THE THERMAL FLOORS OF COLOMBIA AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The thermal floors of Colombia are a way to classify the different climatic types of the country based on altitude as the main determining factor of temperature.

The intertropical position of Colombia has the consequence that the annual variations in temperature are minimal, being this more influenced by the altitudinal variations than by the annual variations (seasonality). The decrease in temperature with altitude determines the different thermal levels.

The different thermal floors of Colombia

At sea level, Colombia reports high annual average temperatures, with an average of 28ºC. However, it is a country with a complex geography due to the presence of mountain ranges that in some points exceed 5,000 meters above sea level.

As one ascends the mountainous slopes, a progressive decrease in annual average temperatures is reported, at an average rate of 1.8ºC per 100 m. This generates the presence of five thermal floors, spaced every 1,000 meters above sea level.

Description of the thermal floors of Colombia

Warm

The warm thermal floor extends between 0 and 1,000 meters above sea level, with a temperature that ranges between 24 and 29 ºC. This floor extends for approximately 913,000 km ², 80% of the Colombian territory.

Magdalena River Valley (Colombia). Source: O – o

Tempered

The temperate thermal floor covers the lower areas of the mountains, between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level. It reports annual average temperatures that are between 17 and 24 ° C. It comprises 10% of the national territory, with 114,000 km ².

Most of Colombia's coffee plantations are done on the temperate thermal floor. Source: pixabay.com

Cold

The cold thermal floor corresponds to the mountainous strips located between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level. It presents annual average temperatures that oscillate between 11 and 17 ° C. It corresponds to 7.9% of the Colombian territory, with 93,000 km ².

The city of Rionegro is located at 2130 meters above sea level. orientese.co / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Paramo

The thermal floor of the páramo corresponds to the strip between 3,000 and 4,000 meters above sea level, with temperatures that vary between 6 and 12 ° C. It covers 29,000 km ² which is equivalent to 2.5% of the Colombian continental territory.

In this altitudinal floor 34 ecosystems have been identified, associated in 5 types: páramo, sub-páramo, super-páramo, dry páramo and humid páramo. Distributed in the Western, Eastern and Central Cordillera, as well as in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Nariño-Putumayo Sector.

These ecosystems are key in regulating the climate and their wetlands constitute the main source of water for electricity generation and for human consumption in large cities. They also constitute an important refuge for biodiversity.

For its protection, 20 protected areas of the System of National Parks of Colombia and 12 National Protective Forest Reserves have been created. 35% of the total moorland area is protected under the strictest categories of protection.

The condor flies over the Sierra de Santa Marta between 3000 and 4000 meters above sea level. Source: pixabay.com

Glacial

The glacial thermal floor is also called the thermal floor of perennial snows. This ranges from 4,000 to 5,775 meters above sea level at the Cristóbal Colón peak, the highest point in the Colombian geography.

This floor has annual average temperatures below 6 ° C, accompanied by scant rains, strong icy winds and frequent snowfalls. It has an area of ​​less than 0.1% of the Colombian territory.

In Colombia there are six glaciers, which are distributed in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and in the Eastern and Central mountain ranges. 100% of this territory is protected by the Colombian National Natural Parks System.

Pico Cristóbal Colón, the highest point in Colombian geography. Author: Gunjarinmaku, from Wikimedia Commons.

Flora

Warm

Being such an extensive region, this altitudinal floor includes a great diversity of terrestrial ecosystems, each with its own vegetation characteristics.

Tropical dry forests are characterized by registering a greater number of species for the capparidaceae, sapindaceae, bignoniaceae and legume families. While in the plains of the Orinoco the predominant families are cyperaceae, poacea, blondia and legumes.

In the savannas of the Colombian plains, sedges, grasses and herbaceous legumes predominate. While in the Amazonian savannas, grasses, algae, rapataceae and xyridáceas dominate. In the Caribbean, grasses dominate and sedges and other herbaceous plants are less frequent.

The xerophytic and subxerophytic formations are dominated by cacti, which constitute the typical vegetation.

The tropical humid forest is an ecosystem with a high diversity of plant species. Among the trees, legumes constitute the family with the greatest diversity. While in the understory, plants of the Araceae family are common, such as anthuriums (Anthurium), cañagrias (Costus), bihaos (Calathea), platanillos (Heliconia) and the like.

Warm and cold

The biodiversity associated with these thermal floors is mainly that characteristic of cloud forests. They constitute strategic ecosystems, due to their great value for social welfare. They are important in maintaining water, carbon sinks, a source of climatic stability, and a refuge for a large number of plants and animals.

It highlights the presence of endemic species such as the ericaceae Macleania penduliflora, Diogenesia antioquiensis and Cavendishia albopicata. In turn, the indigenous pines of Colombia (Prumnopitys and Podocarpus), the oak of the Quercus genus and the wax palm (Ceroxylon quinduense) stand out as emblematic species of the Andean area.

