AbstractThe role of the Tropics in the general circulation of the atmosphere is discussed, with emphasis on the rising branch of the Hadley cell. The rising motion takes place largely in organized tropical disturbances and in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. To understand these systems, it is necessary to parameterize the latent heat release by cumulonimbus clouds in terms of the large‐scale flow. The various methods which have been devised to accomplish this are outlined and the results of large‐scale models incorporating these methods are discussed.