Climate+Regions

 ** __Types of Climate Regions __ ** Global climates are often divided into five types: tropical, dry, temperate, cold and polar. These climate divisions take a variety of factors into consideration, including altitude, pressure, wind patterns, latitude and geographical characteristics, such as mountains and oceans. ** // __Tropical Regions __ // ** Rainforests are an example of a tropical climate. Tropical regions are characterized by high average temperatures and large amounts of rainfall. Biomes that have tropical climates include rainforest and savannas, there tends to be little or no winter season. ** // __Temperate Regions __ // ** Temperate regions have mild summers and cool winters. Temperate regions are also known as middle latitude climates. Summers tend to be quite warm with little rainfall. Winters are moderate and wet. Temperate biomes include subtropical regions, Mediterranean areas, and marine regions. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">** // __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11.5pt;">Polar Regions __ // ** <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Permanent ice caps characterize polar regions. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Polar regions are characterized by a lack of a true summer. The warmest temperatures are around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and these are short-lived. Large blocks of permanent ice and tundra are what make these regions distinctive. They also tend to have months of little daylight. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">** // __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11.5pt;">Dry Regions __ // ** <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Deserts have dry climates. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Dry regions experience very little rainfall and therefore have no permanent streams. They are also marked by large ranges in daily temperatures. In the desert, for example, temperatures can reach over 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, but may drop to 100 degrees or less at night. Dry regions are divided into semi-arid and arid zones. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">** // __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11.5pt;">Cold Regions __ // ** <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cold regions tend to be near forests. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 15.65pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cold regions, also known as continental climates, have moderate rainfall and high seasonal variations in temperature. These regions tend to be found in central regions of land masses, such as the American Midwest. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">