Climate is the weather of a place averaged over a length of time.

Human activity also may be

changing the global climate. Global warming could change conifer forests, leading to shifts in plant
and animal populations. It could also melt enough polar ice to raise the sea level. Climates vary from
place to place because of five main factors:
 latitude (distance from the equator),
 altitude (height above sea level),
 topography,
 distance from oceans and large lakes,
 the circulation of the atmosphere.

The earth's surface is a patchwork of climate zones. Climatologists have organized similar types of
climates into groups. There are 12 climate groups:
Tropical wet climates are hot and muggy the year around. Rainfall is heavy, temperatures are high,
and they change little during the year. The coolest month has an average temperature no lower than
18°C (degrees Celsius).
Tropical wet and dry climates occur in areas next to regions that have tropical wet climates.
Temperatures are high throughout the year.
Semiarid and desert climates occur in regions with little precipitation. Desert climates are drier
than semiarid climates. In both climate groups, the temperature change between day and night is
considerable.
Subtropical dry climates feature warm to hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. These
climates, sometimes called Mediterranean.
Humid subtropical climates are characterized by warm to hot summers and cool winters. Rainfall
is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
Humid oceanic climates are found only on the western sides of continents where prevailing winds
blow from sea to land. Winters are cool to mild and summers are warm. Moderate precipitation
occurs throughout the year. Low clouds, fog, and drizzle are common. Snow is a major element in
humid continental climates. Winter temperatures are so low that snowfall can be substantial and
snow cover persistent.
Subarctic climates have short, cool summers and long, bitterly cold winters. Freezes can occur
even in midsummer. Most precipitation falls in the summer. Snow comes early in the fall and lasts
on the ground into early summer.
Subarctic climates have short, cool summers and long, bitterly cold winters. Most precipitation
falls in the summer.
Tundra climates are dry, with a brief, chilly summer and a bitterly cold winter.
Highland climates occur in mountainous regions. A highland climate zone is composed of several
areas whose climates are like those found in flat terrain.