Climate Zones Around the World

Climate is the weather that a particular place experiences over a long

period of time. Climate zones are based on temperature and rainfall.
Here is a simple breakdown of the world’s main climate zones.
Polar – very cold and dry all year round.
Continental – long, cold winters with shorter summers.
Temperate – cool winters and mild summers.
Tropical – hot, humid and wet all year round.
Arid – very hot and dry all year round.
 Climate Zones in Australia
The continent of Australia can be divided into
three main climate zones – arid (hot and dry),
tropical (hot and wet) and temperate (cool).
The arid zone covers 70% of the continent.
This land is classified as arid or semi-arid.
The tropical zone is located in the far north of
the continent.
The temperate zone is located in the south-
east, south and south-west of the continent.
 The Temperate Climate Zone in Australia
Temperate climates are cooler than tropical climates. They experience
the four distinct seasons of summer, autumn, winter and spring.
The temperate climate zone of Australia experiences a variation in
temperature and rainfall during the year, depending on the season.
The most common vegetation type found in Australia’s temperate
climate zone is eucalypt forests. These are located along the south-east
of the continent, between the east coast and the Great Dividing Range.
 Plants in the Australian Temperate Zone
As the name suggests, the dominant plant species found in eucalyptus
forests is the eucalyptus tree. There are more than 700 species of
eucalypts and nearly all of these species are native to Australia.
River red gum is the most widely distributed eucalypt and is found in all
Australian mainland states. The forests of south-eastern Australia
contain a wide range of dominant eucalypt species including mountain
ash, messmate stringybark, alpine ash, blackbutt and spotted gum.
Plants in the Australian Temperate Zone

River red gum Spotted gum forest

 Animals in the Australian Temperate Zone
The eucalyptus forests of Australia’s temperate zone provide a range of
animal habitats such as large trees, fallen logs, shrubs, vines and leaf
litter. The environment also provides food, shelter and breeding areas.
Some of the animals that live in Australia’s eucalyptus forests include:
• birds (magpies, galahs, kookaburras, rosellas, wedge-tailed eagles)
• reptiles and amphibians (snakes, lizards, frogs)
• mammals (kangaroos, koalas, sugar gliders, echidnas, bats).
Animals in the Australian Temperate Zone

Koalas Kookaburra