Latitude Zones and Climate MAD 2011. What is Latitude? Latitudes are lines that run east to west around the globe and measure distance north and south.

Latitude Zones and Climate

MAD 2011

What is Latitude?

Latitudes are lines that run east to west around the globe and measure distance north and south of the equator.

(HINT: think of the latitude lines as the rungs on a ladder – you can use them to climb up the earth OR sat rhymes with lat – I sat on the latitude lines)

Weather vs. Climate

Weather is the day to day changes in the air (weather is what you get)

Climate is weather over a long period of time (climate is what you expect)

4 things that affect Climate

1. Latitude – has to do with direct sunlight

2. Wind – makes a place milder than it would be

3. Water – makes a place milder than it would be

4. Elevation – it is colder the higher up you go

Color Latitude Zones

Red – between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn

Blue – above and below the Arctic and Antarctic

Green – between the tropic and polar zones

Latitudes

Low Latitude

Middle Latitude

High Latitude

Low Latitude

Low latitudes are the low numbers. The climate is usually always warm or hot. Also known as the Tropics because they are

between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

Middle Latitude

Middle latitudes are the middle numbers. It is easier to tell when the seasons change. Temperatures range from cold to hot

depending on the season. Also known as the

Moderate or

Termperate Zone

High Latitude

High latitudes are the high numbers. They are mostly cold or freezing all year. Also known as the Polar Zones because they

are at each pole.

Climate Description Vegetation Location

Tropical

Dry

Moderate *

Continental

Polar

Highland

Climate Description Vegetation Location

Tropical Hot and wet Tropical rainforest

Low latitudes

Dry

Moderate *

Continental

Polar

Highland

Tropical Climates

Climate Description Vegetation Location

Tropical Hot and wet Tropical rainforest

Low latitudes

Dry Hot with little rainfall. (Desert)

Very little vegetation

Low latitudes

Moderate *

Continental

Polar

Highland

Dry Climates

Climate Description Vegetation Location

Tropical Hot and wet Tropical rainforest

Low latitudes

Dry Hot with little rainfall. (Desert)

Very little vegetation

Low latitudes

Moderate * Good rainfall, season changes hardly ever falls below 0°

Wide variety of vegetation

Middle latitudes

Continental

Polar

Highland

Moderate Climates

Climate Description Vegetation Location

Tropical Hot and wet Tropical rainforest

Low latitudes

Dry Hot with little rainfall. (Desert)

Very little vegetation

Low latitudes

Moderate * Good rainfall, season changes hardly ever falls below 0°

Wide variety of vegetation

Middle latitudes

Continental Summers are warm to hot. Winters can be very cold. Good rainfall.

Grasslands and forest.

Middle Latitudes

Polar

Highland

Continental Climates

Climate Description Vegetation Location

Tropical Hot and wet Tropical rainforest

Low latitudes

Dry Hot with little rainfall. (Desert)

Very little vegetation

Low latitudes

Moderate * Good rainfall, season changes hardly ever falls below 0°

Wide variety of vegetation

Middle latitudes

Continental Summers are warm to hot. Winters can be very cold. Good rainfall.

Grasslands and forest.

Middle Latitudes

Polar Cold all year long.

Some grasses and low shrubs in some areas.

High Latitudes

Highland

Polar Climates

Climate Description Vegetation Location

Tropical Hot and wet Tropical rainforest Low latitudes

Dry Hot with little rainfall. (Desert)

Very little vegetation

Low latitudes

Moderate * Good rainfall, season changes hardly ever falls below 0°

Wide variety of vegetation

Middle latitudes

Continental Summers are warm to hot. Winters can be very cold. Good rainfall.

Grasslands and forest.

Middle Latitudes

Polar Cold all year long. Some grasses and low shrubs in some areas.

High Latitudes

Highland Temperatures vary depending on elevation

Vegetation decrease with elevation

Anywhere there are mountains

Highland Climates

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm