1. Climate Regions

2. Scientists Classify Climate According to Two Major Factors
Temperature
Precipitation

3. Six Main Climate Regions
Polar
Dry
Humid Tropical
Moist-Mid Latitude- Mild Winters
Moist-Mid Latitude- Severe Winters
Highlands

4. Polar Climate Subdivisions
Tundra – Always cold; Short, cool summers; Bitterly cold winters.

5. Polar Climate Subdivisions
Icecap – Always below freezing ( At or below 0º Celsius).

6. Dry Climate Subdivisions
Deserts- Less than 25 centimeters of rain; Hot and Sandy, Cold or Rocky.

7. Dry Climate Subdivisions
Semi-Arid – Dry; centimeters of precipitation per year.

8. Humid Tropical Subdivisions
Tropical Wet – Always hot and humid; Heavy rainfall; 6 Centimeters per month all year long.

9. Humid Tropical Subdivisions
Tropical Wet - and - Dry – Always hot; Alternating wet and dry seasons; Heavy rainfall in the wet season.

10. Moist Mid-Latitude, Mild Winters
Humid Subtropical – Hot summers; Cool winters

11. Moist Mid-Latitude, Mild Winters
Marine West Coast – Mild winters; Cool summers; Moderate precipitation all year.

12. Moist Mid-Latitude, Mild Winters
Mediterranean – Warm; Dry summers; Rainy winters.

13. Moist Mid-Latitude, Severe Winters
Humid Continental – Hot, humid summers; Cold winters; moderate precipitation all year.

14. Moist Mid-Latitude, Severe Winters
Subarctic – Short, cool summers; Long, cold winters; Light precipitation mainly in summer.

15. Highlands
Highlands – Cooler and wetter than nearby lowlands. (Temperature decreases with altitude)