3. Global Climate Classification
The global climatic conditions can be studied under the following twelve classifications.
ClimaticZone | Latitude (Approximate) | ClimaticType | Rainfall Regime approx.total) | (with | NaturalVegetation | |
Equatorial Zone | 00-100N and S | 1. Hot, wet equatorial | Rainfall all year round : 80 inches | Equatorial rain forests | ||
Hot Zone | 100-300N and S | 2. a) Tropical Monsoon b) Tropical Marine | Heavy summer rain: 80 inches Much summer rain: 70 inches | Monsoon forests | ||
3. Sudan Type | Rain mainly in summer: 30 inches | Savanna grassland) | (tropical | |||
4. Desert: a) Saharan type b) Mid-latitude type | Little rain: 5 inches | Desert vegetation and scrub | ||||
Warm Temperate Zone | 30-0400N & S | 5. Western Margin (Mediterranean type) | Winter rain: 35 inches | Mediterranean forests and shrub | ||
6. Central Continental (Steppe type) | Light summer rain: 20 inches | Steppe or grassland | temperate | |||
7. Eastern Margin: a) China type b) Gulf type c) Natal type | Heavier summer 20 inches | rain: | Warm, wet forests and bamboo | |||
Cool Temperate Zone | 450-650N & S | 8. Western (British type) | Margin | More rain in autumn & winter: 30 inches | Deciduous forests | |
9. Central Continental (Siberian type) | Light summer rain: 25 inches | Evergreen forests | coniferous | |||
10. Eastern Margin (Laurentian type) | Moderate summer rain: 40 inches | Mixed (coniferous deciduous) | forests and | |||
Cold Zone | 650-90 ♤ N & S | 11. Arctic or Polar | Very light summer rain: 10 inches | Tundra, lichens | mosses, | |
Alpine Zone | 12. Mountain climate | Heavy rainfall (variable) | Alpine pastures, conifers, fern, snow | |||