Climate
The climate of Brazil is a consequence of diverse factors such as geography, territorial extension (like China), land relief and the dynamics of air masses. The following is a summary of the main Brazilian climates.
Equatorial
Occurs in the Amazon region, north and west of Mato Grosso and Maranhão, under the action of the equatorial continental air mass - hot air and usually damp. Its main features are high average temperatures (25° C to 27° C), abundant rainfall, with rates close to 2,000 mm/year well distributed throughout the year, and temperature range of not more than 3° C. During the winter, this region can be influenced by the Atlantic polar mass, reaching the western Amazon causing a phenomenon called "friagem" (chill), ie sudden lowering of temperature in a region usually very hot.
Tropical
It covers all central Brazil, the eastern portion of Maranhão, Piauí and much of the western part of Bahia and Minas Gerais. It is also found in the far north, in Roraima. It is characterized by high temperature (18° C to 28° C) with thermal amplitude (5° C to 7° C), and well-defined seasons - one wet and one dry. Presents high rainfall levels, around 1,500 mm/year. The rainy season is summer, when the mass is over the continental equatorial region. During the winter, with the displacement of this mass, the moisture decreases resulting in the dry season.
Altitude tropical
It is found in higher parts, between 800m and 1,000m, of the plateau of the Southeast Atlantic. Covers portions of the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, north of Paraná and southern Mato Grosso do Sul. It is influenced by Atlantic tropical air mass, causing rain in the summer. It features mild temperatures between 18° C and 26° C, and annual temperature range between 7° C and 9° C. During the winter, frosts occur infrequently due to the action of cold fronts originating from the Atlantic polar mass.
Atlantic tropical or moist tropical
Extends across the coastline of Rio Grande do Norte to the extreme east of São Paulo. It suffers the direct action of the Atlantic tropical mass, which, being hot and humid, causes heavy rains. The climate is warm with temperature varying between 18° C and 26° C and temperature range is larger as it moves toward the South - rainy and humid throughout the year. In the Northeast, the largest concentration of rainfall occurs during the winter. In the Southeast, it occurs during the summer. The average rainfall is 2,000 mm/year.
Subtropical
It can also be classified as temperate. It is the climate of latitude below the Tropic of Capricorn: This covers the southern state of Sao Paulo, most of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and southern Mato Grosso do Sul is influenced by Atlantic polar mass, which determines an average temperature of 18° C and high annual temperature to Brazilian standards, from about 10° C. The rainfall varies from 1,000 mm/year to 2,000 mm/year, and is well distributed annually. There are frequent frosts and occasional snowfalls.
In terms of temperature, shows the four seasons fairly well marked. Summers are a little hot, mostly in the Southern Region (CFA, according to climate classification Köppen), while summers are mild on the hills of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and the extreme south of the country, the higher parts of the South East Hills (characterized by Köppen as Cfb), mean annual temperature below 17° C. Winters are cool (cold for Brazilian standards), with the occurrence of frost across its coverage area and snow in the higher parts of the region. The annual snow occurs regularly only above 1,000 meters (constituting a small area between the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina), occurring more sporadically in the lower areas, not occurring every year.
On the peaks of the plateau, where snow may occur during the winter days are situated the coldest cities in the country: São Joaquim and Urupema, in Santa Catarina, and São José dos Ausentes in Rio Grande do Sul, the three with average annual temperature of 13° C. The coldest place in the country is the peak of Morro da Igreja, in the town of Urubici near São Joaquim, the highest inhabited point in southern Brazil.
Semiarid
Typical of the Northeast, a region known as the Drought Polygon, which corresponds to almost the entire northeastern hinterland valleys and the middle and lower areas of São Francisco river. Is influenced by the Atlantic tropical mass that, upon arriving to the region already has low humidity. It is characterized by high temperatures (average 27° C) and limited rainfall (around 200 mm/year), irregular and poorly distributed during the year. There are times when the Atlantic equatorial mass (superhumid) arrives in the north of the northeast region and reaches the interior, causing heavy rain.
Tropical coastal
It is found in the eastern part of the country and areas near to the coast. This type of climate is strongly influenced by air mass and the tropical Atlantic humid winds coming from the ocean.
