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It’s a hot, sticky day, and you’re sweating – a lot. You can blame the weather for that. But what if you live in a place where the summer days are hot and humid year after year? In that case, you can blame the climate.
Climate is the word for the average weather in a place over a long time. For example, steamy rain forests grow near the equator. Every year, about 160 inches of rain falls on them. (That’s more than 13 feet!) But in Las Vegas, Nevada, the average rainfall each year is around four inches. In Antarctica, it’s always cold. Temperatures average –50°F! But in Montreal, Canada, the average temperature in January is 16°F. In July, it’s 72°F!
The Earth has a lot of different climates. Scientists study them by dividing the planet into climate zones. Places in a zone are alike in many ways. For example, they might be very cold or very rainy. But different areas in a zone don’t have the same exact conditions. Find your climate zone on the map below. Having trouble spotting where you live? Look at a map that shows countries and states to help you zoom in on your zone. Does the description match your average weather? What other places in the world are in your zone?
Your life is tied to the climate in many ways. It affects the clothes you buy and the outdoor sports you play. It also controls which plants and animals live near you.
