia and the southwestern United States.