World Climate Zones
Based on the factors that influence climate, world climates are classified into several distinct zones, as shown on the map. Notice that the map legend gives each zone a set of two to three letters that symbolize it on the map. For example, the symbol Cwb indicates a main climate type of warm temperate (C) with dry winters (w) and warm summers (b). You know this by comparing the symbols to the key under the map. Click on any underlined word below to see a definition of it.
| Main Climate Type | General Precipitation | General Temperature |
| A: tropical (equatorial) | W: desert | h: hot arid |
| B: arid | S: steppe | k: cold arid |
| C: temperate | f: fully humid | a: hot summer |
| D: continental | s: summer dry | b: warm summer |
| E: polar | w: winter dry | c: cool summer |
| m: monsoonal | d: extremely continental | |
| F: polar ice cap | ||
| T: polar tundra |
