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The tropics are regions of Earth that lie roughly in the middle of the globe.

Subjects

Earth Science, Meteorology, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography

The tropics are regions of Earth that lie roughly in the middle of the globe. The tropics between the latitude lines of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The tropics include the Equator and parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The tropics account for 36 percent of Earth's landmass and are home to about a third of the world's people.

The tropics are warm all year, averaging 25 to 28 degrees Celsius (77 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit). This is because the tropics get more exposure to the sun. Because of all that sun, the tropics don't experience the kind of seasons the rest of Earth does. The tropical seasons are broken up into just two: the wet season and the dry season.

The amount of rain can vary greatly from one area of the tropics to another. Some areas, like parts of the Amazon Basin in South America, get almost three meters (nine feet) of rain per year. Other areas in the tropics have a drier climate. The Sahara Desert in northern Africa only gets two to 10 centimeters (0.79 to 3.9 inches) of rain per year.

The amount of rain a region gets in the tropics directly affects which plant and animal species live there. The baobab tree thrives in the arid tropics of Africa, for instance. The baobab stores water in its huge trunk. On the other extreme is the rainy island of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka gets enough precipitation to support 250 species of frogs.

Fast Fact

The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Elevation can affect the climate of a tropical region. Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, with an elevation of 5,895 meters (19,340 feet), is a tropical mountain cold enough to support glaciers.

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Illustrators

Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society

Editors

Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing, Emdash Editing

Producer

National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

December 1, 2022

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The tropics are regions of Earth that lie roughly in the middle of the globe. Earth Science, Meteorology, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography The tropics are regions of Earth that lie roughly in the middle of the globe. The tropics between the latitude lines of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

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It's cold at the poles. In the Arctic, the average winter temperature is about around minus 22°F. At the South Pole, it is even colder. The lowest temperature ever recorded-minus 129°F-was in Antarctica.

Even though it's chilly in polar regions, they do have seasons-well, two seasons: summer and winter. In the summer, the sun shines 24 hours a day, but it never gets high enough above the horizon to warm things up, so even summers are pretty cold. It's dark all winter at the poles, because the sun doesn't rise during those months of the year. Fierce continuous winds make it feel even colder.

You'll see plenty of snow at the poles, but little rain. Antarctica and parts of the Arctic are actually considered deserts because of the lack of rainfall.

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Temperate Climate Facts (para. 1 + bullet points)

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Temperate Climate Facts (para. 1 + bullet points)

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Some of the best weather in the world is found in areas with a temperate or mild climate. These areas are usually mid-way between the equator and the poles. They're often found near a warm ocean or sea. You might have heard of a Mediterranean climate. Areas around the Mediterranean Ocean, such as Greece, southern France, Spain and the Middle East enjoy a Mediterranean climate. They have warm, dry summers and short, rainy winters.

Another type of temperate climate is the humid subtropical climate. Typically found on the east coast of a continent, this type of climate features wet, hot summers and cold winters. In the United States, Georgia has a humid subtropical climate. Hurricanes are common. These areas get moisture in both the summer and winter, averaging about 50 to 60 inches annually.

If you've ever visited San Francisco or Seattle, you've experienced a marine west coast climate. Areas with this climate have wet, rainy winters and cool summers.

Fun Facts about Temperate or Mild Climate for Kids

Gardens flourish in temperate climates. Here, you can grow lemons, oranges, olives and avocados.

If you live in a temperate climate, you probably won't need snow boots or a snow coat. You might need galoshes and a raincoat, though. Don't forget your umbrella.

San Francisco and Seattle are known for their cloudy, foggy weather.

Temperate or Mild Climate Vocabulary

All About Temperate or Mild Climate Video for Kids

Here's a great video for kids on temperate or mild climate:

A video documentary about places with temperate or mild climates.

Temperate or Mild Climate Q&A

Question: What areas of the U.S. have a temperate climate?

