Classifying Climates

Scientists divide the world's climates into several different types. What is the climate like in your part of the world? To find out, look at the world map in Figure 32. The map is divided into six major climate groups: tropical, temperate marine, temperate continental, polar, dry, and highlands. One of the six major groups, the dry climates, is determined mainly by precipitation. Another group, the highland climates, is determined mainly by elevation. The four remaining groups are determined mostly on the basis of temperature. Scientists further divide the major climate groups into many different specific climates. It is important to realize, however, that this map is not static. It changes with changing global temperatures and patterns of precipitation.