Intertropical

Intertropical is an adjectival term used in geography and meteorology to describe the region around the Earth's equator, and more broadly the tropical belt between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. In many cases the phrase is linked to the study of tropical climate and weather patterns, and it is routinely employed in connection with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

The ITCZ is a dynamic band of low pressure around the equator where the trade winds from the northern and southern hemispheres meet. This convergence causes rising air and extensive convective activity, leading to persistent, heavy rainfall in the region. The ITCZ is not fixed; it migrates seasonally with the sun, moving northward during the boreal summer and southward during the austral summer. Its position and intensity affect regional rainfall, monsoon systems, and the distribution of tropical storms in areas such as Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia.

In a broader sense, the Intertropical concept encompasses climates and ecosystems typical of low latitudes, characterized by warm temperatures year-round and varying wet and dry seasons depending on locale. The term is used in climatology, biogeography, and related disciplines to describe processes and patterns that operate in the tropical belt, including cloud formation, precipitation regimes, and the global circulation that links the equatorial zone to higher latitudes.