Climatic zones and types of climates of the Earth:

- Types of climates (climatic zones) in Russia.

General characteristics of the climatic zones of the Earth.

Climatic zones differ from each other:

• the degree of heating by the sun;
• peculiarities of atmospheric circulation;
• seasonal change of air masses.

Climatic zones differ significantly from each other, gradually changing from the equator to the poles. However, the climate is influenced not only by the latitude of the Earth, but also by the terrain, proximity to the sea, and height above sea level.

In Russia and in most countries of the world, the classification of climatic zones, created by the famous Soviet climatologist, is used B.P. Alisov in 1956.

According to this classification, four main climatic zones of the Earth and three transitional zones with the prefix "sub" (Latin "under") are distinguished on the globe:

• Equatorial (1 belt);
• Subequatorial (2 belts - in the northern and southern hemispheres);
• Tropical (2 zones - in the northern and southern hemispheres);
• Subtropical (2 zones - in the northern and southern hemispheres);
• Moderate (2 zones - in the northern and southern hemispheres);
• Subpolar (2 belts - subantarctic in the south, subarctic in the north);
• Polar (2 belts - in the southern Antarctic, in the northern arctic);

Within these climatic zones, four types of the Earth's climate are distinguished:

• Continental,
• Oceanic,
• The climate of the western shores,
• The climate of the eastern shores.

Let us consider in more detail the climatic zones of the Earth and the types of climates inherent in them.

Climatic zones and types of climates of the Earth:

1. Equatorial climate zone- the air temperature in this climatic zone is constant (+ 24-28 ° С). At sea, temperature fluctuations can generally be less than 1 °. The annual amount of precipitation is significant (up to 3000 mm), on the windward slopes of the mountains, precipitation can fall up to 6000 mm.

2. Subequatorial climate- is located between the equatorial and tropical main types of the Earth's climate. Equatorial air masses dominate in this belt in summer, and tropical air masses in winter. The amount of precipitation in summer is 1000-3000 mm. The average summer temperature is + 30 ° С. Little precipitation falls in winter, the average temperature is + 14 ° С.

Subequatorial and equatorial belts. Left to right: savannah (Tanzania), rainforest (South America)

3. Tropical climatic zone. In this type of climate, a continental tropical climate and an oceanic tropical climate are distinguished.

• continental tropical climate - annual precipitation - 100-250 mm. Average summer temperature + 35-40 ° С, winter + 10-15 ° С. Daily temperature fluctuations can reach 40 ° C.
• oceanic tropical climate - annual precipitation - up to 50 mm. Average summer temperature + 20-27 ° С, winter + 10-15 ° С.

Tropical belts of the Earth. From left to right: deciduous forest (Costa Rica), veld (South Africa), desert (Namibia).

4. Subtropical climate- is located between the tropical and temperate main types of the Earth's climate. In summer, tropical air masses dominate, and in winter, air masses of temperate latitudes, carrying precipitation, invade here. The subtropical climate is characterized by hot, dry summers (from +30 to + 50 ° C) and relatively cold winters with precipitation, no stable snow cover is formed. Annual precipitation is about 500 mm.

• climate of dry subtropics - observed inside the continents in subtropical latitudes. Summers are hot (up to + 50 ° С) and in winter frosts down to -20 ° С are possible. Annual precipitation is 120 mm or less.
• Mediterranean climate - observed in the western parts of the continents. Summer is hot, no precipitation. The winters are cool and rainy. The annual amount of precipitation is 450-600 mm.
• subtropical climate of the eastern shores continents is monsoon... Winters are cold and dry compared to other climates in the subtropical zone, while summers are hot (+ 25 ° C) and humid (800 mm).

Subtropical belts of the Earth. From left to right: evergreen forest (Abkhazia), prairies (Nebraska), desert (Karakum Desert).

5. Moderate climatic zone. It forms over the territories of temperate latitudes - from 40-45 ° north and south latitude to the polar circles. Annual precipitation ranges from 1000 mm to 3000 mm on the outskirts of the mainland and up to 100 mm in the interior. Summer temperature ranges from + 10 ° С to + 25-28 ° С. In winter - from + 4 ° С to -50 ° С. In this type of climate, there is a marine type of climate, continental and monsoon.

• maritime temperate climate - annual precipitation - from 500 mm to 1000 mm, in the mountains up to 6000 mm. Summer is cool + 15-20 ° С, winters are warm from + 5 ° С.
• continental temperate climate - the annual amount of precipitation is about 400 mm. Summers are warm (+ 17-26 ° С), and winters are cold (-10-24 ° С) with a stable snow cover for many months.
• monsoon temperate climate - the annual amount of precipitation is about 560 mm. Winters are clear and cold (-20-27 ° С), summers are humid and rainy (-20-23 ° С).

Natural zones of the temperate zones of the Earth. From left to right: taiga (Sayan Mountains), broad-leaved forest (Krasnoyarsk Territory), steppe (Stavropol Territory), desert (Gobi).

6. Subpolar climate- consists of subarctic and subantarctic climatic zones. In summer, humid air masses come here from temperate latitudes, so the summer is cool (from +5 to + 10 ° С) and about 300 mm of precipitation falls (in the north-east of Yakutia 100 mm). In winter, the weather in this climate is influenced by the Arctic and Antarctic air masses, so there are long, cold winters, temperatures can reach -50 ° C.
7. Polar type of climate - Arctic and Antarctic climatic zones. Formed above 70 ° north and below 65 ° south latitude. The air is very cold, the snow cover does not melt all year round. Very little precipitation falls, the air is saturated with small ice needles. When they settle, they add up to only 100 mm of precipitation per year. The average summer temperature is not higher than 0 ° С, winter temperatures are -20-40 ° С.

Subpolar climatic zones of the Earth. From left to right: Arctic desert (Greenland), tundra (Yakutia), forest-tundra (Khibiny).

The characteristics of the Earth's climates are presented more clearly in the table.

Characteristics of the climatic zones of the Earth. Table.

Note: Dear visitors, hyphens in long words in the table are provided for the convenience of mobile users - otherwise the words will not be wrapped and the table will not fit on the screen. Thanks for understanding!

Types of climates (climatic zones) in Russia:

• Arctic: t January -24 ... -30, t summer + 2 ... + 5. Precipitation - 200-300 mm.
• Subarctic: (up to 60 degrees N). summer t + 4 ... + 12. Precipitation is 200-400 mm.
• Moderately continental: t January −4 ... -20, t July + 12 ... + 24. Precipitation is 500-800 mm.
• Continental climate: t January -15 ... -25, t July + 15 ... + 26. Precipitation is 200-600 mm.