Climate Zones of the World
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What you will learn
- 1Identify the three main climate zones and their locations
- 2Describe the key characteristics of tropical, temperate, and polar climates
- 3Match climate zones to the animals and plants found in each
Mini Lesson
A climate zone is a region of Earth that shares similar temperature, rainfall, and seasonal patterns. There are three main climate zones: tropical, temperate, and polar. Their locations depend on how far they are from the equator.
Tropical Zone
- Located near the equator — receives direct sunlight year-round.
- Hot and humid all year; it is never cold.
- Receives the most rainfall of all three zones.
- Home to dense rainforests and open savannas.
Temperate Zone
- Located between the tropics and the polar circles.
- Experiences four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
- Moderate temperatures — not as hot as tropical, not as cold as polar.
- Home to deciduous forests, grasslands, and mixed woodlands.
Polar Zone
- Located near the North and South Poles, in the Arctic and in Antarctica.
- Extremely cold throughout the year; long dark winters.
- Very little precipitation — mostly snow rather than rain.
- Home to tundra and permanent ice caps; very few plant species survive.
How Climate Affects Life
- Climate determines which plants can grow and which animals can survive.
- Animals in each zone are adapted to its temperature and rainfall: monkeys in tropical rainforests, deer in temperate forests, and polar bears in the Arctic.
- Distance from the equator is the main factor controlling a region's climate.
Words to know
climate zone
A large region of Earth with a similar pattern of temperature, rainfall, and seasons.
tropical
The hot, humid climate zone located near the equator.
temperate
The climate zone with four distinct seasons, located between the tropics and the polar circles.
polar
The extremely cold climate zone located near the North and South Poles.
tundra
A cold, treeless biome found in polar regions with frozen ground called permafrost.
permafrost
A layer of permanently frozen soil found in polar and tundra regions.
Tip: remember the order from the equator outward — Tropical, Temperate, Polar. The farther from the equator, the colder the climate.
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