World Climatic Regions

Icecap

• Few organisms survive in this environment.

• Temperatures rarely rise above freezing, even in summer.

• Ever-present ice reflects most of the Sun’s energy, keeping the weather cold.

• This region is known for its lush vegetation and diverse wildlife.

Tropical wet climate

• Also known as deserts, these regions have cold temperatures and little rainfall, with annual rainfall less than five inches.

• Also known as rainforests, these regions have warm temperatures and regular rainfall, with annual rainfall more than five feet.

• Also known as tundras, these regions have cool temperatures and moderate rainfall, with annual rainfall around three feet.

• Also known as savannas, these regions have hot temperatures and seasonal rainfall, with annual rainfall varying widely.

Humid Continental

• Colder winters, longer-lasting snow, and wet summer seasons. Transition zones between mild and polar climates with extreme seasonal changes.

• Mild winters, short summers, and consistent rainfall throughout the year.

• Hot summers, mild winters, and very little seasonal change.

• Cold winters, dry summers, and minimal precipitation.

Tropical wet and dry

• Also called 'savanna' climates, defined by wet and dry periods. Example: Serengeti region of East Africa.

• Characterized by constant rainfall throughout the year, typical of rainforests.

• Found in polar regions, with extremely low temperatures and ice coverage.

• Known for its arid conditions and minimal vegetation, typical of deserts.

Arid

• Wet and humid regions

• Desert. Dry. Receive only 4 to 12 inches of rain each year.

• Temperate forests with high rainfall

• Regions with seasonal rainfall and dry winters

Humid Subtropical

• Long hot summers and mild winters

• Cold winters and dry summers

• Consistently cool temperatures year-round

• Frequent snowfall and low humidity

Tundra

• Summers are short, with temperatures averaging as high as 50° Fahrenheit in July, found along the Arctic coast of Canada and Eurasia.

• A biome characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall, typically found near the equator.

• An ecosystem dominated by large trees and diverse wildlife, commonly found in tropical regions.

• A cold desert with minimal vegetation, primarily located in the interior of continents.

Semiarid

• Receive enough precipitation to support extensive grasslands. Example: Australian outback.

• Receive high levels of rainfall throughout the year.

• Characterized by extreme cold temperatures and heavy snowfall.

• Consistently dry with little to no vegetation.

Mediterranean

• Warm summers and short, mild, rainy winters. Found on west coasts of continents between 30° and 40° latitude, and along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

• Cold winters and hot, dry summers, typically found in desert regions.

• Mild summers and heavy snowfall in winter, common in polar regions.

• Consistently warm temperatures year-round with high humidity, found near the equator.

Subarctic

• Regions with very long, cold winters and little precipitation, also called boreal climates or taiga. Example: Northern Scandinavia and Siberia.

• Regions characterized by hot summers and mild winters, typically found in the Mediterranean.

• Areas with high temperatures and high humidity, often experiencing tropical rainforests.

• Regions with moderate temperatures and seasonal rainfall, commonly known as temperate climates.