Climate+&amp;+Environment+-+Badia


 * Brazil Climate, Weather and Environment**

There are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi - arid, highland tropical and sub tropical. The seasons are the reverse of those in Europe and the United States. Cities such as Sao Paulo and Brasilia, on the plateau, have a mild climate with temperatures averging 19 degrees celcius. Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Natal and Salvador on the coast have warmer climates balanced by the Trade Winds. Rio, for example, has an average temperature of around 80°F (26°C), which will climb to over 100°F (38°C) during the summer months. In the southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the subtropical climate is similar to parts of the US and Europe, with frosts occurring in the winter months (July to August) when temperatures can fall below freezing. Summers are hot, however. Despite the popular image of the Amazon as a region of blistering heat, temperatures rarely rise above 90°F (32°C), and days are generally warm, wet and humid. The region has two seasons: a rainy season (November to May) and not-so-rainy season (June to October). Brazil's cliamte varies with elevation and latitude. Geopgraphically mainland Brazil is divided into regions:

Temperature map for May 2007 in Brazil

Climate
Although 90% of the country is within the [|tropical zone], the climate of Brazil varies considerably from the mostly tropical North (the [|equator] traverses the mouth of the Amazon) to [|temperate zones] below the [|Tropic of Capricorn] (23°27' S latitude), which crosses the country at the latitude of the city of [|São Paulo]. Brazil has five climatic regions: [|equatorial], [|tropical], [|semiarid], [|highland tropical], and [|subtropical]. Temperatures along the equator are high, averaging above 25 °C, but not reaching the summer extremes of up to 40 °C in the temperate zones. There is little seasonal variation near the equator, although at times it can get cool enough for wearing a jacket, especially in the rain. At the country's other extreme, there are frosts south of the Tropic of Capricorn during the winter (June-August), and in some years there is snow in the mountainous areas, such as [|Rio Grande do Sul] and [|Santa Catarina]. Temperatures in the cities of São Paulo, [|Belo Horizonte], and [|Brasília] are moderate (usually between 15 °C and 30 °C), despite their relatively low latitude, because of their elevation of approximately 1,000 meters. [|Rio de Janeiro], [|Recife], and [|Salvador] on the coast have warm climates, with average temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 27 °C, but enjoy constant trade winds. The southern cities of [|Porto Alegre] and [|Curitiba] have a subtropical climate similar to that in parts of the United States and Europe, and temperatures can fall below freezing in winter. Precipitation levels vary widely. Most of Brazil has moderate [|rainfall] of between 1,000 and 1,500 millimeters a year, with most of the rain falling in the summer (between December and April) south of the Equator. The [|Amazon region] is notoriously humid, with rainfall generally more than 2,000 millimeters per year and reaching as high as 3,000 millimeters in parts of the western Amazon and near Belém. It is less widely known that, despite high annual precipitation, the Amazon rain forest has a three- to five-month dry season, the timing of which varies according to location north or south of the equator.[|[61]] Records Temperatures Data Maximum Temperature: 114.26 °F(45,7 °C) Paratinga-Bahia Low Temperature: 01,1 °F(-17,2 °C) Morro da Igreja-Santa Catarina

There are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi - arid, highland tropical and sub tropical. The seasons are the reverse of those in Europe and the United States. Cities such as Sao Paulo and Brasilia, on the plateau, have a mild climate with temperatures averging 19 degrees celcius. Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Natal and Salvador on the coast have warmer climates balanced by the Trade Winds. Rio, for example, has an average temperature of around 80°F (26°C), which will climb to over 100°F (38°C) during the summer months. In the southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the subtropical climate is similar to parts of the US and Europe, with frosts occurring in the winter months (July to August) when temperatures can fall below freezing. Summers are hot, however. Despite the popular image of the Amazon as a region of blistering heat, temperatures rarely rise above 90°F (32°C), and days are generally warm, wet and humid. The region has two seasons: a rainy season (November to May) and not-so-rainy season (June to October). Brazil's cliamte varies with elevation and latitude. Geopgraphically mainland Brazil is divided into regions:
 * There are five regions**



North - Green North East - Yellow Central west - Orange SOuth East - Red South - Blue
 * Key**

The climate is Equatorial (high temperatures and high annual precipitation) The vegetation comprises of almost the entire region covered by the Amazon Rainforest, except the state of Tocantins, with a savanna-like vegetation (cerrado). Although most of the native vegetation still remains, the region suffers critical problems from deforestation occurring quickly in the area characteristics: Presence of the Amazon Rainforest, that is the vegetation dominant in every state but Tocantins. Cities are all spread apart in the region, that has the lowest population density of the country. Very few paved highways passes the region, that is almost isolated from the rest of the country. It is also the biggest region of Brazil, being responsible for almost half of the Brazilian territorial extension.
 * North Region**

The climate is very hot all the year long, Tropical near the coast and semi-arid in the interior; semi-equatorial in the far west of the region. The Vegetation is Desert-like vegetation mainly, with tropical forests along the coast and in the west, and savanna-like vegetation in the southwest
 * North East**


 * Central West**

Climate: Savanna climate (hot, with relative few precipitation during the year) in the northeast and the east; Tropical in the east and in the west; Equatorial in the north. The Vegetation is mainly savanna-like vegetation, including the [|Pantanal] ([|Chaco], in [|Paraguay]), flooded areas in the west, equatorial rainforests in the north.


