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What are the climate zones?

Arid climate

The Sahara Desert is home to some of the hottest land in the world; summer temperatures in the region reach as high as 120°F (50°C). On the other hand, the Gobi Desert in Central Asia is extremely cold, with winter temperatures of 5°F (-21°C). Despite the large temperature differences, the Sahara Desert and the Gobi Desert belong to the same climate zone because they share the same characteristic: extreme drought.

The identification of dry climate zones is mainly based on insufficient humidity - annual precipitation may be less than annual evaporation. All the so-called true large deserts in the world and the adjacent quasi-arid areas belong to this type of climate, accounting for more than 30% of the total surface area, an area equivalent to the Asian continent.

Mediterranean climate

The Mediterranean subtropical climate occurs in the western part of the continent. The Mediterranean coast, the southern coast of Australia and the California coast experience hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, providing a rich and varied climate suitable for growing grapes, cabbage and figs. Frosts are rare, and the average temperature in the coldest months rarely drops below 40 to 50°C (4 to 10°C). Rainfall in the subtropical Mediterranean is much less than in the humid subtropical zones, ranging from 16 to 31 inches (40 to 80 cm) per year. Most rainfall occurs in the winter months, as subtropical semi-persistent high-pressure air flows toward the equator, pushing ocean cyclones inland.

Temperate climate

The temperate climate zone is where warm and cold air masses on the earth clash, thus presenting extremely changeable climate conditions. These regions are located in the mid-latitudes and are the places on Earth where seasons, temperatures, and precipitation vary most throughout the year. The temperate climate region is also home to some of the most densely populated and developed regions, including northwestern Europe, the eastern seaboard of the United States, northern Japan, and central China.

For 4 to 8 months of the year, the average temperature in temperate regions is above 50°F (10°C). Droughts rarely occur. Precipitation is generally average throughout the year. Due to abundant water supply, the production season is long. The soils are fertile, and many areas of the temperate zone are among the world's most productive agricultural regions.

Temperate marine climate

Temperate climate is divided into temperate marine climate zone and temperate continental climate. Located on the western edge of the continent and moderately affected by the eastward-moving oceanic air masses, the temperate maritime climate has mild or cool summers, with small temperature differences throughout the year. Temperate maritime climates include some of the cloudiest and wettest regions in the world, including the northwestern coast of North America, southern Chile, southeastern Australia, and western Europe.

In contrast, the temperate continental climate is located in the eastern part of the continent, away from the influence of the ocean. The seasonal changes are more obvious, with winter temperatures at or below zero, while summers are warm and mild, with average temperatures of 60 to 75°F (1624°C). This climate zone includes Eurasia, southern Canada, easternmost Asia and the northeastern one-third of the United States.

Subarctic climate

Northern (forest) climates are found only in the Northern Hemisphere and are the origin of the cold polar continental air masses that invade temperate and subtropical climates in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter. There is no other weak cyclone active in the subarctic zone all year round. Here, the growing season is short and midsummer freezes can occur at any time.

No other climate zone experiences such a wide range of annual temperature changes as the northern climate zone. In the heart of Alaska and Siberia, far from the climate-modifying effects of the ocean, seasonal temperature swings are some of the most dramatic in the world. The Verkhovyansk region in central Siberia has temperatures as low as -90°F (-68°C) in winter and as high as 85°F (29°C) in summer, a difference of 175°F (80°C).

Polar (cold zone) climate

In the polar climate zone, the average temperature every month of the year is below 50°F (10°C). The Inuit people who live in Alaska, northern Canada and Greenland have adapted to this harsh climate - as have the legendary mosquitoes, black flower flies and other insects that live in legendary swarms in the polar tundra of the northern hemisphere. The polar climate zone extends from the Arctic and Antarctic circles to the two poles respectively, and consists of frozen source areas where trees do not grow, including Russia, Canada, Alaska, large areas of ice-covered land in Antarctica and Greenland, and frozen ice cap areas in the Arctic Ocean that do not melt all year round. .

Highland climate

There are so many types of highland climate that each terrain has its own unique temperature and humidity characteristics. Even two sides of the same mountain present different climatic conditions. The weather in the Highlands can also be extremely variable throughout the day, with sunny days turning into heavy rain within a few hours.

The highland climate zone is like an island in a broad climate zone at lower altitudes, with cool weather and abundant water vapor. The flora and fauna here are better adapted to the highland climate than those of the surrounding lowlands. Highland climate zones are usually known for their abundant moisture and rainfall. It is also the source of many mountain springs that form major rivers on all continents.