The Earth's tropics are the regions between the Tropics of Cancer and Tropics of Capricorn, either side of the equator comprising 40% of the Earth's surface area. Generally, they are described as both hot and wet, experiencing high average temperatures and significant precipitation, with the exception of deserts and dry grasslands.

 

Tropical ecosystems consist of a range of habitats: tropical rainforests, cloud forests, dry deciduous forests, spiny forests, mangroves, dry grasslands, deserts, and alpine habitats. Seasonality occurs due to precipitation variation, not temperature variation like temperate climates. However, distinct wet and dry seasons occur, with severe dry seasons, such as savannas, and moderate dry seasons retaining evergreen forests all year round.