Average Annual Temperatures
Although 90 percent of the country is within the tropical zone,
more than 60 percent of the population live in areas where altitude,
sea winds, or cold polar fronts moderate the temperature. There
are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi
arid, highland tropical, and subtropical. Plateau cities such as
São Paulo, Brasília, and Belo Horizonte have very
mild climates averaging 66°F (19°C). Rio de Janeiro, Recife,
and Salvador on the coast have warm climates balanced by the constancy
of the Trade Winds. In the southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre
and Curitiba, the subtropical climate is similar to parts of the
U.S. and Europe with frosts occurring with some frequency. In this
region temperatures in winter can fall below freezing. Despite the
popular image of the Amazon as a region of blistering heat, temperatures
of more than 90°F (32°C) are rarely experienced there. In
fact, the annual average temperature in the Amazon region is in
the range of 72 79°F (22-26°C), with only a very small seasonal
variation between the warmest and the coldest months. The hottest
part of Brazil is the northeast where, during the dry season, between
May and November, temperatures of more than 100°F (38°C)
are recorded frequently. The northeast has greater seasonal variation
in temperatures than does the Amazon region. Along the Atlantic
coast from Recife to Rio de Janeiro, mean temperatures range from
73°F to 81°F (23 27°C). Inland, on higher ground; temperatures
are lower, ranging from 64°F to 70°F (18 21°C). South
of Rio, the seasons are more noticeable and the annual range of
temperature greater. The average temperature for this part of the
country is in the range between 63°F to 66°F (17 19°C).
Average
Annual Rainfall
Brazil's most intense rainfall is found around the mouth of the
Amazon River near the city of Belém, and also in the vast
upper regions of Amazônia where more than 78 inches (2,000
millimeters) of rain falls every year. Another important region
of heavy rainfall is along the edge of the great escarpment in the
state of São Paulo. Most of Brazil, however, has moderate
rainfall of between 39 to 59 inches (1,000 to 1,500 millimeters)
a year, with most of the rain falling in the summer, between December
and April. The winters tend to be dry. The driest part of the country
is the northeast, the so called "polygon of drought",
encompassing 10 percent of the country's territory. In this region
rainfall is undependable and the evaporation rate is very high,
making it difficult to raise crops. Along the coastline, south from
Recife, the mountains trigger rainfall from the Trade Winds. In
some places behind the mountains, such as the region south of Salvador,
the hinterland is dry because the rain is dumped on the mountains
leaving very little for the area behind.
|
Climate
of Brazil