Answer: Areas in the Pacific Northwest, such as northern California, Washington and Oregon, have a marine west coast climate. Areas along the east coast, including Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Georgia, and North and South Carolina, have a humid subtropical climate.

Enjoyed the Earth Science for Kids all about Temperate or Mild Climate info? Take the FREE & fun Temperate or Mild Climate quiz and download FREE Temperate or Mild Climate worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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Some of the best weather in the world is found in areas with a temperate or mild climate. These areas are usually mid-way between the equator and the poles. They're often found near a warm ocean or sea. You might have heard of a Mediterranean climate.

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Tropical Climate Zone Book Collection on Epic

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In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout the year and more distinct seasonal changes compared to tropical climates, where such variations are often small and usually only have precipitation changes.

In temperate climates, not only do latitudinal positions influence temperature changes, but sea currents, prevailing wind direction, continentality (how large a landmass is) and altitude also shape temperate climates.

The Köppen climate classification defines a climate as "temperate" C, when the mean temperature is above −3 °C (26.6 °F) but below 18 °C (64.4 °F) in the coldest month to account for the persistency of frost. However, some adaptations of Köppen set the minimum at 0 °C (32.0 °F). Continental climates, classified separately as "continental" D according to Köppen, are considered as a variety of temperate climates but have more severe temperatures, with mean temperatures of the coldest month usually being below −3 °C (26.6 °F).

Zones and climates

The north temperate zone extends from the Tropic of Cancer (approximately 23.5° north latitude) to the Arctic Circle (approximately 66.5° north latitude). The south temperate zone extends from the Tropic of Capricorn (approximately 23.5° south latitude) to the Antarctic Circle (at approximately 66.5° south latitude).

In some climate classifications, the temperate zone may be divided into several smaller climate zones, based on monthly temperatures, the coldest month, and rainfall. These can include the subtropical zone ( humid subtropical and Mediterranean climate), and the cool temperate zone ( oceanic and continental climates).

Subtropical zone

These are the climates that are typically found toward the more equatorial portion of the temperate zone between 23.5° and 35° north or south, and thus are far more influenced by the tropics than any other temperate climate type, usually having warmer temperatures over the year, longer and hot summers and mild, short winters. Freezing precipitation is uncommon in this portion of the temperate zone.

Humid subtropical (Cfa) and monsoon subtropical (Cwa) climates

Humid subtropical climates generally have long, hot and humid summers with convective showers in summer and a peak seasonal rainfall in the hottest months. Winters are normally mild and not freezing in the humid subtropics, and warm ocean currents normally are found in coastal areas with humid subtropical climates. This type of climate is normally located along leeward lower east coasts of continents such as in southeast and central Argentina, Uruguay and south of Brazil, the southeast portions of East Asia, southern and portions of the northeast and midwestern United States and portions of, South Africa, Ethiopia, and eastern Australia. In some areas with a humid subtropical climate (most notably southeast China and North India), there is an even sharper wet-dry season, called a monsoon subtropical climate or subtropical monsoon (Cwa). In these regions, winters are quite chilly and dry and summers have very heavy rainfall. Some Cwa areas in southern China report more than 80% of annual precipitation in the 5 warmest months (southwest monsoon).

Mediterranean climates (Csa, Csb)

Mediterranean climates have the opposite rainfall pattern to the humid subtropical and monsoonal climates, with a dry summer and wet winter. This climate occurs mostly at the western edges and coasts of the continents and are bounded by arid deserts on their equatorward sides that brings dry winds causing the dry season of summer, and oceanic climates to the poleward sides that are influenced by cool ocean currents and air masses that bring the rainfall of winter. The five main Mediterranean regions of the world are the Mediterranean Basin in northwestern Afro-Eurasia, coastal California in the United States, the southwest of Australia, the Western Cape of South Africa and the south and southwestern coast of Chile.

