These are mainly located between latitudes 5*N and 15* north and south of the [?] and within the central parts of continents i.e. the Llanos (Venezuela), the Campos (Brazilian Highlands), most of central [?] surrounding the Congo Basin, and parts of Mexico and northern Australia.

Although temperatures are high throughout the year, there is a short, slightly cooler [?] (in comparison with the equatorial climate) when the sun is overhead at the tropic in the opposite hemisphere. The annual [?] of temperature is slightly greater (than for equatorial climates) due to the sun's slightly reduced angle in the sky for most parts of the year, the greater distance from the sea, and the less complete [?] and vegetation cover. In Kano the annual range is 8*C. Temperatures may drop slightly at the onset of the [?] season which in Kano is usually in May. For most of the year, cloud cover is limited, allowing [?] temperatures to exceed 25*C.

The main characteristic of this climate is the alternating wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs when the sun moves overhead bringing with it the thermal equator, the ITCZ, and the equatorial [?] pressure belt. Heavy [?] rainstorms can give 80% of the annual rainfall in four or five [?]. The dry season corresponds with the moving away of the ITCZ, leaving the area with the strong steady [?] winds. The trades are dry because they are warming as they blow towards the Equator and they will have shed any moisture on distant east coasts. In the case of northern Nigeria the trade winds come from the source region of the arid Sahara [?] so are very dry. These dry winds in Nigeria are called the Harmattan (or 'Doctor').

Places nearer to the desert margins tend to experience dry, stable conditions (the sub-tropical high pressure) caused by the migration of the descending limb of the Hadley Cell. Humidity is also [?] in this season. Sometimes in West Africa the path of the easterly flowing equatorial jet stream, which is associated with the monsoon of Asia, moves further south causing a 'blocking' high pressure which prevents the 'summer' rains arriving in northern Nigeria leading to [?] conditions.