O high altitude tropical climate occurs predominantly in the higher portions of the Southeast region of Brazil, covering areas of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. It is characterized by mild average temperatures, around 18 °C to 22 °C, and rainfall throughout the year, with greater volumes in the summer. This climate is strongly influenced by the tropical masses and the Atlantic polar mass, which conditions cold weather in winter, frontal rains and the occurrence of frost.
Read too: Influence of altitude on climate
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Abstract about high altitude tropical climate
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The tropical climate of altitude occurs in the elevated areas of the Southeast region of Brazil, predominantly.
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It differs from the typical tropical climate because of its milder temperatures.
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Average temperatures vary between 18 °C and 22 °C, with relatively warmer summers.
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Although rainfall occurs throughout the year, it is more abundant in summer. Annually, 1,500 mm of precipitation is recorded.
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Some localities record the formation of frost in winter.
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The main air masses acting in the high-altitude tropical climate are the continental and Atlantic tropical masses and the Atlantic polar mass.
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Characteristics of the highland tropical climate
The highland tropical climate is characteristic of located areas at an altitude equal to or greater than 800 meters, occurring in the latitudinal bands corresponding to the intertropical zone of the planet. The main aspect that differs it from the typical tropical climate is the temperature, which, due to the geographic elevation, is milder than in the lower areas.
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Altitude tropical climate temperature
Temperatures in the highland tropical climate are considerably milder than in the typical tropical climate, as we have seen. To the averages are around 22 °Wand the annual thermal amplitude, that is, the temperature variation during the year, is between 7 °C and 9 °C.
Summer is the hottest season of the year, but the maximum is between 25 °C and 28 °C, commonly below 30 °C. Under the action of the cold masses, winter is the season that registers the lowest temperatures, which can vary between 15 °C and 18 °C.
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Precipitation and humidity in the high altitude tropical climate
The moisture content of the high altitude tropical climate is influenced by performance of the wettest air massessuch as mTa and mPa, and also due to the intense evapotranspiration that takes place in the hottest months of the year.
To the rains occur during all months of the year, but they are more abundant in the period from October to March, comprising a good part of the spring and summer months. The rainfall volume decreases considerably in winter, mainly between June and August. Annually, an average of 1,500 mm of rainfall is recorded.
In winter, some localities record the occurrence of frosta phenomenon characterized by the formation of a thin layer of ice on the foliage.
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High altitude tropical climate vegetation
Among the plant formations found in the tropical high-altitude climate are the Atlantic Forest and the Araucaria Forest.
Many places with a high altitude tropical climate are covered by forest formations such as the tropical florests, such as the Atlantic Forest in the Southeast region and part of southern Brazil. In this region, another typical formation that can be found mainly in the central portion of the state of Paraná is the Araucária Forest.
The open fields, with medium and small size vegetation, such as bush species, small trees and grasses, are also formations that can be observed in areas of high altitude and climate with alternately wet and dry seasons.
Read too: Morphoclimatic domains of Brazil — areas defined based on their landscape composition
Air masses that act in the high altitude tropical climate
Like other types of weather, the high altitude tropical climate is influenced by the action of different air masses. These large atmospheric bodies carry with them the temperature and humidity characteristics of the place where they were formed (region of origin) and, as they move, they transfer these properties to the areas they cross.
Taking this into account, we have the performance of the following air masses in the high altitude tropical climate:
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Atlantic Tropical Mass (mTa): this air mass originates in the tropical zone, over the surface of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, it has high temperatures and high humidity. mTa is one of the main causes of rain in areas where the high-altitude tropical climate occurs and its action is more intense in the summer.
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Continental Tropical Mass (mTc): it also originates in the intertropical zone, but unlike mTa, it forms over the continent. It is a warm mass with low humidity. It operates throughout the year, mainly in the Midwest, Southeast and South regions of Brazil, and its passage conditions the occurrence of high temperatures and dry weather.
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Atlantic Polar Mass (mPa): differently from the previous ones, the polar mass is a mass of cold and humid air that forms over the ocean in the polar zone. Like the mTa, it brings rain to areas where the high-altitude tropical climate occurs, which is mainly due to the formation of so-called cold fronts. In addition, mPa is responsible for the drop in temperatures and acts more strongly in the months corresponding to winter.
High altitude tropical climate in Brazil
The highland tropical climate is exclusive to some portions of the Southeast and South regions of Brazil, more precisely those located above 1,000 meters in altitude. This climate covers the following areas:
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Executions settled on the high altitude tropical climate
question 1
Look carefully at the climogram below. The blue bars indicate the amount of rainfall recorded for each month, while the red line represents the variation in temperature.
Source: Meteorological Station of IAG/USP – Technical Section of Meteorological Services. Available at:
Identify which climate type is represented above:
a) Subtropical climate.
b) Arid tropical climate.
c) Equatorial climate.
d) High altitude tropical climate.
e) Coastal climate.
Resolution: Alternative D. The climogram above represents the climate of the city of São Paulo (SP). The rainfall graph indicates the concentration of precipitation in the months corresponding to summer, especially in December and January. Winter is the driest season, with the lowest rainfall between June and August. Summer temperatures are high, but are around 22 °C, while in winter the lowest recorded is 15 °C. These characteristics are representative of the high altitude tropical climate.
question 2
The high altitude tropical climate differs from the typical tropical climate due to its milder temperatures. It occurs in the plateaus and mountains of the Southeast region of Brazil, and can be observed in other locations in the national territory. All of the characteristics listed below are indicative of this climate, except:
a) relatively hot summers and cold winters, with the occurrence of frosts.
b) Abundant and well-distributed rainfall throughout the year.
c) advance of cold fronts that give rise to frontal rains.
d) average temperatures around 18 °C.
d) action of polar and tropical masses.
Resolution: Alternative B. In the high-altitude tropical climate, rainfall occurs throughout the year, but the highest volumes are concentrated in the summer months. This means that they are not well distributed. This alternative actually reflects a characteristic of the subtropical climate.
By Paloma Guitarrara
Geography Teacher