Several plant species have been considered within some category of global and national threat. The grinder (Magnolia hernandezii) and the tiragua (Blakea granatensis) are critically endangered. The wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), the walnut (Juglans neotropica), the mountain marupine (Couepia platycalyx) and the moorings (Meriania peltata) are in danger. Colombian pine (Podocarpus oleifolius) and oak (Quercus humboldtii) have been considered vulnerable.

Paramo

More than 4,700 plant species inhabit the moors, out of a total of 27,860 species of living beings reported for Colombia. This indicates that the moors represent 17% of the flora diversity of Colombia in just 2.5% of the continental territory.

The páramos have open vegetation, from sparse to shrubby with low forest. Among the species of emblematic plants of the moors, the species of the Asteraceae family stand out. To this belong more than 80 species of frailejones (Espeletia spp.).

The frailejones present a high degree of endemism. Probably because its seeds, unlike other genera of the same family, do not have adaptations that allow them to be dispersed by the wind. Consequently, its distribution is more restricted.

Glacial

In this altitude floor the night frosts are frequent and the winds are extreme. The vegetation is sparse and discontinuous. Grasses and dwarf shrubs abound.

Above 4,800 meters above sea level is the snow zone, with little or no vegetation, and with the presence of glaciers.

Fauna

Warm

In this thermal floor, the ecosystem with the greatest diversity of fauna corresponds to the tropical humid forest. Among the fish the orders Characiformes and Siluriformes predominate.

Amphibians are diverse, with the presence of poisonous frogs (Dendrobatidae), toads and some salamanders. Reptiles include species of snakes, lizards, iguanas, turtles, slime, and alligators.

In the humid tropical forests there is a high diversity of birds, mainly in the Chocó and the Amazon. In addition, they contain most of the mammals reported in the country, with bats being more than half of the species.

Among the emblematic mammals are squirrels and various species of marsupials. Some climbers such as monkeys, martejas (Potos flavus) and sloths stand out. While among the large mammals are the sainos (Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu), tapirs (Tapirus), the puma and the jaguar.

Warm and cold

In the cloud forests associated with these thermal floors, birds, amphibians and invertebrates present a high degree of species richness. In addition, these groups of fauna, together with mammals, present a high degree of endemism.

The areas of greatest bird endemism are found in the Andean mountain range, with approximately 130 species. In addition, some species of birds have been identified with some level of threat.

The paujil (Crax alberti) has been considered critically endangered, the crested eagle (Oroaetus isidori) endangered, the multi-colored chlorochrysa (Chlorochrysa sp) as vulnerable and the turquoise seagrass (Eriocnemis godini) could be extinct.

Most species of cloud forest mammals are in some category of threat. Some of the most emblematic species are the black howler monkey (Alouatta palliata), in a vulnerable state, the savanna deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in critical danger, and the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) in danger.

The species richness of amphibians is especially high in the Andean region, with 121 species in the Central mountain range, 118 in the Western mountain range and 87 in the Eastern mountain range.

The Alban harlequin (Atelopus farci) and the anomalous jumping frog (Hyloxalus ruizi) are critically endangered. The Malvasa harlequin (Atelopus eusebianus) and the rain frogs (Eleutherodactylus jorgevelosai, E. lichenoides, E. tribulosus) are in danger. While E. renjiforum and E. suetus are considered vulnerable.

Paramo

In the Colombian moors, 70 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles, 87 of amphibians, 154 of birds and 130 of butterflies have been recorded.

Some emblematic species of the fauna of the Colombian páramos are the spectacled bear or frontin (Tremactos ornatus) and the puma (Puma concolor) among mammals. In terms of birds, the Andes condor (Vultur grhypus), the páramo eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) and the sap-sucking hummingbird (Boissonneaua flavescens) stand out.

Glacial

The extreme conditions of wind, precipitation, low temperatures, frosts and snow zones make the glacial thermal floor an environment not very conducive to fauna. However, it is possible to find some specimens of the Andes condor (Vultur grhypus), of the páramo eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus).

References

1. Armenteras D., Cadena-V C. and Moreno RP 2007. Evaluation of the state of cloud forests and the 2010 target in Colombia. Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute. Bogotá, DC - Colombia. 72 p.
2. Barrera Carranza, LA 1978. Preliminary Bibliography on Natural Resources of Colombia. ICA-CIRA Library. Bogota Colombia.
3. Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development. 2010. Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Republic of Colombia. Bogota Colombia. 239 pp.
4. Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development. 2014. V National Report on Biodiversity of Colombia before the Convention on Biological Diversity. Republic of Colombia. Bogota Colombia. 156 pp.
5. Morales M., Otero J., Van der Hammen T., Torres A., Cadena C., Pedraza C., Rodríguez N., Franco C., Betancourth JC, Olaya E., Posada E. and Cárdenas L. 2007. Atlas of paramos of Colombia. Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute. Bogotá, DC 208 p.
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