The characterization of climatic zones (table below) is the topic of this article. We will talk about what types of climate exist on our planet, as well as a detailed look at each of them. To do this, recall that the climate is called the weather mode, established over the years, which depends on the specific territory, its geographical location.
Equatorial belt
This climate zone is characterized by low pressure and the year-round presence of air masses. There are no separate climatic regions inside the belt. As for the temperature regime, it is hot here. There is a lot of rainfall during the year, moisture in excess. The weather here changes very sharply during the day. The first half is sultry, and the second begins with heavy rains.
The names of climatic zones are related to their features. The equatorial belt is located near the equator, therefore it has such a name.
The subequatorial belt is characterized by a change in air masses that occurs seasonally. Equatorial air masses prevail in summer, and more tropical ones in winter. Weather conditions in summer fully correspond to the equatorial type of climate, while the weather in winter resembles the conditions of the tropical zone. Winters are dry and slightly colder than summers.
Tropical belt
As we already know, the names of climatic zones are related to their location. This type of climate is characterized by tropical air masses all year. Continental air. The real weather of the tropical zone is high pressure and temperature, a large temperature difference not only during the year, but also during the day. Water in this climate is sorely lacking. It is very hot and dry, dust storms and dry winds often happen. Almost no rain. The weather is usually dry and sunny.
However, the tropical belt is misleading. The eastern shores of the continents, which are washed by warm currents, are also in this zone, but have a different climate. Tropical marine air, heavy rainfall, monsoon. Climatic conditions are similar to the equatorial climate.
Subtropical zones are characterized by a change in air masses. In summer, tropical climate prevails, in winter - temperate. Pressure surges in summer and winter are quite high. In winter, the pressure is low, and in summer it is high. Despite the strong difference in temperature and precipitation during the year, on the thermometer the whole year is above zero. Sometimes the temperature can drop even to negative values. In such periods, snow falls. In the lowlands it melts quickly, but in the mountains it can lie for several months. As for winds, westerly winds dominate in winter , and trade winds in summer.
Temperate zone
The temperature of climatic zones largely depends on the air masses that prevail over the territory. In the temperate zone, as the name implies, the climate is temperate. But not always. Sometimes tropical or arctic air masses invade. A temperate climate is characterized by a large temperature difference. Summer is hot, and winter is frosty and long. Relatively low pressure, cyclone, instability of weather conditions in winter. Westerly winds blow throughout the year, trade winds sometimes occur in the summer, and northeasterly winds in the winter. Every winter, massive snow cover.
Arctic and Antarctic Belts
In the characteristics of climatic zones in the table, you can see what temperatures prevail in these zones. Features of these belts in low temperatures all year round, strong winds and cold summers. Precipitation is very small.
Subarctic and Subantarctic Belts
These zones differ in that in summer the temperate climate prevails. Because of this, a large amplitude of temperature fluctuations occurs. In these zones there is a lot of permafrost. In winter, northeastern and southeasterly winds prevail, and in summer - westerly. Belts have 2 climatic regions, about them below.
Territory zones
Each belt is characteristic for a certain territory. Natural-climatic zones have been formed on the planet for a long time, therefore it is possible to identify with certainty certain areas in which the climate of the belt is pronounced.
The equatorial climate is characteristic of Oceania, the countries of South America and Africa. The subequatorial climate is characteristic of Northern Australia and Southeast Asia. Central Australia and North Africa have a tropical belt. Subtropics are characteristic of the inner regions of the continents. A temperate climate prevails in the western part and eastern outskirts of Eurasia. The subarctic climate zone prevails in North America and northern Eurasia. The Arctic and Antarctic belts are characteristic of Australia and the Arctic Ocean.
Climate zones table
The table shows the characteristics of the zones.
Belt | January average temperature | The average temperature in July | Atmosphere |
Equatorial | +25 | +25 | Moist warm air masses |
Subequatorial | +20 | +31 | Monsoons prevail |
Tropical | +10 | +37 | Trade winds |
Subtropical | +8 | +40 | Cyclone, high atmospheric pressure |
Moderate | + 2 ... -20 | +19 | West winds and monsoons |
Subarctic | -25 | +8 | Cyclones |
Arctic (Antarctic) | -40 | 0 | Anticyclones |
Climatic zones of zones
Subtropical zones have three climatic regions:
- Mediterranean climate. Prevails in the northern hemisphere, on the southern and western shores of the continents. In summer, there is a continental climate, and in winter - continental and marine air masses. Summer is arid and warm, and winter is relatively cool, humid. Inadequate humidification.
- Monsoon climate. Distributed on the eastern shores of the continents. Summer monsoons cause intense heat and rainfall, while winter monsoons cause coolness and dryness. Humidification in this area is moderate. Precipitation is typical for the winter season.
- Sea climate. Distributed on the continents of the southern hemisphere. Marine air masses are characteristic. Summer and winter are warm. There is enough moisture, it is distributed evenly throughout the year.
The temperate zone consists of 5 climatic regions:
- Temperate marine climate. Prevails on the western banks of the continents. Weather forms under the influence of warm currents and westerly winds. Winters are rather mild and summers are warm. There will be a lot of rainfall during the year. Winter is characterized by heavy and frequent snowfalls. Moisture is more than enough. The geography of the climate zone contributes to weather instability.
- Continental temperate climate. It is characterized by warm summers and cold winters. Arctic air masses sometimes provoke a sharp cooling, and tropical air masses cause warming. There are few precipitation, they are uniform (cyclonal and frontal).
- Continental climate. It applies only to the northern hemisphere. Moderate air masses prevail here throughout the year. Sometimes arctic air masses appear (in this area, their invasion is also possible in the summer). In the warm season, precipitation is greater, but in general they are insignificant. A small amount of snow and the prevalence of low temperatures contribute to the existence of permafrost.
- Sharply continental climate. It is characteristic of the interior regions of North America and Eurasia. The territory is practically isolated from the influence of the seas and oceans and is located in the center of high pressure. Sometimes summer is hot, winter is always frosty. A lot of permafrost. Type of weather - anticyclonal. There is little rainfall, little moisture.
- Monsoon climate. Distributed on the eastern side of the continents. It is characterized by the seasonality of air masses. Summer is wet and warm, and winter is dry and cool. Summer precipitation is more numerous, excessive moisture.
Subarctic and subantarctic zones have two areas:
- continental climate (harsh but short winters, little rainfall, waterlogging of the territory);
- oceanic climate (fogs, rainfall, mild winters and cool summers).
The characteristic of climatic zones in the table does not include two regions of the Arctic and Antarctic zones:
- continental Arctic climate (little rainfall, temperatures below zero all year long);
- oceanic climate (cyclones, little precipitation, negative temperatures).
The temperature in the oceanic climate can rise to +5 during the polar day.
Summing up, we say that the characteristic of climatic zones (in the table) is necessary for every educated person.