Three Climatic Zones

Average temperatures cool with increasing latitude, producing well-defined climatic zones on the
planet.

The Tropic Zones extend from the equator north to the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5 degrees north to
the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 degrees south. This is a region of generally warm temperatures
and lush tropical vegetation.

The Temperate Zones extend from the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn to the Arctic and
Antarctic Circles, which are located at 66.5 degrees north and south latitude respectively. These
regions experience moderate temperatures and large temperature variations. The summers are hot
and the winters cool.

The Polar Zones extend from the Arctic and Antarctic Circles to the poles. In these regions,
temperatures are cold and vegetation sparse.

1. Latitude or distance from the equator – Temperatures drop the further an area is from the
equator due to the curvature of the earth. In areas closer to the poles, sunlight has a larger area of
atmosphere to pass through and the sun is at a lower angle in the sky. As a result, more energy is
lost and temperatures are cooler.