Earth and Space Science / Unit 8: Climate
8.3 Climate Zones
Notes
Climates are grouped by temperature and precipitation (the Köppen system).
| Zone | Features |
|---|---|
| Tropical | Hot all year, lots of rain (rainforests, savannas) |
| Dry | Little rain: deserts and steppes |
| Temperate | Mild, distinct seasons |
| Continental | Cold winters, warm summers, inland |
| Polar | Very cold, ice |
- Deserts occur near 30° latitude where air sinks; rainforests near the equator where air rises.
- A biome is a large ecosystem shaped by climate.
Practice
Which climate zone is hot and wet all year?
Rainforests are tropical.
Why are many deserts near 30° latitude?
High pressure and sinking air suppress rain there.
A climate with long, cold winters and ice year-round is:
Polar zones stay below freezing most of the time.
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