CHAPTER II 



CLIMATE 



The regions of the earth's surface contained between 

 the Tropic of Cancer and that of Capricorn, i.e. 

 approximately between twenty-three and a half degrees 

 north and south of the equator, respectively, are said 

 to be within the Tropics. Within this zone the sun 

 during part of the year is at noon to the south, and 

 during part to the north. The nearer the locality is 

 to the Tropic of Cancer the shorter will be the number 

 of days when the sun is to the north at noon, while 

 the reverse is the case with localities to the south of 

 the equator. Owing to the greater velocity with which 

 the earth revolves near the equator the sun rises and 

 mounts to a high angle quickly and sets as suddenly, 

 and twilights are, consequently, of much shorter duration 

 within these regions than in those farther from the 

 equator. It also follows that the intensity of light 

 within these regions is also greater. 



The lengths of days and nights are much more even 

 in this than in more distant zones, where in summer 

 the days are much longer, and in winter much shorter. 

 The nearer to the equator the more even will be the 

 division between day and night at all times of the year, 

 and, consequently, the more even will be the climate. 

 The division of the year into seasons will therefore be 

 much less marked, or may be made apparent chiefly by 

 the direction of the prevailing winds or the intensity of 

 the rainfall. 



" c 



