The thermal equator is found ’

The thermal equator is defined as the imaginary line connecting points of the highest mean annual temperature for each longitude [t3]. Unlike the geographical equator, which is fixed at 0° latitude, the thermal equator is dynamic and lies primarily to the north of the geographical equator [c1][c2]. This northward displacement is largely attributed to the asymmetrical distribution of landmasses, as the Northern Hemisphere contains significantly more land surface than the Southern Hemisphere [c4][t10]. Land surfaces heat up more rapidly and intensely than oceans, shifting the belt of maximum temperature northward [c4][t1]. While the thermal equator shifts seasonally—moving toward the Tropic of Cancer during the northern summer—its mean annual position remains north of the geographical equator due to these hemispheric land-sea contrasts and atmospheric circulation patterns [c1][c3][t1].

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 26: Tropical Cyclones > Favourable Position Of The Thermal Equator > p. 369
2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > Northern Hemisphere > p. 290
3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > Generally follow the parallels (latitudes) > p. 288
4. [4] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > Pressure Belts In July > p. 314