Subtropical highland climates (Cwb, Cfb)

Subtropical highland climates are subtropical variants of the oceanic climates found in some mountainous areas of either the tropics or subtropics. They have characteristically mild temperatures year-round, featuring the four seasons in the subtropics and no marked seasons in the tropics, the latter usually remaining mild to cool through most of the year. Subtropical highland climates under the Cfb classification usually have rainfall spread relatively evenly in all months of the year similar to most oceanic climates while climates under the Cwb classification have significant monsoon influence, usually having dry winters and wet summers.

Middle latitude zone

These climates occur in the middle latitudes, between approximately 35° and 66.5° north and south of the equator. There is an equal climatic influence from both the polar and tropical zones in this climate region. Two types of climates are in this zone, a milder oceanic one and more severe seasonal continental one. Most prototypical temperate climates have a distinct four-season pattern, especially in the continental climate sector.

Oceanic climates (Cfb)

Oceanic climates are created by the on-shore flow from the cool high latitude oceans to their west. This causes the climate to have mild summers and cool (but not cold) winters, and relative humidity and precipitation evenly distributed throughout the year. These climates are frequently cloudy and cool, and winters are milder than those in the continental climate.

Regions with oceanic climates include northwestern Europe, northwestern North America, southeastern and southwestern South America, southeastern Australia and most of New Zealand.

Humid continental climates (Dfa, Dfb, Dwa, Dwb, Dsa, Dsb)

Humid continental climates are considered as a variety of temperate climates due to lying in the temperate zones, although they are classified separately from other temperate climates in the Köppen climate classification. In contrast to oceanic climates, they are created by large land masses and seasonal changes in wind direction. This causes humid continental climates to have severe temperatures for the season compared to other temperate climates, meaning a hot summer and cold winter. Precipitation may be evenly distributed throughout the year, while in some locations there is a summer accent on rainfall.

Regions with humid continental climates include southeastern Canada, the upper portions of the eastern United States, portions of eastern Europe, parts of China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

Subpolar zone

These are temperate climates that compared to the subtropics are on the poleward edge of the temperate zone. Therefore, they still have four marked seasons including a warmer one, but are far more influenced by the polar zones than any other but the very polar climates ( tundra and ice cap climate).

Subpolar oceanic and cold subtropical highland climates (Cfc, Cwc)

Areas with subpolar oceanic climates feature an oceanic climate but are usually located closer to polar regions. As a result of their location, these regions tend to be on the cool end of oceanic climates. Snowfall tends to be more common here than in other oceanic climates. Subpolar oceanic climates are less prone to temperature extremes than subarctic climates or continental climates, featuring milder winters than these climates but still with similar summers. This variant of an oceanic climate is found in parts of coastal Iceland, the Faroe Islands, parts of Scotland, northwestern coastal areas of Norway such as Lofoten and reaching to 70° north on some islands, uplands near the coast of southwestern Norway, the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and northern parts of the Alaskan Panhandle, some parts of Southern Argentina and Chile (though most regions are still classified as continental subantarctic), and a few highland areas of Tasmania, the Australian Alps and Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana of New Zealand. This type of climate is even found in tropical areas such as the Papuan Highlands in Indonesia. Cfc is the categorization for this regime. Even in the middle of summer, temperatures exceeding 20°C (68 °F) are exceptional weather events in the most maritime of those locations impacted by this regime. In some parts of this climate, temperatures as high as 30°C (86°F) have been recorded on rare occasions, while temperatures as low as −15 °C (5 °F) have still been recorded on rare occasions.

A cold variant of the monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate similar to subpolar oceanic climates occurs in small areas in Yunnan, Sichuan and parts of Bolivia, where summers are sufficiently short to be Cwc with fewer than four months over 10 °C (50 °F) due to the high altitudes at these locations. El Alto, Bolivia, is one of the few confirmed towns that features this variation of the subtropical highland climate.

