Temperate zone is a natural zone covering a significant part of the land of the Northern Hemisphere and vast areas of the Southern. These latitudes are considered the main climatic zone, and not transitional, because their ranges are very extensive. In such areas, sharp changes in temperature, pressure and humidity are observed, and it does not matter, we are talking about land or a separate part of the water area. Read about what is characterized by a specifically moderate belt, what kind of weather is inherent in it and what are its features, read below.
Short description
Temperate latitudes are the most extensive natural zone on our planet. They occupy 25 percent of the entire surface of the earth, which is several times larger than the area of any other climatic zone. In the Northern Hemisphere, the temperate climatic zone lies between the 40th and 65th degrees of northern latitude. In the South, it is located between the 42nd and 58th degrees of south latitude. In addition, it is worth noting that in the north this natural zone extends mainly along land. 55 percent of the territory is continents, and the rest is the Atlantic and the Pacific. In the southern hemisphere, the temperate zone occupies only 2 percent of the land, and the remaining 98 are the waters of the oceans.
Air temperature and its fluctuations
The main feature of this zone are considered to be sharp seasonal changes in the temperature regime. It has very cold winters and very hot summers, and between them there are two transitional seasons - spring and autumn, which are found only in these latitudes. Winter temperatures in the temperate zone are always lowered below zero. The closer we are to one of the poles, the lower the thermometer gives us. On average, the air is cooled to –10. In summer, on the contrary, the temperature does not fall below +15 in all regions (except for weather anomalies). Closer to the subtropics there are temperature maxima of +35 or more above zero. At the borders of the subpolar band it is always cool - no more than +20.
Humidity and its differences
The climate of the temperate zone largely depends on the air pressure, which is formed here due to cyclones coming from land and waters of the oceans. The average annual rainfall, which is estimated here, is 500 mm. At the same time, it is worth highlighting separate zones - especially dry and especially wet. For example, zones of a dynamic minimum are formed off the shores of the seas and oceans. Here the pressure is low, and the amount of precipitation reaches 2000 mm per year. In the depths of the continents (North America, Eurasia), most of the territories are prone to droughts. In the summer there is always heat, because the amount of precipitation that falls here is not more than 200 mm.
North hemisphere
As we have already found out, the northern temperate zone is 55% of land and 45% of water between the 40th and 65th degrees. But this does not mean at all that each geographical point falling within this range is exactly the same in its weather conditions as everyone else. Since the length from north to south is very large, the weather at higher latitudes will be harsher than those close to the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the temperate zone is divided into 4 subspecies: marine climate, temperate continental, sharply continental and monsoon. Now we will consider each of them in detail.
Marine climate
This subtype is located above the surface of the waters of the oceans, as well as in coastal areas (New York, London). This zone is characterized by the lowest amplitude of temperature fluctuations during the year. Winter is abnormally warm here: it is extremely rare for the thermometer to drop below zero. Permanent snow cover in the cold season is also not formed: snow and frost are infrequent and do not last long on the ground. It is worth noting that the summer is by no means hot. When in the more northern zones the temperature rises to the limit, wearying everyone with heat, it is relatively cool here - no more than 22 degrees above zero. The annual rainfall here is maximum - up to 2000 mm.
Temperate continental climate
This is a type of temperate zone, which is located in the depths of the continents, far from the seas and oceans. It is characterized by very hot summers - up to +28 and frosty winters - more than 12 degrees below zero. It is always dry here, the minimum rainfall is up to 300 mm. Most of the territories that this natural zone covers are steppes and semi-steppes in Eurasia and North America. Here, during the winter, a constant snow cover and frost forms. In summer there are light winds, intermittent rains and light cloud cover.
Sharply continental climate
In this subzone, the temperate climatic zone borders on the subarctic, which significantly affects its weather conditions. In addition, another of its features is that it is located away from external waters, therefore it is extremely dry here - no more than 200 mm per year. In the summer it is very cool and windy. The temperature rarely rises above +19. Nevertheless, this is offset by a large number of sunny days due to low cloud cover. Summer itself is short, colds come literally in the second half of August. In winter it is very cold, and throughout the season the land is covered with snow. The temperature drops below –30, often snow clouds form over the area.
Monsoon climate
In some areas, which are absolutely insignificant in their parameters, the temperate zone intercepts monsoons. These are winds that form mainly in tropical zones and rarely reach such high latitudes. Temperature differences here are small, but humidity fluctuates very much. The main feature is that the summer is very wet, and in winter not a single drop falls from the sky. Type of weather - anticyclone, with a sharp change in pressure and wind direction.