Climate zones of the world

How climate varies across the world and what factors determine each zone

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
What does 'climate' mean? A) The long-term pattern of weather in an area B) The weather right now C) How hot it is today D) The amount of rain in one week
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2
Complete the sentence. A climate zone that is hot and wet, near the equator, is called ___.
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3
True or false? The UK has a temperate climate. A) True B) False
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4
True or false? The UK has a temperate climate. A) True B) False
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5
Which climate zone has very little rainfall and large temperature differences between day and night? A) Arid (desert) B) Tropical C) Polar D) Temperate
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6
Match each climate zone to where it is typically found. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Tropical, Polar, Temperate, Mediterranean Right: Near the equator, Near the North and South Poles, Between 45 and 60 degrees N/S, Around 30 to 45 degrees N, near the Med Sea
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7
Which three main factors determine the climate of a place? A) Latitude, altitude and ocean currents B) Population, time zone and country C) Crops, language and food D) Rivers, lakes and mountains only
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8
Complete the sentence. Climates near the North and South Poles are called ___ climates.
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9
Why does it get colder as you go higher up a mountain? A) Air becomes thinner and cooler with altitude B) You move further from the equator C) There is more wind on mountains D) Snow makes everything colder
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10
Order these climate zones from the equator out to the poles. Put these in order: Polar, Tropical, Temperate, Arid (desert)
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Answer key

Climate zones of the world · for parents and teachers

1
The long-term pattern of weather in an area
Climate is the typical pattern of weather in a place over a long time, usually 30 years or more. Weather can change daily, but climate describes general trends.
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tropical
The tropical climate zone is found near the equator (0 to 23.5 degrees N/S). It is hot all year round with high rainfall, supporting rainforests.
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True
The UK has a temperate climate, with mild summers and cool winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Temperate zones are typically 45 to 60 degrees N/S.
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True
True. The UK has a temperate climate, which is mild and rainy.
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Arid (desert)
Arid climates are very dry, with less than 250 mm of rain a year. Without clouds and water to hold heat, deserts get very hot by day and cold at night.
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Tropical → Near the equator; Polar → Near the North and South Poles; Temperate → Between 45 and 60 degrees N/S; Mediterranean → Around 30 to 45 degrees N, near the Med Sea
Climate zones broadly relate to latitude. Tropical is near the equator, polar is at the poles, temperate is in middle latitudes, and Mediterranean is at mid-latitudes near oceans.
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Latitude, altitude and ocean currents
Climate is shaped mainly by latitude (distance from the equator), altitude (height above sea level), and ocean currents which carry warm or cold water.
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polar
Polar climates are found above about 66.5 degrees N/S. They are extremely cold all year, with little precipitation that usually falls as snow.
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Air becomes thinner and cooler with altitude
As altitude increases, air becomes thinner and cannot hold heat as well, so temperatures drop. This is why even tropical mountains can have snow on their peaks.
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Tropical, Arid (desert), Temperate, Polar
Moving from the equator to the poles, climate zones generally appear in order: tropical, arid, temperate (and Mediterranean), then polar at the highest latitudes.