Adapted from Wikipedia
Equatorial
Occurs in the Amazon region, north and west of Mato Grosso and Maranhão, under the action of the equatorial continental air mass - hot air and usually damp. Its main features are high average temperatures (25° C to 27° C), abundant rainfall, with rates close to 2,000 mm/year well distributed throughout the year, and temperature range of not more than 3° C. During the winter, this region can be influenced by the Atlantic polar mass, reaching the western Amazon causing a phenomenon called "friagem" (chill), ie sudden lowering of temperature in a region usually very hot.
Tropical
It covers all central Brazil, the eastern portion of Maranhão, Piauí and much of the western part of Bahia and Minas Gerais. It is also found in the far north, in Roraima. It is characterized by high temperature (18° C to 28° C) with thermal amplitude (5° C to 7° C), and well-defined seasons - one wet and one dry. Presents high rainfall levels, around 1,500 mm/year. The rainy season is summer, when the mass is over the continental equatorial region. During the winter, with the displacement of this mass, the moisture decreases resulting in the dry season.
Altitude tropical
It is found in higher parts, between 800m and 1,000m, of the plateau of the Southeast Atlantic. Covers portions of the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, north of Paraná and southern Mato Grosso do Sul. It is influenced by Atlantic tropical air mass, causing rain in the summer. It features mild temperatures between 18° C and 26° C, and annual temperature range between 7° C and 9° C. During the winter, frosts occur infrequently due to the action of cold fronts originating from the Atlantic polar mass.
Atlantic tropical or moist tropical
Extends across the coastline of Rio Grande do Norte to the extreme east of São Paulo. It suffers the direct action of the Atlantic tropical mass, which, being hot and humid, causes heavy rains. The climate is warm with temperature varying between 18° C and 26° C and temperature range is larger as it moves toward the South - rainy and humid throughout the year. In the Northeast, the largest concentration of rainfall occurs during the winter. In the Southeast, it occurs during the summer. The average rainfall is 2,000 mm/year.
Subtropical
It can also be classified as temperate. It is the climate of latitude below the Tropic of Capricorn: This covers the southern state of Sao Paulo, most of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and southern Mato Grosso do Sul is influenced by Atlantic polar mass, which determines an average temperature of 18° C and high annual temperature to Brazilian standards, from about 10° C. The rainfall varies from 1,000 mm/year to 2,000 mm/year, and is well distributed annually. There are frequent frosts and occasional snowfalls.
In terms of temperature, shows the four seasons fairly well marked. Summers are a little hot, mostly in the Southern Region (CFA, according to climate classification Köppen), while summers are mild on the hills of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and the extreme south of the country, the higher parts of the South East Hills (characterized by Köppen as Cfb), mean annual temperature below 17° C. Winters are cool (cold for Brazilian standards), with the occurrence of frost across its coverage area and snow in the higher parts of the region. The annual snow occurs regularly only above 1,000 meters (constituting a small area between the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina), occurring more sporadically in the lower areas, not occurring every year.
On the peaks of the plateau, where snow may occur during the winter days are situated the coldest cities in the country: São Joaquim and Urupema, in Santa Catarina, and São José dos Ausentes in Rio Grande do Sul, the three with average annual temperature of 13° C. The coldest place in the country is the peak of Morro da Igreja, in the town of Urubici near São Joaquim, the highest inhabited point in southern Brazil.
Semiarid
Typical of the Northeast, a region known as the Drought Polygon, which corresponds to almost the entire northeastern hinterland valleys and the middle and lower areas of São Francisco river. Is influenced by the Atlantic tropical mass that, upon arriving to the region already has low humidity. It is characterized by high temperatures (average 27° C) and limited rainfall (around 200 mm/year), irregular and poorly distributed during the year. There are times when the Atlantic equatorial mass (superhumid) arrives in the north of the northeast region and reaches the interior, causing heavy rain.
Tropical coastal
It is found in the eastern part of the country and areas near to the coast. This type of climate is strongly influenced by air mass and the tropical Atlantic humid winds coming from the ocean.
Adapted from Wikipedia