Climate Zones

by:Prof Liwayway Memije-Cruz

Climate and Biomes Climate is the characteristic condition of the atmosphere

near the earth's surface at a certain place on earth. It is the long-term weather of that area (at least 30 years). This includes the region's general pattern of weather conditions, seasons and weather extremes like hurricanes, droughts, or rainy periods. Two of the most important factors determining an area's climate are air temperature and precipitation.

World biomes are controlled by climate. The climate of a region will determine what plants will grow there, and what animals will inhabit it. All three components, climate, plants and animals are interwoven to create the fabric of a biome.

World Climates

The Köppen Climate Classification System

  is the most widespread system used to classify the climates of places on our planet. The system was developed German climatologist and amateur botanist Wladimir Köppen (1846-1940) who divided the world's climates into several major categories based upon general temperature profile related to latitude.

The Köppen system classifies a location’s climate mainly using annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation.

Latitude and Longitude

Major Köppen Climate Categories

Tropical Moist Climates:

These are very warm climates found in the tropics that experience high quantities of precipitation. The primary distinguishing characteristic of these climates is all months have average temperatures above 18°C (64°F).

Countries with Tropical Moist Climates

Amazon River Basin (South America), Congo River Basin (Africa), eastern coast of Central America, eastern coast of Brazil, the Philippines, coast of Madagascar, eastern India, southern Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Dry Climates

These are climates that experience little precipitation during most of the year. Further, potential losses of water from evaporation and transpiration greatly exceed atmospheric input.

Location: Dry Climates

From the Caspian Sea eastward to northern China, Mongolia, and parts of southern South America.

Moist Mid –latitude Climates with Mild Winters

In these climates, summer temperatures are warm to hot and winters are mild. The primary distinguishing characteristic of these climates is the coldest month has an average temperature between 18°C (64°F) and -3°C (27°F).

Location: Moist Mid –latitude Climates with Mild Winters

Southeastern United States, northern Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, southern Japan, and southern China.

Moist Mid –latitude Climates with Cold Winters

In these climates, summer temperatures are warm and winters are cold. The primary distinguishing characteristic of these climates is the average temperature of warmest month exceeds 10°C (50°F), and average temperature of coldest is below -3°C (27°F).

Location: Moist Mid –latitude Climates with Cold Winters

northeastern and mid-western United States, east-central Europe, northern China, and northern Korea.

Polar Climates

These climates have very cold winters and summers, with no real summer season. The primary distinguishing characteristic of these climates is the warmest month has an average temperature below 10°C (50°F).

Location: Polar Climates

Regions in North America, Greenland, and Eurasia that border the Arctic Ocean, Antarctic Peninsula, and many polar islands.

Highland Climates

These are climates that are strongly influenced by the effects of altitude.  As a result, the climate of such locations is rather different from places with low elevations at similar latitudes.

Location: Highland Climates

Rocky Mountain Range in North America, the Andean mountain range in South America, the Alps in Europe, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, the Himalayans in Tibet, Mt. Fuji in Japan.

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