 * South East**

The climate is Tropical in the northwest (warm, relatively dry in the winter and wet in the summer); Semi-arid in the north; Temperate in the south. The Vegetation: Mainly tropical-like semideciduous forests (Mata Atlântica), semi-arid in the north, with almost no vegetation, savanna-like vegetation in the west and in the northwest (cerrado). Very little of the native vegetation still remains (~2%, mostly in parks)
 * South**

Climate: Temperate in almost all the entire region, warm in the summer and cold in the winter (sometimes there is snow in the southern regions of the region). The northeast part of the region has a Tropical climate, being hot in the summer and warm/cool during the winter, with some cold days. Vegetation: Rainforests along the coast (Mata Atlântica), tropical semiciduous in the north and west (Araucárias) and prairie-like vegetation in the south ([|Pampas]). Little native vegetation still actually remains.


 * Brazil's Environmental factors**
 * The highest peak is the Pico da Nebina which means Misty Peak in Guiana's Highlands at a height of 3,014 metres (9,735ft)


 * The major rivers include the world's largest river in the world in flowing water and volume and second largest, the Parana.


 * Other major rivers include the Iguacu (Iduacu falls), the negro, Sao Francisco, Xingu, Madeira and Topaj'os rivers.


 * Along the atlantic coast are found several mopuntain ranges, reaching roughly 2900 metres (9,500ft) high.


 * Its main character would be the extensive low lying Amazon rainforests in the North and the more open terrain of hills and low lying mountains in the South.


 * The beaches of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil


 * A number of islands in the Atlantic Ocean are part of Brazil:

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago Rocas Atoll Fernando de Noronha Trinidade and Martim Vaz

Environment
Brazil's immense area is subdivided into different [|ecosystems], which together sustain some of the world's greatest [|biodiversity]. Due to the relatively explosive economic and demographic rise of the country in the last century, Brazil's ability to protect its [|environmental habitats] has increasingly come under threat. Extensive [|logging] in the nation's forests, particularly the Amazon, both official and unofficial, destroys areas the size of a small country each year, and potentially a diverse variety of interesting plants and animals.[|[68]] With abundant [|fauna] and [|flora], Brazil is home to many thousands of species, most of them still undiscovered. By 2020, it is estimated that at least 50% of the species resident in Brazil will become extinct.[|[69]] As several of these specimens possess special characteristics, or are built in an interesting way, some of their capabilities may be copied for use in technology (see [|bionics]). The revenues derived from such plans may still hold the key to preserve the country's animal and plant species. There is general consensus, that Brazil has the highest number of both terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates of any country in the world. This high diversity of fauna can be explained by the sheer size of Brazil and also the great variation in ecosystems. The numbers published about Brazil's fauna diversity can vary from source to source, as taxonomists sometimes disagree about species classifications and information can be incomplete or out of date. Also new species continue to be discovered and, sadly, some species go extinct in the wild. Brazil has the highest primate diversity of any country in the world with 77 species and fresh water fish (over 3000 species), it claims the second-highest number of amphibian species, the third highest number of bird species and is ranked fifth in reptile species. Many of the species that are at risk live in threatened habitats such as the [|Atlantic Forest]. The [|Toco Toucan] is a typical animal of the Brazilian [|rain forests]. The flowers of [|pequi] (//Caryocar brasiliense//): It is a popular Brazilian fruit native to [|Cerrado] vegetation.

The Northeast is rich in folklore and tradition. Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia, is said to have 365 churches. The city’s carnival is an event of and for its people at which tourists are welcome to participate. It is one of the region’s major attractions.
 * PLACE VISITED: NORTH EASTERN REGION**
 * Due to the canals that abound in the city, Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco, is often called Brazil’s Venice. Recife also has beautiful beaches. [[image:Recife_in_NorthEastern_Brazil.jpg align="center"]]


 * Olinda, a historical town, has long ago become an extension of Recife. In 1982, UNESCO listed it as a Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity.
 * João Pessoa is the capital of the state of Paraiba. One of its major attractions is the Cabo Branco lighthouse.
 * In Teresina, the capital of the state of Piaui, the main attraction is the National Park of Seven Cities.

The Northeast has one third of Brazil's population. The region is culturally diverse, with roots from the Portuguese colonial period, [|Afro-Brazilian] culture and some Brazilian influence. it is also the poorest region of Brazil, and has long periods of dry climate. it is well-known for its beautiful coast. The most important cities are Recife, Salvador and Fortaleza

htt[|p://images.google.com.au] Access date: 28th May 2007
 * BIBLIOGRAPHY**

http://www.ilove-brazil.com/Access Access date: 28th May 2007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil Access Date: 02/05/2007

http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Brazil/Climate/ Access Date: 04/06/07

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Brazil Access date: 04/06/07