Cold summer mediterranean climates (Csc)

Cold summer mediterranean climates ( Csc) are present in high-elevation areas around coastal Csb climate areas, where the strong maritime influence prevents the average winter monthly temperature from dropping below 0 °C. This climate is rare and is predominantly found in climate fringes and isolated areas of the Cascades and Andes Mountains, as the dry-summer climate extends further poleward in the Americas than elsewhere.

Subarctic climates (Dfc, Dfd, Dwc, Dwd, Dsc, Dsd)

Subarctic climates are considered as a variety of continental climates due to lying in the subpolar zones, although they are classified separately from other temperate climates in the Köppen climate classification. In contrast to humid continental climates, they are created by large land masses often away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50°N to 70°N. This causes subarctic climates to have severe temperatures for the season compared to other continental climates, meaning a warm summer and cold winter. Precipitation may be evenly distributed throughout the year, while in some locations there is a summer accent on rainfall.

Regions with subarctic climates include most of Canada, the state of Alaska in United States, portions of northern Europe, and parts of China and Russia.

Human aspects

Demography, fauna and flora

The vast majority of the world's human population resides in temperate zones, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, due to its greater mass of land and lack of extreme temperatures. The biggest described number of taxa in a temperate region is found in southern Africa, where some 24,000 taxa (species and infraspecific taxa) have been described.

Agriculture

Farming is a large-scale practice in the temperate regions (except for boreal/subarctic regions) due to the plentiful rainfall and warm summers, because most agricultural activity occurs in the spring and summer, cold winters have a small effect on agricultural production. Extreme winters or summers have a huge impact on the productivity of agriculture which is less common.

Urbanization

Temperate regions have the majority of the world's population, which leads to large cities. There are a couple of factors why the climate of large city landscapes differs from the climate of rural areas. One factor is the strength of the absorption rate of buildings and asphalt, which is higher than that of natural land. The other large factor is the burning of fossil fuels from buildings and vehicles. These factors have led to the average climate of cities to be warmer than surrounding areas.

In Spanish: Clima templado para niños

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Famous Rainforests

There are rainforests in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. The biggest rainforest is the Amazon rainforest. It's about the size of the contiguous United States, which doesn't include Alaska or Hawaii. More than half of it is in Brazil, but parts are in several other South American countries, including Ecuador and Bolivia. The next biggest rainforest is the Congo in Africa. Parts of the Congo can be found in several other countries too, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

Most rainforests are found along or near the Equator, where it tends to be hot. But some rainforests grow in temperate regions where it's cooler. Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park on the Pacific northwest coast of North America is an example of a temperate rainforest. Like tropical rainforests, temperate rainforests get lots of, well, rain.

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Deserts are the driest places on Earth—they get fewer than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain a year. Some deserts may get a lot of rain all at once. Then it might not rain again for months—or even years!

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Changing Seasons

Unlike in a rainforest, where the temperature stays the same year-round, it's easy to tell what season it is in a temperate forest. It's warm in the summer, but it gets cool in the fall, and cold in the winter. Most temperate forests don't get as much rainfall as tropical rainforests, but they do get enough rain-about 30 to 60 inches each year-to grow big trees. Certain trees in a temperate forest can grow up to 100 feet tall-that's as high as a seven-story building!

Temperate forests are found in eastern North America, northeastern Asia, and central and western Europe. In North America, the Eastern Deciduous Forest stretches from Florida to Maine along the east coast and as far west as Texas and Minnesota. The forest extends over 26 U.S. states and as well as parts of southern Canada.

Part of an island in Japan is a temperate forest. Oak, ash and conifers grow in the lowlands of the island of Hokkaido. It's also the only place in Japan where brown bears live in the wild.

Sherwood Forest in England, where the legendary Robin Hood is said to have lived, is a tiny forest-less than one square mile-but is home to over 900 big oak trees.

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Temperate forest habitat facts and photos

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Folktale- Folktale- El gorrión y los árboles

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Folktale- Folktale- El gorrión y los árboles

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instant access to thousands of great kids books.

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