Different Climatic

Regions of the World

I. Major Climate Zones Climate is the average weather conditions over a

long period of time.

Earth is a complex mix of climates.

Geographers identify these climate by observing: Temperature Precipitation Native plant life

I. Major Climate Zones With these observations we can divide

Planet Earth into fiver basic climate zones: I. Tropical II. Temperate III. Polar IV. Dry V. Highland/Mountain

I. Major Climate Zones I. Tropical Climates

Occur near the equator and the lower latitudes

These climates extend from the Tropic of Cancer through the Equator and down to the Tropic of Capricorn.

This climate tends to be warm, muggy, and rainy year-round.

Temperatures average around 80°F

Rainfall averages between 70-450 inches per year!!! This is why it is known as

the rainforest. Monsoons- Seasonal winds

that bring either dry or moist air

I. Major Climates Zones II. Temperate

Climates Occur about halfway between the

equator and the poles in the middle latitudes.

This climate has four distinct seasons.

Summers are short and hot. Springs and falls are mild. Winters are long, cold, and

typically snowy. Plant Life: Tall grasslands to both

coniferous and deciduous trees Main areas in U.S.: Great Plains,

Midwest

III. Temperate Climates This climates tends to have mixed

forests.

Deciduous trees Lose their leaves each fall.

Coniferous trees Do not shed their leaves and are green

year-round.

I. Major Climate Zones III. Polar Climates

Occur near the poles Higher latitudes Even with this

extreme cold, polar bears, penguins, whales, and seals are able to survive quite well in this frigid climate

I. Major Climate Zones IV/V. Dry and

Highland Climates These can be found in

many different latitudes.

This climate can be several climates at once.

It depends upon elevation.

As you go up the mountain, temperatures drop and plant life grows more scarce.

I. Major Climate Zones World Climate Regions:

Humid Tropical Tropical Savanna Desert Steppe Mediterranean Humid Subtropical Marine West Coast Humid Continental Subarctic Tundra Ice Cap Highland

World Climate RegionsHumid Tropical Tropical SavannaDesert Steppe

Marine West Coast

Humid ContinentalSubarctic TundraIce Cap Highland

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